SOLIDWORKS is a 3D design software that’s officially capitalized to SOLIDWORKS. It is one of the leading pieces of engineering 3D design software globally. Today, more than 2 million organizations use SOLIDWORKS to develop products and innovations, which represent a large proportion of over 6 million SOLIDWORKS users in total. In this section, we will explore the different applications that SOLIDWORKS supports.

SOLIDWORKS applications

SOLIDWORKS mainly targets engineers and product designers. It is used in a variety of applications and industries. Some of these industries are as follows:

• Consumer products
• Aerospace
• Construction
• High-tech electronics
• Medicine
• Oil and gas
• Packaging
• Machinery
• Engineering services
• Furniture design
• Energy
• Automobiles

Each of these industries utilizes SOLIDWORKS for its design applications to some extent. Within SOLIDWORKS, several disciplines correspond to different...

If you are working with SOLIDWORKS, you will most likely also come across or engage in conversations about the 3DEXPERIENCE platform. In case you have not heard about it yet, here is a small introduction.

The 3DEXPERIENCE platform is developed by Dassault Systèmes, SOLIDWORKS’s parent company. You can think of the 3DEXPERIENCE platform as a full operating system tailored for product design and development. This entails a unified digital workspace that includes a selection of integrated apps designed for tasks such as CAD modeling, simulation, project management, and data analytics. The intention of the platform is to alter the methodologies of designing, testing, and manufacturing products.

A user’s access to these apps and the rules that govern them depends on the individual user’s role. The platform aims to house these various apps in one system to enhance workflow. It strives to eliminate isolated work, promote...

Parametric modeling is the core principle that SOLIDWORKS operates on. It governs how SOLIDWORKS constructs 3D models and how a user should think when dealing with SOLIDWORKS.

In parametric modeling, the model is created based on relationships and a set of logical arrangements that are set by the designer or draftsman. In the SOLIDWORKS software environment, they are represented by dimensions, geometric relationships, and features that link different parts of a model to each other. Each of these logical features is called a parameter. A collection of parameters in a 3D model forms our design intent, which guides how a 3D model behaves when subjected to modifications. We will address design intent more as we progress through the book.

For example, a simple cube with a side length of 1 mm would contain the following parameters:

• Four lines in one plane with the following relationships listed and noted in Figure 1.3:
  • All two-line endpoints...

SOLIDWORKS provides certifications that cover different aspects of its functionality. As a user, you don’t need to gain any of those certifications to use the software; however, they can prove your SOLIDWORKS skills. SOLIDWORKS certifications are a good way of showing employers or clients that you have mastery over a certain aspect of the software that would be required for a specific project.

Certifications can be classified under four levels: associate, professional, professional advanced, and expert. Associate certifications represent the entry level, expert certifications represent the highest level, and professional and professional advanced represent the middle levels. The following subsections list the certification levels provided by SOLIDWORKS. Note that SOLIDWORKS may add or remove certifications over time.

You can check the SOLIDWORKS certification program for more information. The link to the program is provided in the Further...

In this chapter, we learned what SOLIDWORKS is, how parametric modeling works, and the different certifications offered by SOLIDWORKS. This will help us set our expectations and create our future development roadmap concerning SOLIDWORKS. It will also help us to understand the capabilities of the software and its vast scope. We also learned about the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, a comprehensive suite from Dassault Systèmes that enhances collaboration and streamlines workflow within the product development cycle, which is an integral part of the modern SOLIDWORKS ecosystem. In the next chapter, we will cover the SOLIDWORKS interface and its navigation. This will enable us to navigate the software and identify the different components that exist in its interface.

Answer the following questions to test your knowledge of this chapter:

1. What is SOLIDWORKS?
2. Name some industries that utilize SOLIDWORKS.
3. What is the 3DEXPERIENCE platform and how does it complement SOLIDWORKS?
4. Describe at least two benefits of using the 3DEXPERIENCE platform for a team working on a product design project.
5. How is parametric modeling defined?
6. What are the major advantages of parametric modeling?
7. What is the difference between parametric modeling and direct modeling?
8. What are the SOLIDWORKS certifications and why are they important?
9. What are the main categories of certification levels offered by SOLIDWORKS?

Important note

The answers to the preceding questions can be found at the end of this book.

More information about the 3DEXPERIENCE platform can be found here: https://www.3ds.com/3dexperience

More information about the certifications offered by SOLIDWORKS can be found here: https://www.solidworks.com/solidworks-certification-program