SolidWorks FAQs

General

What is SolidWorks?

SolidWorks is the global standard in 3D mechanical design software. It helps organizations reduce time-to-market, design better quality product faster, maintain a competitive advantage, and increase sales. SolidWorks delivers powerful 3D design capabilities, unmatched ease-of-use, and an affordable cost.

How does SolidWorks help AutoCAD users migrate to 3D?

SolidWorks software allows AutoCAD users to become rapidly productive using the 3D mechanical design and 2D detailing capabilities of SolidWorks, as well as leveraging 2D legacy data. SolidWorks provides tutorials specifically developed for the AutoCAD user, using familiar terminology to help speed the learning process. SolidWorks provides a data migration wizard and innovative 2D to 3D tools that allow AutoCAD users to maintain their legacy data or build 3D models from 2D drawings.

How do SoldiWorks users edit legacy DWG files?

SolidWorks software includes the DWGeditor™. The DWGeditor is for SolidWorks customers who use AutoCAD® to edit or maintain existing DWG files. The DWGeditor provides a low risk, low cost alternative for editing DWG files in their native format, using a familiar user interface.

How does moving to SolidWorks benefit AutoCAD users?

SolidWorks provides AutoCAD users with the ability to construct production-ready detailed drawings without drawing a single line or arc, eliminating time-consuming drawing view creation, manipulation, and maintenance. In addition, AutoCAD users benefit from the ability to visualize and capture design intent easily; quickly verify form, fit, and function; revise designs and drawings easily; reuse 2D design work more effectively; eliminate guesswork with truly associative dimensions; and generate Bills of Materials automatically.

Does SolidWorks include photo realistic rendering?

SolidWorks software is fully integrated with PhotoWorks rendering software, available with SolidWorks Professional and SolidWorks Premium.

Does SolidWorks include feature recognition for imported geometry?

SolidWorks software is fully integrated with FeatureWorks feature recognition software, available with SolidWorks Professional and SolidWorks Premium solutions.

Does SolidWorks include animation capabilities?

SolidWorks software is fully integrated with SolidWorks Motion Manager software, available with SolidWorks Professional and SolidWorks Premium solutions.

Does SolidWorks include web publishing capabilities?

SolidWorks software is fully integrated with the 3D Instant Website web publishing solution, available with SolidWorks Professional and SolidWorks Premium solutions.

Does SolidWorks include standard part libraries?

SolidWorks software is fully integrated with SolidWorks Toolbox. SolidWorks Toolbox, a standard part library is available with SolidWorks Professional and SolidWorks Premium.

Does SolidWorks have a CAM package?
SolidWorks provides CAM solutions and a wide variety of other engineering and manufacturing solutions through its partnership with over 300 Solution Partners. SolidWorks Corporation and its Solutions Partners offer over 45 best-in-class Certified Gold Products that supply single-window, fully associative integration. With Certified Gold Products, all the tools users need work together using the same design data and each change is updated automatically across all applications.

What languages are supported?

SolidWorks supports the following languages: Chinese, Japanese, English, Korean, French, Polish, Russian, German, Spanish, Czech and Italian.

Where can I purchase SolidWorks?
CADVenture is an authorized value-added reseller (VARs), providing local service, support, and training needed to achieve a high return on investment.

Does SolidWorks include tools for surface design?

Yes. SolidWorks is truly a hybrid design software. Users can work with both surfaces and solids in the same environment. Surface tools include: loft, sweep, radiate, offset, fill, extend, trim, untrim, and knit. SolidWorks provides all surfacing tools to users at no additional cost.

Are mold design tools included with SolidWorks?
Yes. SolidWorks software includes core/cavity functionality. Additional mold tools include 'Radiate Surface' to assist in the production of core/cavity using complex parting lines. Mold designs can be taken a step further with add-on applications for mold base creation and mold flow analysis.

Does SolidWorks have a sheet metal design module?
Yes. SolidWorks contains sheet metal design functionality as part of the core product. Edge flange, mitre flange, selective fold/unfold, rip, tear, and auto relief functionality are all here. Design in the flat or bent states with the utmost in flexibility and associativity.

