When I try to, the software indicates that it isn't possible due to the two lines being almost tangeant; which doesn't seem tru to me...

I need help learning the basics of SolidWorks Electrical. My mates and I have been assigned to learn it and teach the class. I need it to not be too complicated. I just need good resources to understand it and to teach the fundamentals to my CAD/CAM class.

Any help is appreciated. Thanks in advance.

I’m a Mechanical Engineering graduate currently working in the manufacturing industry, and I’m planning to learn SolidWorks from scratch with the goal of getting CSWA certified.
I have a basic understanding of engineering drawings and mechanical concepts from my degree, but I have very little practical experience with SolidWorks.
I’m planning to dedicate around 1 hour per day on weekdays and 2–4 hours on weekends. My target is to become confident enough to take and pass the CSWA exam within 5–6 months.
I’d really appreciate some advice from those who have already passed the CSWA or learned SolidWorks from scratch.
A few questions:
How long did it take you to go from a complete beginner to passing the CSWA exam?
Is 5–6 months a realistic target with my planned study schedule?
What topics should I focus on first, and in what order? I’m looking for a structured learning roadmap.
What are the best learning resources (Udemy, YouTube, official SolidWorks tutorials, etc.)?
How many practice parts or assemblies should I complete before attempting the exam?
How difficult is the actual CSWA exam compared to the available practice exams?
What common mistakes should beginners avoid while preparing?
My goal isn’t just to pass the certification exam. I also want to develop practical CAD modelling skills that will help me transition towards mechanical design or product engineering roles in the future.
If anyone could share their study roadmap, preparation timeline, recommended courses, or personal experience, I’d really appreciate it!
Thanks in advance!

I'm still kind of new to SW and the only studies that I'm familiar with is the motion study.

As a sort of challenge to myself/bit of fun/anything that isn't homework I've designed a suppressor.

I want to simulate the transient pressure that would occur during a shot to see if it would survive as it is. I tried the pressure vessel study but I don't think that it is what I am looking for. I've been messing around with the non linear study too but I cant seem to get it to work. Google said that what I need might be the flow simulation, but my school doesn't have that and I don't want to spend god knows how much just for a little fun project.

Funny enough while writing this I crashed SW trying to run another non linear study lmao

Am I just doing the simulations wrong? Am I using the wrong one? Or do I just need the flow sim? Is there another software I can get (preferably open source or free/discounted as a student) that can do this simulation for me?

Thank you all!

Hi all,

Been using inventor for years, but have reached the end of student license availability.

I think SOLIDWORKS maker might be my next best option, but was wondering if there were any good vids going over the major differences, workflow, etc so I can compare with other cad packages?

I'm trying to get a 45 degree cut on this sheet metal, but the cut keeps stopping short at the start of the flange and then lobbing off the extra tip at the end!

I've had clean 45 degree cuts before, but I can't figure out why getting that clean cut is such a challenge.

Does anyone know how to get a clean 45 degree cut?

EDIT:
Thank you, RussianBotProbably (your name is amusing), for your suggestion to turn off the Normal Cut option in the cut operation. That did the trick!

Hi all. I am looking for current laptop options around $2500.

I'm familiar with home built gaming rigs, but when it comes to laptops I am quickly finding I am a little lost.

I don't care about portability or battery life. I am more concerned about thermals, overall quality of components, and reliable dock systems, or does everything use USB-c now? Certified is nice but if I can get a significantly better system for the same price it is not required.

For simplicity, options from Dell or Microcenter would be nice.

Thank you all for any suggestions!

like the title reads I'm starting from zero i have my license and access to the free tutorials but i understand nothing from them or how to get them.

Hi everyone,
Im curious on what is the best way to model this feature. It is a sheet metal part.
The one shown in the image was drawn as a flat flange and made into a ring shape using flex option. But in assembly when I try to mate two such parts im unable to coincide their top planes and make them concentric as these two mates over define each other. Because apparently they aren't parrellel by a very small angle.
Then I tried extrude/revolve to make the ring and then creating the teeth as a curve driven pattern. But it didnt turn out correctly.
If you know an easier method please do share.

Hey all

This has happened to me a couple of times but not all the time, i was wondering if anyone has any insight into why this is happening or how to rectify it. Feel free to ask any questions.

Hi guys, good day! I am working on a project and my client sent me a .prt file(the only file that they have) and mentioned it was created using the software CADkey. I tried opening the file using SolidWorks(it can open the file but it extracted a messy assembly file), fusion, inventor and onshape and find no luck in opening it at the proper scale. Can anyone help me find or suggest a process in opening this kind of file? Thank you!

Join us live today for EPIC CAD challenges! 1 PM - https://www.youtube.com/live/GDPnhsmn84A

Hello,

Im trying to do a replace surface thing. But when i do it, it looks janky as hell, and somehow the other half of my part worked!! whyyy

Back in 2000 I started a machine design business, PCO Design inc. I worked with my local VR Prism for software, licensing, hardware. I was able to qualify for SEAP, through Pennsylvania CareerLink. Without this socialist program I would not have been able to start my company.

Thank you to everyone that helped me and my family.

Just modeled this Beautiful Rambo II knife in Solidworks and applied some details on it .

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/hFUqKBTsxGI

I only have this video as a source, I have used solidworks and autocad previously.... but I don't have its dimentions. I only have this video.

I ain't concered about the dimentions I just need to make something that looks like this.
Would be grateful for all sorts of advice on how to proceed. I have like a week.

I understand this has been an ongoing issue and that there is a HotFix to patch it. I downloaded and installed the HotFix and I'm still getting this issue. I can open a brand new Part, and as soon as I try to pick a Plane, I'll get the blue-spinning wheel and it will STAY like that until I click around and then I'll get the error message that Solidworks 2026 needs to close. I even uninstalled and reinstalled everything brand new thinking maybe there was an issue when I updated from 2025 to 2026, and still have the same problem. I even tried installing it on an older machine (that one uses Windows 10.) And again, same issue. If installing the HotFix has evidently solved everyone else's problems, what am I missing?

Question: Design and draw drilling jig for drilling 2 holes of 9mm diameter for the component shown in the figure. Drawing of jig assembly with part list, material spec, clamp positions and force calculations.

I've got to submit this assignment tomorrow, and I literally don't know anything about jig design, please if someone can help with this I'd really appreciate it⚙️

I'll easily design this component (obv) but not the jig, please someone help

The fist tower computer I bought for my company, PCO Design, in 2000 was a Dell running Windows ME. What a piece of crap. They sent 95 to replace it for free.

Hi,
Recenlty I was hired to make 3d models of the checkered chessboard with rail-slide mechanism DFM, I have completed the project, delivered files to my hirer. Now I am waiting for payment, which is to be released by him after his client's approval of te design. He did not agree on paying some % as advance payment
#solidworks #cad #dfm #freelance #fiverr #upwork

Nearly five hundred lines of code to automatically generate DXF flat patterns from a multi body sheet metal part for the workshop.

File names are the folder name and the description from the model tree with the metal thickness and quantity.

It separates the flat patterns into sub folders by metal thickness and generates an output log.