View source for SolidWorks

{{Short description|Desktop software for 3D modeling}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox software
| name = SolidWorks
| logo = SolidWorks Logo.svg
| screenshot = File:SolidWorks 2023 3D Assembly.png
| caption = SolidWorks 2023 displaying a 3D assembly.
| developer = [[Dassault Systèmes]]
| released = {{Start date and age|1995|11|01}}<ref name="The future of Solidworks">{{cite web |url= http://blog.dasisolutions.com/2011/09/27/the-future-of-solidworks-has-always-been-in-your-hands/ |title= The future of Solidworks |date= September 27, 2011 |access-date= May 6, 2016 |archive-date= April 12, 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170412180053/http://blog.dasisolutions.com/2011/09/27/the-future-of-solidworks-has-always-been-in-your-hands/ |url-status= dead }}</ref>
| latest release version = SolidWorks 2024
| latest release date = {{dts|2023|09|26}}
| operating system = [[Microsoft Windows]]
| language = Chinese, Chinese Simplified, Czech, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Turkish
| genre = [[Computer-aided design|CAD]] [[Computer-aided engineering|CAE]] [[Product Data Management|PDM]] [[Product Lifecycle Management|PLM]]
| license = [[Software license#Proprietary software licenses|Proprietary]], term
| website = {{URL|https://www.solidworks.com/|solidworks.com}}
}}

'''SolidWorks''' (stylized as '''SOLIDWORKS''') is a brand of software used for [[solid modeling]] [[computer-aided design]] (CAD) and [[computer-aided engineering]] (CAE).<ref name="a">{{Cite web |last=Durham |first=Phil |date=2022-01-25 |title=What is SolidWorks? |url=https://www.technia.us/blog/what-is-solidworks/ |access-date=2023-09-05 |website=Technia (US) |language=en-US}}</ref> It was one of the first 3D CAD applications designed to run on a desktop PC.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bethany |date=2017-12-07 |title=A Brief History Of SolidWorks |url=https://www.scan2cad.com/blog/cad/solidworks-history/ |access-date=2023-09-05 |website=Scan2CAD |language=en-US}}</ref>

The brand is owned by French software company [[Dassault Systèmes]].

==History==
SolidWorks Corporation was established in December 1993 by [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology|MIT]] graduate [[Jon Hirschtick]], who used funds from his time with the [[MIT Blackjack Team]] to start the company.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SolidWorks Founders Reunite to Ponder Their Second Act |url=https://www.thecadinsider.com/2012/11/solidworks-founders-reunite-to-ponder-their-second-act.html |access-date=2023-09-05 |website=The CAD Insider |archive-date=September 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230905182839/https://www.thecadinsider.com/2012/11/solidworks-founders-reunite-to-ponder-their-second-act.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author=Bob Tremblay |date=2008-03-26 |title={{sic|nolink=y|reason=error in source|Fomer}} MIT blackjack team member talks about breaking the bank |url=https://www.standard-journal.com/article_7ad892c5-7cbd-5144-aa7d-2036702b5d68.html |access-date=2023-09-05 |website=standard-journal.com |language=en |archive-date=September 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230905182839/https://www.standard-journal.com/article_7ad892c5-7cbd-5144-aa7d-2036702b5d68.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Hirschtick's aim was to develop a user-friendly, cost-effective 3D CAD software for the Windows desktop. Originally based in [[Concord, Massachusetts]], the company later moved to [[Waltham, Massachusetts]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Solidworks: Engineering 4.0 |url=https://www.tecnetinc.com/Solidworks%20engineerng%204-0.html |access-date=2023-09-05 |website=www.tecnetinc.com |archive-date=May 20, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240520054614/http://tecnetinc.com/Solidworks%20engineerng%204-0.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Petrock |first1=Stephen |title=An Introduction to SOLIDWORKS |url=https://www.engineering.com/story/an-introduction-to-solidworks |website=Engineering.com |date=September 22, 2023 |publisher=Copyright 2024 WTWH Media LLC |access-date=17 April 2024}}</ref> Its first product, SolidWorks 95, was released in November 1995.<ref name="The History of SolidWorks">{{Cite web |last=Brejcha |first=Bart |title=From Origins To Now: The History Of The SolidWorks Saga |url=https://design-engine.com/from-origins-to-now-the-history-of-the-solidworks-saga |access-date=2024-03-14 |website=www.design-engine.com |date=March 14, 2024 |language=en-us}}</ref> In 1997, Dassault Systèmes, known for its [[CATIA]] CAD software, acquired SolidWorks for $310 million in stock.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1997-06-25 |title=Dassault Systemes Is Acquiring SolidWorks |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/06/25/business/dassault-systemes-is-acquiring-solidworks.html |access-date=2023-09-05 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=September 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230905182838/https://www.nytimes.com/1997/06/25/business/dassault-systemes-is-acquiring-solidworks.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1999, SolidWorks started introducing software for 3D modeling, and in 2006 introduced SolidWorks Design-to-Manufacturing solutions, an integrated system enabling design and manufacturing teams to work together concurrently. {{cn|date=April 2025}}

