Best Way To Learn SOLIDWORKS and How Long Does It Take To Do So

How to learn solidworks
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SOLIDWORKS is Computer Aided Designing (CAD) software. If you have been wondering lately; what is the best way to learn SOLIDWORKS, which is the best resource to go for, and what should you learn first – then this is the article for you!

 

Here, we will not only introduce you to SOLIDWORKS but also provide you with a step-by-step guide on how to learn SOLIDWORKS for free.

 

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Can I Learn SOLIDWORKS On My Own?

If you are second-guessing your self-learning abilities because learning SOLIDWORKS on your own seems extremely difficult, then rest assured, it is very much possible for almost anyone to learn SOLIDWORKS by themselves.

 

You can learn and master SOLIDWORKS on your own just by putting in some amount of effort and time regularly.

 

Steps to Learn SOLIDWORKS From Scratch To Expert Level

Make sure you have the desired Prerequisites: Every learner willing to learn SOLIDWORKS on their own must have a personal computer with 64bit Intel or AMD processor, 16 GB or more RAM, Certified cards and drivers, SSD card for optimal performance.

 

Read up about SOLIDWORKS: Having a good theoretical concept of what you are about to learn is extremely important before diving deep into the practical implementations of the subject. Once your theoretical concepts are clear, you can perform practical usage in no time.

 

Look for Resources online: Wondering ‘how to learn SOLIDWORKS fast?’ There are lots of resources available online that can help you learn SOLIDWORKS for absolutely free or for a very nominal cost.

 

There are several videos available on YouTube that teach the basics of SOLIDWORKS in a very detailed manner. There are also SOLIDWORKS courses available on educational platforms like Udemy, Coursera, etc. that provide SOLIDWORKS training as well as certification.

 

Get familiar with the User Interface: It is imperative to get used to the software interface when learning new technology. Students can learn how to use SOLIDWORKS only when they have gotten used to the user interface.

 

SOLIDWORKS software can seem intimidating at first because it has a large number of features and options. However, one must make sure to not get frustrated and to try to navigate the features one by one.

 

The Menu bar has the most commonly used tools, the command manager has tabs that you can use to gain access to new tools, and there is also a Help option that will assist you in case you ever can’t figure out how to do a certain task.

 

Learn the Basic Components: Some of the most basic features of SOLIDWORKS include ‘Sketch’, ‘Boss Extrude’, ‘Revolve’, ‘Extrude Cut’, and ‘Hole Wizard’. You have to understand the functions of these components before you can build anything on SOLIDWORKS software.

 

Build something basic: Now that you have learned all the basic features and operations of the software and gotten used to its user interface, you could try experimenting with building basic 2D designs just to keep in touch with whatever you have learned.

 

Try looking up books or the internet forums for basic beginner projects and try building them on your own. It is one of the best ways to learn SOLIDWORKS by yourself.

 

Learn about the advanced features while practicing the basics: Once you have mastered the basics, you can start with learning new advanced features like Surfacing, Weldments, API, and Sheetmetal.

 

Make a proper SOLIDWORKS project that you can showcase on your resume: The final step towards mastering SOLIDWORKS is to make a proper project that will require you to implement a variety of features, components, ideas, and concepts. You can showcase that project on your resume to support your claim of proficiency.

 

So if you were thinking ‘Can I learn SOLIDWORKS on my own?’ We hope you now know that the answer is an absolute yes!

 

Resources to Learn About SOLIDWORKS

1. YouTube and Free tutorials – Watching free online tutorials is one of the easiest ways to learn SOLIDWORKS. You can hop onto any website that provides free mini-tutorials on SOLIDWORKS.

 

YouTube can also prove to be very useful in helping you to figure out how to learn SOLIDWORKS quickly. Several professionals make educational videos on YouTube and you can avail of them free of cost. These videos are not time-consuming and explain important terminologies in a very simple manner.

 

2. Books and Blogs – Understanding how SOLIDWORKS is implemented in the corporate world, you should have a very good understanding of its theoretical concepts (i.e. the concepts of mechanical drawings, 3D visualization, and so on). Only books can provide you with this level of information.

 
You must purchase a good book with spectacular reviews to form a solid foundation for SOLIDWORKS. There are several informative textbooks available in the market and even online from where you can gather all the necessary information to learn SOLIDWORKS.

 

It is always advisable to invest in books because you can refer to them anytime even in the future.

 

Blogs written by SOLIDWORKS experts are another wonderful way to increase your theoretical knowledge. However, books and blogs alone are not enough because they only give you a preliminary theoretical understanding. You need to have a practical experience to master SOLIDWORKS.

 

3. Webinars and forums – There are many webinars held on SOLIDWORKS by various educational platforms. Webinars are a great way to be introduced into the world of SOLIDWORKS and 3D designing.

 
These Webinars are usually conducted by industrial experts and will discuss the advantages, common problems faced, and prospects of learning SOLIDWORKS. There exist several forums of SOLIDWORKS too where people ask about their doubts and someone from the community answers those questions.

 

4. Learn from the official site – Dassault Systems, that is, the original developers of SOLIDWORKS bring to you a variety of SOLIDWORKS courses online that you can use to up-skill or re-skill yourself in the domain of 3D CAD designing and modeling.

