What is SOLIDWORKS?

January is the start of new educational programs, new courses, and new competitions. With the new year, Artificial Intelligence (AI) knowledge becomes that latest skill students need to know and understand. Engineering, design and manufacturing students need to know SOLIDWORKS too.

I used an AI app called, PI.AI to ask “What is SOLIDWORKS?” PI’s response, “SOLIDWORKS is a powerful 3D computer-aided (CAD) and computer-aided engineering (CAE) software that is widely used in a variety of industries, including engineering, product design and manufacturing. Developed by Dassault Systèmes, SOLIDWORKS provides a comprehensive set of tools for creating 3D designs, simulations, and technical drawings.”

All of these applications, working together, are contained in the SOLIDWORKS Education Edition and SOLIDWORKS Student Edition.

As part of Dassault Systemes, the largest engineering and scientific software company in the world, they extend to even more advanced technology applications and AI development.

As a new educator or student that needs to learn SOLIDWORKS for a class or for a job, SOLIDWORKS is more than computer response. With over 7 million users in the SOLIDWORKS Community and 25+ years of development, SOLIDWORKS is a vast collection of software applications and provides opportunity to have the best careers.

If you have installed SOLIDWORKS, there are many ways to get started to learn more.

Welcome -SOLIDWORKS The Learn Tab

Students learn in different ways.

Interactive Videos: From the Welcome tab, Select Learning Path from Getting Started with SOLIDWORKS CAD
Instructional PDF: From the Welcome tab, Select On my PC

Both methods take you through the basics of SOLIDWORKS and creating a part (3D model), assembly (2 parts together), and technical drawing.

The SOLIDWORKS Tutorials

In 1997, I started my journey learning SOLIDWORKS with the SOLIDWORKS Tutorials. Located inside of SOLIDWORKS and accessed from the Help menu or “?” icon or F1 key, basic and advanced topics are covered in an interactive format.

MySolidWorks

MySolidWorks provides 100’s of hours of training lessons for educators and students – even leading to SOLIDWORKS Certification Exam credentials. MySoliDworks documents your process as you work through a lesson.

This video content is interactive. There are questions to answer and models to create.

SOLIDWORKS Curriculum

Educators also receive access to SOLIDWORKS Curriculum including pdf guides based on our commercial training program and projects developed for the classroom, Fundamentals of 3D Design and Simulation, Fundamentals of SOLIDWORKS Electrical and Certified SOLIDWORKS Associate Practice Exam problems.

YouTube

Let’s face it, we use YouTube to learn. Thanks to SOLIDWORKS and it’s community, there are 1000’s of videos about SOLIDWORKS on YouTube.

SOLIDWORKS Community

Academic Community: After you create a 3DEXPERIENCE ID, Educators, can get more information SOLIDWORKS and the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform. Request to join the 3DEXPERIENCE Academic Community for free at go.3ds.com/academiccommunity.

Student Community: Students, join the student community for free at go.3ds.com/studentcommunity. Check out great posts on Mechanism Mondays, FEA Fridays, Solid Saturdays (animations), Formula Student and Formula SAE exercises.

More to Explore

The SOLIDWORKS Education Edition and SOLIDWORKS Student Edition contain 20+ applications in product design and dozens more when connected to the 3DEXPERIENCE platform by Dassault Systèmes. We will be exploring more in the blogs to come.

Design well. Marie

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Marie Planchard

Senior Director, Early Engagement, 3DEXPERIENCE Works at Dassault Systemes

Marie Planchard is an education and engineering advocate. As Senior Director of Education & Early Engagement, SOLIDWORKS, she is responsible for global development of content and social outreach for the 3DEXPERIENCE Works products across all levels of learning including educational institutions, Fab Labs, and entrepreneurship.