SolidWorks Hive

SolidWorks is probably the most balanced and most user friendly piece of CAD package you will ever find on market. You shouldn't have any doubts about it.

It's often advertized as the easiest to learn and conquer of all of 3D CAD packages in Windows environment, and nothing is more true.

At first SolidWorks was independent company which was later acquired by Dassault Systemes, owner and developer of Catia, together with IBM.

Pretty much any engineer/drafter who inclines toward 3D and who is familiar with Windows OS environment will learn to do basic things in a day or two with a right person who could show him/her several basic steps. And proficiency is gained in a matter of weeks.

This is probably the 3D CAD you will learn fastest of all, and you'll be amazed with what you have learned in less than a month of everyday use.

All of this is possible because of its superior user friendly interface, complete compatibility with windows's methods and system commands (cut, copy, paste, selection tools with Shift and Ctrl buttons, etc...) and probably the best implemented, best organized and clearest Help System and Basic Tutorials of all CAD packages (press "F1" at any moment if you have any trouble with feature or command you're working with currently, and you'll know what I'm talking about).

It has very useful system of tips and tricks when you start the program (which you should read by all means, instead of turning it off immediately, especially if you are a beginner), self-explainatory icons, pleasent appearance of main graphic windows and beautiful feedback and clear UI elements on screen.

SolidWorks is often assorted as so-called "mid-range" (or middle-range) CAD package among various CAD systems ("top-range" are Catia, Pro/E and NX, and until recently in this group was SDRC I-DEAS, before it was acquired by NX).

Autodesk Inventor and Siemens Solid Edge also fall into this group of so-called mid-range CAD packages.

But there is nothing in a real engineering everyday practice that makes these "mid-range" CAD packages more inferior than so-called "top-range".

Maybe it's so, if you are in automotive/aerospace/shipbuilding or aesthetic consumer-goods/home appliances product development. But even in these areas of advanced surface modeling and industrial design, there are far more advanced tools and specialized packages then any top-range CAD will ever have. Hint: has anybody heard for Icem Surf?

Let's simply put it this way: from design engineer's point of view 95% of things yo can do with Catia,Pro/E or NX you can also do with SolidWorks, sometimes even much faster than with these "giants".

SolidWorks maybe doesn't have so advanced surface-design modules or powerful CAM/CAE implemented in one integrated package from a start as these big players in industry have, but it's much easier to learn, it's intuitive and it's far more cheaper for small/medium enterprises to purchase.

And is completely capable to efficiently and fast get the usual mechanical designer's job done.

If you could gather 3 equally proficient CAD users (one Catia user, one Pro/E user and one SolidWorks user) and give them to do the same job in their favourite CAD package (for example, usual, solid-features based part, with no sculptural or freeform surfaces), who do you think would done the jobe fastest?

Most probably it would be a SolidWorks user.

And one more remark only for beginner users of SolidWorks-if you ever get stucked in SolidWorks, trying to figure out what to do next, try the RMB ("right mouse button").

This is maybe the most RMB-oriented CAD package you'll ever find. And it's context-menu is almost perfect.

I've began to work with SolidWorks since version 2001, somewhere at the end of 2002. I was so inspired with this program that I've gone through all the tutorials, examples and complete Help system that came with this version.

In one moment, while I was trying to achieve a goal using my (in that time, after few months of exercizing it) already advanced comprehension and skills of the program, I got the message box implemented by SolidWorks developers, that said something like this:

"Dear user, the thing you are trying to accomplish in this way right now is still not implemented in this release of SolidWorks.

You can expect these features/methods implemented in further releases of software. Your SolidWorks Team".

This message has absolutely "bought" me in that time. I've never seen more meaningful message in any CAD system previously.

And certainly is more appealing then "Press OK to terminate", message you'll very often encounter in one of the top-range CAD packages.

In recent releases, SolidWorks had major changes in UI but it still remains the first choice of CAD package for many engineers and companies.

It is efficient, user-friendly, easy to learn and comprehend and to get the job done fast and accurate.

Examples of my works/exercises in SolidWorks you can find on this page.