What other solutions are available from SolidWorks?

For a listing of solutions available with commercial versions of SolidWorks please refer to the menus at the top of this page.

What is contained in the software updates of SolidWorks?
These are updates for Subscription Customers to upgrade the latest major revision of the software. Service Packs consist of fixed customer problems and minor enhancements.

How does SolidWorks software compare to that of Autodesk Inventor, Solid Edge, Pro/ENGINEER, and other CAD systems?
Please visit our Industry Soltuions and Industry White Papers areas for comparative information about SolidWorks and the CAD software market.

Data Exchange

What can I do with my DXF/DWG files after they are brought into SolidWorks?

You can leverage your 2D legacy data by reading in and exporting out DXF/DWG data for reuse in a SolidWorks environment. SolidWorks further eases data reuse by allowing you to create 3D parametric solid models from the imported 2D data by turning it into sketch geometry. SolidWorks can also import 3D DXF/DWG data as curves in the part environment that can be used to create solid models. 3D DXF files are also supported for import within SolidWorks.

Does SolidWorks have any way to read in data from Pro/ENGINEER?

SolidWorks includes a feature-based converter for Pro/ENGINEER files. The SolidWorks Pro/E Converter recognizes most features in parts and assemblies created with Pro/ENGINEER version 17.0 - 20.0.

Does SolidWorks have any way to read in data from Mechanical Desktop?

Yes. A converter for Mechanical Desktop files is available for SolidWorks. This is a feature-based converter for files created using Mechanical Desktop 4.0 and higher. The conversion utility provides direct translation of files created with Mechanical Desktop into the SolidWorks environment, complete with feature information. In the past, users migrating from Mechanical Desktop had to export data to a neutral file format and import the data. The Mechanical Desktop Converter is a free plug-in available for SolidWorks.

Does SolidWorks have any way to read in data from Unigraphics?

Yes. SolidWorks includes a translator which allows for the import of native Unigraphics part and assembly files. SolidWorks and Unigraphics use the same modeling kernel – Parasolid®. Instead of sending the data through translators such as IGES and STEP, the Parasolid file format (usually *.xmt_txt) is available for import and export. This capability allows you to bypass IGES and STEP, providing you with a cleaner data exchange between SolidWorks and Unigraphics products.

What data exchange tools are supplied with SolidWorks?

Data Exchange Table
Adobe Portable Document Format ( PDF )	Output
2D DXF/DWG (.DXF, .DWG)	Input and Output for Revisions 12 thru 2002 of AutoCAD
3D DXF (.DXF)	Input
STEP (.STEP)	Input and Output for AP203, In for AP214
Initial Graphics Exchange Specification (.IGS)	Input and Output
STL (.STL)	Input and Output (for rapid prototyping)
ACIS® (*.SAT)	Input and Output
Parasolid® (.X_T, .X_B)	Input and Output
VDAFS (*.VDA)	Input and Output
TIF image (.TIF)	Output
JPEG image (.JPG)	Output
Pro/ENGINEER Part and Assembly files (.PRT, .ASM, .XPR, .XAS)	Input and Output
Unigraphics Part and Assembly files (.PRT)	Input
Mechanical Desktop Part and Assembly files (.DWG)	Input
Autodesk Inventor Part Files (.IPT)	Input
Solid Edge Part and Assembly Files (.PRT, .ASM)	Input
CADKEY Files (.PRT)	Input
IDF (.EMN, .BRD, .BDF, .IDB)	Input
VRML (.WRL)	Input and Output
Adobe® Illustrator® (.AI)	Input
Catia Graphics (.CGR)	Output
HCG	Output for the Web
HOOPS HSF (.HSF)	Output for the Web

API

Do you have a programming language?

SolidWorks software has an internal macro/recording language and also supports an application programming interface language, accessible through an OLE interface. This provides support for Visual Basic® and Visual C++®.

How much does the API cost?

The SolidWorks API is an open programming language available to third parties and all end-users of SolidWorks as part of the product purchase price.

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SolidWorks FAQs

General

Data Exchange

API

General

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