What does SolidWorks do?
Is SolidWorks easy to use?
How does SolidWorks work?
What does SolidWorks Viewer do?
Does SolidWorks work on Windows 7?
Is there a SolidWorks trial?
Is SolidWorks free?
How much does SolidWorks cost?
Why should I register my SolidWorks Software?
What should I do if I can’t register? I only get an SR number.
How do I get a Home Use License (HUL) so that I can use SolidWorks at home?
What does SolidWorks do?
At its core, SolidWorks helps mechanical engineers design products. SolidWorks does this by making it easy for the designer to visualize and communicate a 3D concept. The designer can make changes to the design, validate the design against requirements, and prepare the design for production in manufacturing.
Is SolidWorks easy to use?
Yes, SolidWorks is easy to use. It’s also easy to learn, which is not always the same thing.
SolidWorks is a very sophisticated software, meaning that it has broad and deep functionality. There is a lot to learn, but the learning is straightforward and intuitive, and easy to remember later. And, there are lots of shortcuts and customizations you can do to make using SolidWorks even easier (and faster) once you learn it.
This opens the door for many techniques. For these reasons, training is highly recommended so that you can make the best choices when working with all of SolidWorks’ easy-to-use capabilities.
The biggest challenge for many of CAPINC’s training participants is trying to unlearn the habits and peculiarities of older, hard-to-use software.
How does SolidWorks work?
SolidWorks is a computer-aided design software which runs on the Microsoft Windows platform. It uses a mouse-driven graphical user interface to enable engineers and designers to visualize and communicate 3D models of manufactured objects.
SolidWorks works extremely well for mechanical design and similar industries requiring precise definition of 3D shapes and their design intent. It is very popular because of its unprecedented balance of power and ease-of-use.
What does SolidWorks Viewer do?
The SolidWorks Viewer was the original viewing application that opens Parts, Assemblies and Drawings. SolidWorks files cannot be changed in the Viewer, nor saved by the Viewer. The Viewer is only a tool for displaying and printing SolidWorks files. The original SolidWorks viewer is no longer available and has been replaced by eDrawings.
eDrawings dramatically eases the sharing of product design information. With eDrawings Viewer, anyone with a PC (and some Macs) can interpret and understand 2D and 3D design data. The eDrawings viewer can open native SolidWorks documents as well as PTC Creo (Pro/ENGINEER) parts and assemblies, AutoCAD DXF/DWG format as well as documents published from a CAD Application as an eDrawing. To learn more and to download the viewer, go to: www.edrawingsviewer.com
Does SolidWorks work on Windows 7?
SolidWorks 2010 SP1.0 was the first version to officially support Windows 7. CAPINC recommends Windows 7 for SolidWorks 2011 and later. 64-bit is preferred but 32-bit is acceptable.
For versions older than SolidWorks 2010 SP1.0: The SolidWorks 2009 SP5 Installation Manager prevents installation on Windows 7. Some users have reported being able to work around this using manual downloads instead of the Installation Manager. SolidWorks 2009 SP4 and earlier does not prevent installation on Windows 7 but doing so is not officially supported and SolidWorks may not run well, if at all. Some users have reported better results by using Compatability Mode.
Is there a SolidWorks trial?
Yes, there is a trial license available for SolidWorks, Simulation and Technical Publishing products. This can be accomplished by contacting CAPINC to request a trial. The duration of this evaluation period is 30 days from delivery of a serial number. DVD Media can be requested for a trial. CAPINC recommends taking the SolidWorks Essentials training course at a local CAPINC office to accompany your trial to ensure a successful evaluation or take a free Hands On Test Drive which will reduce the amount of time it takes to evaluate the software.
Is SolidWorks free?
There is no free version of SolidWorks. There is no SolidWorks Lite.
What does SolidWorks cost?
The basic commercial license of SolidWorks has not changed in price since it was first released in 1996. One license is $3995. Annual Subscription service, which covers technical support and upgrades for one year, is $1295.
Most customers decide to extend their design environment with the bundled add-ins of SolidWorks Professional or SolidWorks Premium licenses. Network (floating) licenses are also popular. Training is very important for getting your money’s worth out of your purchase. If you are just getting started with SolidWorks and want to make the math easy, budget about $10K per user.
Why should I register my SolidWorks Software?
Registering the software on the SolidWorks Customer Portal gives you access to the SolidWorks Knowledge Base, the SolidWorks Forums, and other valuable resources, including Service Pack downloads.
What should I do if I can’t register? I only get an SR number.
Your Customer Portal registration is a transaction between you and SolidWorks Corporation, not CAPINC. Please contact the SolidWorks Customer Center at 1-800-693-9000.
How do I get a Home Use License (HUL) so that I can use SolidWorks at home?
Have your CAD Administrator contact us. Only one person at any company is given access to that serial number. If you are the CAD Administrator, please contact us for the required application.