Editing 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}}</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}}</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}}</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}}</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}}</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>


==See also==
* [[Comparison of computer-aided design software]]
* [[List of 3D printing software]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
*{{Official website}}

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

{{DEFAULTSORT:Solidworks}}
[[Category:3D graphics software]]
[[Category:Windows-only proprietary 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]]