Millions of researchers, educators, and students around the globe use SOLIDWORKS to teach and learn industry-standard 3D Computer-Aided Design (CAD). Beyond the 33,500 academic institutions that have adopted SOLIDWORKS software, makers and DIY enthusiasts use SOLIDWORKS at home. SOLIDWORKS price options are available for individual makers who don’t have the larger budgets that college and university departments do but who have dreams that are just as big.
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A Crash Course in SOLIDWORKS
3D CAD programs allow makers and designers to visualize their designs in three dimensions before building or 3D printing them. These designs can be created and assessed with a high degree of technical detail and precision, which allows prototyping to happen virtually and makes it possible for makers to spot errors on the screen before any materials are used, which is one reason 3D CAD software has become pervasive in high-dollar industries like aerospace engineering, medical and dental devices, and manufacturing. Besides saving time and materials, the software also makes it easy for different designers and teams to assess and edit the same design quickly, making collaboration a hands-on experience.
SOLIDWORKS speeds the process up further because it is a parametric approach to 3D CAD. Rather than requiring direct modeling, SOLIDWORKS gives designers a platform for inputting crucial parameters and constraints. This means that a maker can either change a design or generate entire new versions of a design by changing just a few variables, rather than needing to make changes by redrawing the model. It is easier to unlock your creativity when you can quickly review simulations of multiple possible modifications or entirely new designs.
A Suite of Modeling Apps and Tools
That parametric-based approach has made SOLIDWORKS one of the most popular 3D CAD programs on the market, with 7.5 million users by the end of last year; it was also one of the first 3D CAD programs designed to run on a desktop PC, with its first release in 1995. Today, the brand includes a full suite of modeling tools and browsing apps.
These include:
- 3D Sculptor, a browser-based app for creating stylized, ergonomic designs.
- 3D SheetMetal Creator, applying parametric design to sheet metal components and equipment.
- 3D Mold Creator, which specializes in intuitive mold design, automating the design of mold core, cavity, and inserts.
- 3D Structure Creator, a modeling tool that offers a detailed interface for designing structures.
- Manufacturing Definition Creator, which integrates 3D modeling and drawing into one app.
These tools allow designers to see photorealistic renders of their models and to conduct sophisticated analyses of their designs, including structural analysis, motion studies, and computational fluid dynamics. The platform also includes cloud-based collaboration and file management.
All of this has made SOLIDWORKS integral to many academic programs and workforce integrations of 3D CAD. It has been used to design automobiles, dental implants, bridges, and aircraft components—and not just to design the components but to simulate how the components will perform under various stresses and weather conditions. SOLIDWORKS and other 3D CAD platforms have become essential to design and manufacturing to such a degree that the startup SolidProfessor has built a library of over 15,000 training videos on SOLIDWORKS to help address the skilled labor shortage in 3D design and modeling.
Pricing Options for Every Maker
So what does SOLIDWORKS cost? The price of the software varies depending on the intended use. SOLIDWORKS for Makers is a stripped-down but still powerful 3D CAD software package for individual users and can be purchased for only $48 annually. Enterprise packages, meanwhile, range from a Standard option at $2,820 annually and a Premium option at $4,716 annually. Quarterly pricing is also available.