As of 2024, SolidWorks had an estimated 7.5 million users.<ref>{{cite web | last = Petrock | first = Stephen | title = The Guide to Passing the SOLIDWORKS CSWP | url = https://www.engineering.com/the-guide-to-passing-the-solidworks-cswp/| website = Engineering.com | date = June 15, 2023 | access-date = December 20, 2024}}</ref> 

==Modeling technology==
[[File:Swstapler00.jpg|thumb|right|Screenshot captured from a SolidWorks top-down design approach]]
[[File:Sw03.jpg|thumb|left|Screenshot captured from a SolidWorks top-down design approach]]
SolidWorks is a [[solid modeling|solid modeler]], and utilizes a [[Solid modeling|parametric feature-based]] approach which was initially developed by PTC (Creo/Pro-Engineer) to create 3D CAD models and assemblies. The software uses the [[Parasolid]] modeling kernel.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2007-04-30 |title=Stepping outside of the parametric feature-based paradigm in SolidWorks |url=https://dezignstuff.com/12/ |access-date=2023-09-05 |language=en-US}}</ref>

SolidWorks software includes tools for analyses and simulations, such as Finite Element Analysis, which supports modeling, design, and collaborative work.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Alba |first1=Michael |title=Sports Cars and Chin-Up Bars: Accelerating Designs with SOLIDWORKS Simulation |url=https://www.engineering.com/story/sports-cars-and-chin-up-bars-accelerating-designs-with-solidworks-simulation |website=Engineering.com |date=July 14, 2020 |publisher=Copyright 2024 WTWH Media LLC |access-date=17 April 2024}}</ref>

SolidWorks offers multiple work tools to be used when building system assemblies such as the interference detection tool. This enables the detection of potential interfering part which could cause issue in the assembly system. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Patil |first=Rajesh V. |date=2025 |title=Performance Assessment of Sagacious E-Powertrain Tiller for Smart Farming. |url=https://doi.org/10.25103/jestr.184.20 |url-status=unfit |access-date=November 6, 2025}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Comparison of computer-aided design software]]
* [[List of 3D printing software]]
* [[Power Surfacing]] – allows users to create and edit complex freeform surfaces in SolidWorks

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
*{{Official website}}
* SOLIDWORKS Value Added Partner :[https://www.goengineer.com/ Goengineer], [https://www.visiativ.com/ Visiativ], [https://www.ohmycad.com/en/ Ohmycad], ...

{{Dassault Systèmes}}
{{CAD software}}
{{CAE software}}
{{PDM software}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Solidworks}}
[[Category:3D graphics software]]
[[Category:Proprietary software]]
[[Category:Windows-only software]]
[[Category:Solid mechanics]]
[[Category:Product design]]
[[Category:Computer-aided design software for Windows]]
[[Category:1995 software]]
[[Category:Dassault Systèmes]]
[[Category:1993 establishments in Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Companies established in 1993]]