# Explore Quarterly Design Enhancements

### What’s New in SOLIDWORKS Design R2026x FD04, September 2026

[![SOLIDWORKS expert facing the camera](/sites/default/filesd10/styles/bg_large/public/2026-10/whats-new-SOLIDWORKS-2026-FD04-ai-cover.jpg.webp)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xu8leycAPM8)

Key enhancements to the LEO AI Virtual Companion in FD04 include:

- **Quality Check and Guidance for Sketch Error Analysis:** Catch errors before they reach release. Check models, assemblies and drawings automatically against your company-specific or industry-standard checklists, so quality issues surface early rather than after they've cost you time.
- **Assembly Risk Assessment:** Know the full impact of every change. See how a design change ripples downstream before you commit, including every assembly where the component appears, so you can decide with confidence.
- **Enhanced Drawing Generation:** Produce manufacturing-ready drawings faster. Let LEO handle sheet size, dimensioning and tolerancing, or apply your own standards across a bulk request to keep documentation consistent and on schedule.

- [Read the design blog](https://blogs.solidworks.com/products/solidworks/ai-purpose-built-for-the-way-engineers-work-whats-new-in-solidworks-ai-r2026x-fd04/)

- [Read the data management blog](https://blogs.solidworks.com/products/solidworks/new-generating-derived-output-with-the-3dexperience-solidworks-task-host/)

[![](/sites/default/filesd10/styles/bg_large/public/2026-07/SOLIDWORKS-Design-R2026x-FD03_Thumbnail_WEB.jpg.webp)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yX3Hx7tJzgM)

#### What’s New in SOLIDWORKS Design and Data Management

Key enhancements in FD03 include:

- **Background Drawing Updates:** Drawings of modified parts and assemblies now regenerate in the background, so you don't have to wait or trigger a manual rebuild. Automatic rebuild keeps your CAD productivity high and lets you stay focused on the design workflows that matter.
- **Fastener Pattern Assistant:** Speed up fastener component placement in SOLIDWORKS Design. Automatically detect and group related hardware components such as bolts, washers, and nuts, into patterns, cutting the manual work of selecting every fastener.
- **AI Large Assembly Management:** Ask the SOLIDWORKS AI Virtual Companion LEO to simplify heavy geometry, suppress unnecessary model threads, and recommend the right lightweight strategy for your large assemblies. You get better large assembly performance through natural conversation without navigating multiple commands.

- [Read the design blog](https://blogs.solidworks.com/products/solidworks/whats-new-in-solidworks-2026x-fd03-design-and-modeling/)

- [Read the data management blog](https://blogs.solidworks.com/products/solidworks/whats-new-in-solidworks-2026x-fd03-collaboration-and-data-management/)

### What’s New in SOLIDWORKS Design R2026x FD02, April 2026

[![Screenshot of SOLIDWORKS 3D model inside the software with the video presenter standing next to it](/sites/default/filesd10/styles/bg_large/public/2026-05/FD-Release-FD02-2026-video-cover.jpg.webp)](https://youtu.be/DpU5tbP6uT8?si=pgYIkTgMyLuyG2d9)

Key enhancements in FD02 include:

- **Assembly Performance Evaluator (Beta):** Use natural-language prompts to gain immediate insights with AI-driven analysis of your assemblies, along with recommendations for improved performance.
- **Design Change Impact (Beta):** Quickly evaluate the full impact of design changes, including those with downstream dependencies, enabling teams to manage risks and implement adjustments with confidence.
- **Content Explorer in the SOLIDWORKS Design Open Dialog:** Access and organize your platform files within SOLIDWORKS through the integrated Content Explorer. Enjoy the same organizational flexibility as the standalone app, now directly in the Open dialog.

- [Read the design blog](https://blogs.solidworks.com/products/solidworks/whats-new-in-solidworks-design-r2026x-fd02-design-and-modeling/)

- [Read the data management blog](https://blogs.solidworks.com/products/solidworks/whats-new-in-solidworks-design-r2026x-fd02-collaboration-and-data-management/)

### What’s New in SOLIDWORKS Design R2026x FD01, February 2026

[![SOLIDWORKS Design FD01-2026 release screenshot with presenter](/sites/default/filesd10/styles/bg_large/public/2026-05/FD-Release-FD01-2026-video-cover.jpg.webp)](https://youtu.be/Sbpigcq8ppc?si=nJYz3Ur1NYKq-5z_)

Key enhancements in FD01 include:

- **Install Multiple Versions of SOLIDWORKS Design**: Collaborate more efficiently with others who use a different version. Quickly and easily create shortcuts and modify existing installations.
- **AI-powered Drawing Generation Through Prompts (Beta):** Tell your AI design virtual companion exactly what you need before the drawing is created. Set your template/standards and primary view, refine the preview with prompts, then generate and save the drawing to your chosen file path.
- **AI-powered What’s Wrong Analysis (Beta):** Fix part model errors faster with AI-guided root-cause analysis. Cut through cascading warnings to find what actually broke, and get clear guidance on how to resolve errors by interacting with your AI virtual companion.
- **AI Assembly Structure Generator (Beta):** Ask your AI virtual companion to generate an assembly structure from a prompt. Start with a ready-made baseline, iterate with prompts (remove/replace components, change hierarchy), then generate SOLIDWORKS assembly and part files.

- [Read the design blog](https://blogs.solidworks.com/solidworksblog/2026/02/whats-new-in-solidworks-2026x-fd01-design-and-modeling.html)

- [Read the data management blog](https://blogs.solidworks.com/solidworksblog/2026/02/whats-new-in-solidworks-2026x-fd01-collaboration-and-data-management.html)