From the engineering blog
Hands-on SOLIDWORKS guides, product walkthroughs and CAD best practices — published live from our team.
How to Set Up Your First PDM Vault (Step by Step)
A practical, start-to-finish walkthrough for your first SOLIDWORKS PDM vault — server prep, SQL Express, licence activation, the vault creation wizard screen by screen, and the configuration that actually matters before you let a designer near it.
SOLIDWORKS PDM Standard vs Professional: Which Do You Need?
PDM Standard is free with SOLIDWORKS Professional and Premium — PDM Professional is a paid step up. Here's the honest breakdown of users, workflows, SQL, replication and automation, so you can pick the right one the first time.
DraftSight for Manufacturing: Beyond Architecture and Engineering
DraftSight is usually filed under architecture. In reality, most of its hardest daily work sits on the shop floor — fabrication packages, tooling and fixture drawings, P&IDs, plant layouts and CNC-ready geometry. Here is what the manufacturing side of DraftSight actually does, and where it stops and SOLIDWORKS begins.
10 DraftSight Productivity Tips Every Drafter Should Know
A detailed working guide to ten DraftSight productivity habits — what each feature actually is, why it saves time, how to set it up step by step, which tier you need, and where it fits in a real drawing office. Includes the DraftSight 2026 additions.
AI-Powered Drawings in SOLIDWORKS 2026: A First Look
SOLIDWORKS 2026 introduces AI-powered drawing generation, predictive view placement and automated assembly documentation — a first look at how AI is changing the drawing office.
SOLIDWORKS Service Packs vs Functional Deliveries Explained
Understand the difference between SOLIDWORKS Service Packs and Functional Deliveries, and when each applies to your desktop or cloud CAD workflow.
SOLIDWORKS 2026: The 10 Features That Will Change Your Workflow
A quick tour of the SOLIDWORKS 2026 release themes — AI-assisted design, faster large assemblies, cloud collaboration, and more — and what they mean for your daily workflow.
Shop Floor Programmer Is Now Free: Here's How to Use It
Shop Floor Programmer is now available at no extra cost for eligible SOLIDWORKS subscription users. Learn what it does, who it is for, and how to start programming parts right from the shop floor.
From Hours to Minutes: How SOLIDWORKS Inspection Transforms Quality Documentation
SOLIDWORKS Inspection automates first-article inspection reports, ballooned drawings, and CAQ workflows — cutting documentation time by up to 90%. Here's how Standard (free with subscription) and Professional compare.
How to Create Interactive 3D Assembly Animations with SOLIDWORKS Composer
A step-by-step guide to creating interactive 3D assembly and disassembly animations using SOLIDWORKS Composer — from importing your CAD model to publishing interactive HTML5, 3D PDF, and video outputs.
How to Build Your First Assembly Manual in SOLIDWORKS Composer
A complete step-by-step guide to creating professional assembly manuals using SOLIDWORKS Composer — from importing your CAD model to publishing interactive documentation ready for technicians, customers, and service teams.
What SOLIDWORKS Composer Actually Does (And Who Should Buy It)
SOLIDWORKS Composer turns CAD assemblies into interactive technical illustrations, exploded views, and step-by-step animations — without waiting on screenshots. Here's what it actually does, who needs it, and who should stick with what they have.
How to Run Your First Static Stress Analysis in SOLIDWORKS Simulation
A beginner-friendly, step-by-step guide to setting up and running your first linear static stress analysis using SOLIDWORKS Simulation — from enabling the add-in to interpreting factor of safety plots.
How to Use the New DraftSight BIM Module: A First Walkthrough
A hands-on walkthrough of DraftSight Premium's BIM module — learn how to import Revit and IFC models, generate 2D floor plans, extract schedules, and streamline your AEC documentation workflow.
How to Use DraftSight Connected for Cloud-Based 2D Collaboration
Learn how DraftSight Connected on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform enables cloud-based 2D collaboration, real-time feedback, and secure DWG management for distributed teams.
DraftSight Editions Compared: Standard vs Professional vs Premium vs Enterprise
A comprehensive comparison of all DraftSight editions — Standard, Professional, Premium, Enterprise, Enterprise Plus, and Mechanical — to help you choose the right 2D/3D CAD solution for your workflow.
How to Migrate from AutoCAD to DraftSight Without Losing Productivity
A practical step-by-step guide for AutoCAD users switching to DraftSight — covering DWG compatibility, customization transfer, pilot testing, and productivity features that can actually speed up your workflow.
Meet AURA: Your New AI Companion Inside SOLIDWORKS
Discover AURA, the new AI-powered virtual companion inside SOLIDWORKS that learns from you, automates tedious tasks, and provides real-time design assistance — all while keeping your IP safe.
Why DraftSight 2026 Is the Smart Choice Over AutoCAD (An Honest Comparison)
DraftSight 2026 isn't just an AutoCAD alternative anymore — it's the smarter choice for 2D drafting, manufacturing, and cost-conscious engineering teams. Here's why.
The 2026 Sheet Metal Enhancements Every Fabricator Should Know
Discover the key SOLIDWORKS 2026 sheet metal enhancements — from offset base flanges and internal corner breaks to bounding box control and ERP-ready cut lists — that every fabricator should know.
DraftSight Explained: The 2D CAD Tool Hiding Inside the Dassault Ecosystem
DraftSight is Dassault's professional 2D CAD tool with native DWG support, CATIA integration, and a cost-effective alternative to AutoCAD. Here's what it can do for your team.
SOLIDWORKS Simulation: Standard vs Professional vs Premium
A practical guide comparing SOLIDWORKS Simulation Standard, Professional, and Premium — with feature tables, decision rules, and real-world scenarios to help you pick the right tier.
How to Tame Large Assemblies: A Practical Performance Guide
Practical techniques to speed up large SOLIDWORKS assemblies: hardware tips, Lightweight mode, SpeedPak, image quality settings, and more.
How to Set Up Your SOLIDWORKS Workspace for Maximum Productivity
A practical guide to configuring SOLIDWORKS — from UI customization and keyboard shortcuts to performance tuning and file management — so you spend more time designing and less time hunting through menus.