 
You can purchase these courses depending on your prior knowledge and skills in the domain of SOLIDWORKS. These are the best online courses for SOLIDWORKS for professionals and students alike

 

The official site of SOLIDWORKS has a webpage dedicated to ‘SOLIDWORKS training’ which provides you with materials and training that you would require to learn SOLIDWORKS like a professional.

 

It is one of the best ways to learn SOLIDWORKS because the official website always has premium content and covers all concepts revolving around SOLIDWORKS in detail.

 

5. Getting Certified through Online Courses – The next step in the process of learning SOLIDWORKS would be to take up an online SOLIDWORKS course from any Ed-Tech platform like Udemy, Coursera, edX, and their alike to study SOLIDWORKS in-depth and finally apply what you have learned so far in real life through tasks given in the courses.
 

These courses take time to complete and they tend to test your knowledge along the way. The majority of these courses provide valuable certificates that boost your resume. You can opt for these courses to learn how to use SOLIDWORKS like a pro and get certified in SOLIDWORKS simultaneously!

 

6. Install, configure and run SOLIDWORKS to practice regularly – To be able to use SOLIDWORKS as proficiently as a professional, one needs to practice regularly. You can easily install the SOLIDWORKS software for your specific operating system through the official website of SOLIDWORKS.
 

A zipped file will be installed in your system (only possible if you purchase the SOLIDWORKS license). Unzip the file through any standard unzipping software and then use the knowledge you have gained through books, tutorials, and online courses to practice building models using SOLIDWORKS.

 

The best way to learn SOLIDWORKS when you are just starting with it is by trying to graphically replicate everyday objects you see lying around you.

 

There are several features and elements that you will have to be thorough with before you can master them. The only way to ensure that is to dedicate enough time to practicing SOLIDWORKS on your PC.

 

How Long Does It Take To Learn SOLIDWORKS?

Although it highly varies from person to person, the average time taken by a beginner is approximately 1 month.

 

If you have a strong Mechanical Engineering background and are passionate about learning SOLIDWORKS, you can learn it in about 2 to 3 weeks. However, the best way to learn SOLIDWORKS is to take your time understanding and practicing it.

 

How Much Does SOLIDWORKS Training Cost?

There are numerous SOLIDWORKS training courses available online and each training falls under a separate cost bracket owing to the duration of the course, the difficulty level of the course, and the credibility of the certification that the training site provides.

 

The average cost of a standard SOLIDWORKS training course is around $100. However, if you are worried about the cost, don’t be because this article informs you on how to learn SOLIDWORKS for free yourself.

 

Online resources like articles, e-books, and YouTube can be used for no additional expense to understand SOLIDWORKS’ foundations.

 

How Do I Get Good At SOLIDWORKS?

Like getting good at any skill, attaining perfection in SOLIDWORKS too requires lots and lots of practice as there is no substitute for hard work. If you want to get good at SOLIDWORKS to make a career out of it, your basics of Mechanical Drawing should be amazing, as well as you must practice building 3D designs regularly on the SOLIDWORKS software.

 

By the time you know how to learn SOLIDWORKS online and are familiar with the basic concepts and user interface, then it is time you start building basic projects and move on to more complex, standard projects.

 

Once you can construct proper quality projects by yourself using SOLIDWORKS, you might consider taking up an internship where you can learn more about how to use SOLIDWORKS in a professional environment through industry experts. Also, try getting certified to portray your efficiency and command over SOLIDWORKS.

 

FAQs

Q. Is SOLIDWORKS free for students?

Ans: Yes! SOLIDWORKS has been made available free of cost to students enrolled in any full-time educational institution. Every student whose institute doesn’t already have a SOLIDWORKS educational program qualifies for a free personal SOLIDWORKS license.

 

If the school already offers a course to students, it will be able to give those students the certificate directly.

 

Q. How can I practice SOLIDWORKS at home?

Ans: Once you have installed SOLIDWORKS on your personal computer, you can practice at home by trying to design and construct everyday objects around you. You can also look up projects on SOLIDWORKS and pick what you want to build according to your level of understanding.

 

Q. How to learn SOLIDWORKS fast?

Ans: There is no shortcut to mastering SOLIDWORKS. If students want to acquire talent, they must put in time and effort.

 

However, if they are interested in it temporarily for some mandatory project, then taking up a comprehensive online course might be the fastest way to learn some important and frequently used concepts of SOLIDWORKS.

 

Q. Can I learn SOLIDWORKS without AutoCAD?

Ans: SOLIDWORKS and AutoCAD are two separate software used in Computer-Aided-Designing.

 

While having a firm grasp on both can be handy, SOLIDWORKS and AutoCAD are independent, and there is no mandatory rule or requirement for one to know AutoCAD before learning SOLIDWORKS. AutoCAD is not a prerequisite for learning SOLIDWORKS.

 

To Sum Up…

Hope this guide gave you an idea of how to learn SOLIDWORKS quickly at home. It is best to start with the basics and get a broad idea of how SOLIDWORKS functions. Then, move on to more advanced learning resources like courses, combined with SOLIDWORKS books, and practical projects, and most importantly – regular practice!

 

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