【2025】Beginner’s guide to using SolidWorks! – Create a sketch, 3D model, or 2D drawing

Here is a beginner’s guide to using SolidWorks!
SolidWorks is a 3D CAD software widely used in design.

I’ll explain how to use SolidWorks by creating a 3D part model of a simple flange. We’ll create the flange shown below.

I hope this article is useful for your designs and drawings in future!

1. What kind of software is SolidWorks?

SolidWorks is a 3D CAD software program for machine design released by Dassault Systemes in France.

SolidWorks is one of the most popular and widely used 3D CAD software programs, with a large installed base (5.6 million users worldwide as of October 2018).

It is used for design in a broad range of industries, including  industrial equipment, medical devices, architecture and factory design.

2. SolidWorks pricing

The price of SolidWorks (as of August 2019) is JPY985,000 to JPY1,580,000, depending on the desired functionality.

For more details, go to the official websit.

3. Features of SolidWorks

Solidworks has a wide range of features such as sheet metal, welding, moulding, data conversion and animation, along with plenty of additional options developed by other vendors. This makes it very versatile and suitable for use in many different industries.

It also has CAM features up to 2.5D.

4. Create a new file

OK then, let’s get started!
Click [File] then [New]. Select [Part] from file types to create the file, and click [OK].

5. Create a circle using the sketch command

Once you have created the file, create a sketch to create a profile.

When you create a sketch, you need to specify the plane you are working on.

In this example, I want to create a sketch on the top plane, so select [Top Plane] from the tree on the left of the screen.

Next, select the [Sketch] tab under the menu and then select [Circle].

Now we are going to create a circle.

First click on the point that will be the centre of the circle, then click on a point of your choice to define the size of the circle.

Next, set the size of the circle using [Properties] on the left side of the screen.

Enter “80mm” for the radius.

6. Extrude the sketch to create a 3D model 

Now we will extrude the circle and make it a 3D solid model. 

Click the Sketch in the tree on the left side of the screen.

Click [Feature], then click [Extrude] and drag the arrow up. A preview image appears. Set the height to 30mm.

7. Create a boss on a top surface

Next, we will create a boss on the top surface of the cylinder we created earlier.

First, create a sketch for the profile of the boss.

Click on the top face of the cylinder as we need to define the face on which we will create the new sketch.

Then we do the same as before.

Click [Sketch] and then click [Circle]. Click the centre of the cylinder to set the centre of the new circle, then set its diameter.

We will now create a boss based on the new circle.

Select the circle from the tree and click [Properties] then [Extrude] to create a boss 40mm high.

8. Create a through-hole

We will now create a hole at the top of the boss.

Create a sketch for the profile of the hole in the same way as you created the boss and click [Features] then [Extruded Cut].

Drag the arrow down far enough to penetrate the cylinder.

9. Create a rib

We will now create a rib for reinforcement.

We do this by creating a profile using the line command.

This time we will create a sketch on the Front plane. Select [Front Plane] from the tree.

This view will make sketching on the front plane easier.

There is also a setting which automatically switches views when creating a sketch.

Check out our earlier article “Introducing optional settings to make it easier to create sketches in SOLIDWORKS” for more information.

Select [Sketch] then [Line]. Click two points to create a line as shown below.

Once you have finished the sketch, go back to the previous view.

Select [Features] then [Rib] and set the thickness to 5mm to create a rib.

10. Make a circular pattern of the rib

You can choose to create three more ribs at each of the remaining three locations, but I will show you a more efficient way to reproduce the rib around the circle.

Select [Features] and then [Circular Pattern].

Select the top of the through-hole to specify the rotation axis and check [Equal Spacing].

Set the angle to “360” and the number to “4”.

11. Dimension a sketch

We are going to make a through hole to complete the flange.

First draw a circle by clicking [Sketch] and then [Circle] at a location of your choice.

After creating the circle, select [Sketch] and then [Smart Dimensions]. Click the origin point and the centre of the circle. By setting the dimensions as shown below, we can specify the position of the circle.

Select [Features] then [Extruded Cut] to make a through- hole.

After that, copy the hole by clicking [Features] and [Circular Pattern]. Then your flange is finished.

12. Create a drawing

Finally, we will create a 2D drawing from the 3D model of the flange we created earlier.

First, name and save the 3D model file.

Then click on [File], [New] and [Drawing].

Choose a sheet size and click [OK].

Click [Browse] and choose the file you have just saved (3D solid part model of the flange).

Choose the display direction and click the drawing sheet to set it.

Finally, set the dimensions by clicking [Annotation] then [Smart Dimension].

For those who want to master SolidWorks and use it on the job, I recommend the SolidWorks Master Course, which teaches you the key operations for SolidWorks operations in two days.

This course is designed to give you the skills to use SolidWorks on the job based on actual workflows.

I recommend this course because it gives you a comprehensive overview of the commands you need to do your job, such as design changes, assemblies, and drawing creation.

Click here for more details on the SolidWorks Master Course.

13. Summary

In this article, I’ve explained the basic operations for designing and creating drawings using SolidWorks.

SolidWorks 3D CAD software has many features and is widely used in the design and manufacturing fields.

By understanding its basic features and how to use them, you can expand the range of manufacturing method options available to you.

We have many other articles on design methods using SolidWorks and other features of the software. Feel free to take a look at these too!