SOLIDWORKS Essentials

The SOLIDWORKS Essentials course will teach you the basics for creating parts, assemblies and production drawings.

SOLIDWORKS Essentials Overview

By getting up to speed quickly, and learning best modeling practices, the SOLIDWORKS Essentials course ultimately ensures maximum efficiency and productivity for all SOLIDWORKS users.

New CAD users, seasoned users of other CAD systems or veteran SOLIDWORKS users can all benefit from Essentials training.

Real life case studies are used to illustrate processes, teaching everything you need to know for building parametric models of parts and assemblies, and making drawings of those parts and assemblies.

This training course will help you to:
  • Create parametric sketches
  • Create parts and build assemblies
  • Create and control different versions of your parts with configurations
  • Automate design modification with equations and excel design tables
  • Create drawings of your designs
Course Duration

4 Days (7 hours/day)

Or 6 Days (5 hours/day)

Skill Level

Basic / Intermediate Course

Course Type

Live Hands-on Instructor Led Training Course

Overview Demo

Watch a preview of the SOLIDWORKS Essentials course

 

SOLIDWORKS Essentials Course Requirements & Benefits

Understand the course requirements and the skills you will acquire after completing the SOLIDWORKS course

Requirements

Basic Windows Knowledge

Reviewed basic Tutorials included with SOLIDWORKS

Features Targeted

Sketching & Feature creation

Bottom-up Assembly Modeling

Drawing Views & Annotations

Acquired Skills

Able to create Parts

Able to build Assemblies

Create Production Drawings

"The method of instruction in teaching SOLIDWORKS Essentials was very effective. Each lesson was informative and complemented with time for practice in the form of exercises that reinforced the skills that were clearly demonstrated during lecture time. Extremely patient, the instructor always made sure to answer questions and clarify answers. I am certainly better prepared with more skills and more efficient CAD techniques."

— Joe Felice, Self Employed

"I'm transitioning from AutoCAD to SOLIDWORKS and this course has allowed me to get up to speed quickly so that I can confidently work in SOLIDWORKS now."

— Gerard Cormier, SPI Health and Safety

SOLIDWORKS Essentials Lessons

The following lessons are included in the course

Lesson 1: SOLIDWORKS Basics and the User Interface

  • What is SOLIDWORKS Software?
  • Design Intent
  • File References
  • Opening Files
  • The SOLIDWORKS User Interface
  • Using the Command Manager

Lesson 2: Introduction to Sketching

  • 2D Sketching
  • Stages in the Process
  • Saving Files
  • What are We Going to Sketch?
  • Sketching
  • Sketch Entities
  • Basic Sketching
  • Rules That Govern Sketches
  • Design Intent
  • Sketch Relations
  • Dimensions
  • Extrude
  • Sketching Guidelines

Lesson 3: Basic Part Modeling

  • Basic Modeling
  • Terminology
  • Choosing the Best Profile
  • Choosing the Sketch Plane
  • Details of the Part
  • Boss Feature
  • Sketching on a Planar Face
  • Cut Feature
  • Using the Hole Wizard
  • View Selector
  • Filleting
  • Editing Tools
  • Detailing Basics
  • Drawing Views
  • Center Marks
  • Dimensioning
  • Changing Parameters

Lesson 4: Symmetry and Draft 

  • Case Study: Ratchet
  • Design Intent
  • Boss Feature with Draft
  • Symmetry in the Sketch
  • Sketching Inside the Model
  • View Options
  • Using Model Edges in a Sketch
  • Creating Trimmed Sketch Geometry
  • Copy & Paste Features

Lesson 5: Patterning

  • Why Use Patterns?
  • Linear Pattern
  • Circular Patterns
  • Reference Geometry
  • Mirror Patterns
  • Using Pattern Seed Only
  • Up To Reference
  • Sketch Driven Patterns

Lesson 6: Revolved Features

  • Case Study: Handwheel
  • Design Intent
  • Revolved Features
  • Building the Rim
  • Building the Spoke
  • Edit Material
  • Mass Properties
  • File Properties
  • SOLIDWORKS SimulationXpress
  • Using SOLIDWORKS SimulationXpress
  • The SimulationXpress Interface

