SolidWorks: Automotive & Industrial | Beginner to CSWA-CSWP

Explore basic sketch profiles in SolidWorks, from lines and center lines to rectangles, parallelograms, slots, circles, arcs, polygons, splines, and ellipses, with future coverage on dimensions.

Begin by getting comfortable with the SolidWorks interface and smart tools in the first exercise, using the contextual menu for fast diameter and smart dimensions on circles and squares.

Explore driving and driven dimensions in SolidWorks sketches, learn how to resolve overdefinition by making one dimension driven, and monitor length sums between entities.

Recreate complex profiles in SolidWorks by building center rectangle and parallelogram shapes, applying center lines, coincident relations, and straight and arc slots with practical tips.

Move, copy, rotate, scale, and stretch sketch entities in SolidWorks using from-to references and keep-relations to position and duplicate geometry with XY coordinates and center or base points.

Learn how the extend entities command extends lines, arcs, splines, and circles to meet existing geometry, adding a coincident constraint and a point.

Learn to use convert entities and silhouette entities to project edges, holes, and faces from 3D parts into sketches, mark construction elements, and manage internal and external silhouettes.

Repair sketch detects hidden errors, such as small entities, overlapping lines, or three-way junctions, and guides you to remove extra lines or close contours before building 3d features.

Explore coordinate systems in SolidWorks by defining the part origin with three datum planes, creating and orienting coordinate systems for positioning, analysis, and assembly placement.

Learn how the center of mass is calculated for analysis in a 3D model. Explore the bounding box and its keep out zone, and made reference types to align features.

Master extruded boss/base from 2D sketches, and learn direction options (blind, up to vertex/surface, mid-plane), drafting, and thin features, plus building on 3D faces with additional sketches.

Create multiple bodies in SolidWorks by using extrude boss base features and unchecking merge result to keep features as separate bodies rather than merging into one.

Create a revolved boss base by sketching on a plane and rotating around an axis, using blind, midplane, surface or vertex options, and thin feature to control direction.

practice revolved shaft design with a part-first workflow, building 3D parts from requirements before drawings; learn diameter constraints, symmetric dimensions, and a three-cutout milling feature.

Master the mirror command in SolidWorks to duplicate features from an extruded base, using patterns, fully defined sketches, symmetric fillets, and mirrored holes across planes.

Master the SolidWorks draft command using a neutral plane and selected faces to draft at a chosen angle with a live preview, covering inner and outer faces and tangent considerations.

Master the hole wizard in SolidWorks to insert customized holes in solids. Position holes using faces, 2D or 3D sketches, and configure counterbore, countersink, and slot types.

Discover how to create helix and spiral features in SolidWorks. Use pitch and revolution, height and revolution, or height and pitch, with options like start angle, taper, and variable pitch.

Master the split line command in SolidWorks, using silhouette, projection, and intersection to project curves onto curved faces and surfaces, and control direction and draft angle.

Learn the lofted boss base command in SolidWorks by using three sketches on offset reference planes, connected by guide curves and 3D sketches for a symmetrical, parametric loft.

Create a full round fillet by selecting three faces in the fillet command, with automatic dimension calculation, tangent propagation, and full preview.

Learn to use the fillet expert to create faster, more complex fillets in SolidWorks, compare it with the standard fillet, and adjust edges using through faces and previews.

Create a sketch on the face to define a step draft, set direction of pull and parting lines, and preview perpendicular and tapered drafts to refine the geometry.

Learn to use the advanced hole command in SolidWorks, an improved version of the hole wizard. Create near and far side holes, counterbores, countersinks, taps, dowel holes, with precise callouts.

Learn to use the stud wizard in SolidWorks to create studs on cylindrical bodies or surfaces, set metric M8 by 125 threads, define shaft and thread lengths, and apply undercuts.

Learn to use the wrap command to project a sketch onto a curved surface and emboss, deboss, or scribe, selecting a plane and defining wrap type and pull direction.

Learn how to insert components into a SolidWorks assembly, including creating new parts, renaming parts, fixing components, and using speedpack and catalog inserts from 3D experience.

Delete previous mates to start fresh, then create a parallel mate by selecting two faces or axes to stay parallel at distance, verify with the temporary axis, and click ok.

Explore SolidWorks standard and advanced mates by constraining assemblies with angle mates and limits, using concentric, coincidence, fixed, and float, and learn to combine commands through practical exercises.

Learn how to create and manage linear component patterns in SolidWorks assemblies, including setting direction, spacing, instances, and using the seed part.

Learn to create a circular component pattern in SolidWorks by selecting an axis, adjusting angle and instances, applying equal spacing across a 360-degree circle, and customizing direction and overrides.

Use the show hidden components command to reveal hidden parts in an assembly, toggle with a temporary switch, and quickly return to the full view for fast selection.

Use instant 3d in assembly mode to view sketch dimensions, enable large assembly settings to hide edges for faster performance, and take snapshots with named comments in the display manager.

Learn how to create and animate exploded views of assemblies in SolidWorks, including regular and radial steps, axis and rings, autospace components, and saving exploded views for drawings.

Learn to set up gear mates in SolidWorks by selecting two pitch circles, applying tangency and axis constraints, and using gear parameters like pitch circle and addendum.

Explore the distance mate in the advanced tab to constrain a moving part between two faces with maximum and minimum distances. Pair with standard mates to lock within 15–70 millimeters.

Explore the sketch-driven component pattern in SolidWorks, using 3D sketches to position and pattern parts by points, with options for reference points, component origin, or a selected point.

Master curve driven component pattern in SolidWorks by placing a curve, selecting a seed, and patterning components along the curve with spacing, alignment, and tangency options.

Use the smart fasteners tool in solidworks to automatically add bolts from the toolbox library, enabling add-ins, and create four M8 holes with the hole wizard.

Create a new drawing file in SolidWorks, select a standard sheet size (A0–A4) or a custom size, and set up title blocks for accurate print quality.

Learn to create a detail view in a SolidWorks drawing by adding projected views (right, top, left), sketching a circle to define the detail, and adjusting style, scale, and outlines.

Demonstrate using the broken-out section in SolidWorks drawings: create a front view, sketch a closed spline profile, set depth, and preview the cut to reveal the bolt.

Import dimensions from a SolidWorks 3D part into a drawing using model items, selecting the whole model or specific features, and choose tolerances, annotations, and reference geometry to include.

Use the blocks command to group entities and move them together as a single block. Save, insert, edit, or explode blocks to reuse symbols across drawings.

Master the center mark tool in SolidWorks by adding center marks to holes, slots, and fillets, using circular, linear, radial, and slot-specific options to enable precise dimensioning.

Master the design engineer's toolkit and workflow from sketch to release part, including creating 3D models, 2D drawings, and design reviews that drive CAD-enabled collaboration.

Explore fasteners and joining methods, evaluating permanent versus non-permanent options, and analyzing threaded fasteners, dowel pins, welds, adhesive and press-fit joints for strong, cost-effective assemblies.

model a SolidWorks part for a part modeling exam using exact dimensions and mmgs units; set material to IEC 1020 steel and verify mass via mass properties.

Build a chainlink assembly in solidworks from a downloaded zip, applying concentric and coincident mates to pins and holes. Determine the assembly center of mass using mass properties.

Explore real CSWA drafting questions, identify VOB and VO types, section and alternate position views, and apply elimination and remembering techniques under time pressure in SolidWorks.