Lesson 7: Shelling and Ribs

  • Shelling and Ribs
  • Analyzing and Adding Draft
  • Other Options for Draft
  • Shelling
  • Ribs
  • Full Round Fillets
  • Thin Features

Lesson 8: Editing: Repairs

  • Part Editing
  • Editing Topics
  • Sketch Issues
  • FilletXpert
  • DraftXpert

Lesson 9: Editing: Design Changes

  • Part Editing
  • Design Changes
  • Information From a Model
  • Rebuilding Tools
  • Sketch Contours
  • Replace Sketch Entity

Lesson 10: Configurations

  • Using Configurations
  • Other Methods to Create Configurations
  • Modeling Strategies for Configurations
  • Editing Part that Have Configurations
  • Design Library

Lesson 11: Global Variables & Equations

  • Using Global Variables and Equations
  • Renaming Features and Dimensions
  • Design Rules Using Global Variables and Equations
  • Global Variables
  • Equations
  • Using Operators and Functions

Lesson 12: Using Drawings

  • More About Making Drawings
  • Section View
  • Model Views
  • Broken View
  • Detail Views
  • Drawing Sheets and Sheet Formats
  • Annotations

Lesson 13: Bottom-Up Assembly Modeling

  • Case Study: Universal Joint
  • Bottom-Up Assembly
  • Creating a New Assembly
  • Position of the First Component
  • FeatureManager Design Tree and Symbols
  • Adding Components
  • Mating Components
  • Using Part Configurations in Assemblies
  • Sub-assemblies
  • Smart Mates
  • Inserting Sub-assemblies
  • Pack and Go

Lesson 14: Using Assemblies

  • Analyzing the Assembly
  • Checking for Clearances
  • Changing the Values of Dimensions
  • Exploded Assemblies
  • Explode Line Sketch
  • Bill of Materials
  • Assembly Drawings

Appendix

  • Options Settings
  • Document Templates

Training Methods

Choose the training method right for you

Group/Public Training

Receive training as a group (limited amount per class) from certified instructors using vendor approved training content and methodologies.

Training is delivered either live online or in a traditional classroom environment.

Advantages
  • Cost effective training method.
  • More effective than video based training, with videos learners are often not as focused on the training and skip exercises.
  • Learn more through group questions and feedback.

Private Training

This style of flexible training is perfect for teams or individuals who are faced with a specific challenge and require personalized courses with on-the-job coaching.

Training is available live online, in-person classroom or onsite at your location.

Advantages
  • Use our state-of-the-art mobile classroom at your facility.
  • Bring your team up to a consistent level of knowledge by having them take the same training at the same time.
  • Benefit from flexible scheduling options.

Upcoming Training Courses

Choose a scheduled SOLIDWORKS Essentials course

Date & Time
  • April 8, 2024 - April 11, 2024
  • 9:00 am - 5:00 pm ET
Location
Live Online
Date & Time
  • April 9, 2024 - April 11, 2024
  • 11:00 am - 4:00 pm ET
  • April 16, 2024 - April 18, 2024
  • 11:00 am - 4:00 pm ET
Location
Live Online
Date & Time
  • April 9, 2024 - April 11, 2024
  • 11:00 am - 4:00 pm ET
  • April 16, 2024 - April 18, 2024
  • 11:00 am - 4:00 pm ET
Location
Live Online
Date & Time
  • April 15, 2024 - April 18, 2024
  • 9:00 am - 5:00 pm ET
Location
Live Online
Date & Time
  • April 22, 2024 - April 25, 2024
  • 8:30 am - 4:30 pm ET
Location
Atlanta, GA, United States
Date & Time
  • April 22, 2024 - April 25, 2024
  • 8:30 am - 4:30 pm ET
Location
Pittsburgh, PA, United States
Date & Time
  • April 22, 2024 - April 25, 2024
  • 9:00 am - 5:00 pm ET
Location
Live Online
Date & Time
  • April 29, 2024 - May 2, 2024
  • 9:00 am - 5:00 pm ET
Location
Live Online
Date & Time
  • April 29, 2024 - May 2, 2024
  • 9:00 am - 5:00 pm ET
Location
Columbia, MD, United States
Date & Time
  • May 6, 2024 - May 9, 2024
  • 9:00 am - 5:00 pm ET
Location
Live Online

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