SOLIDWORKS Frequently Asked Questions

You can turn any sketch into a 3D CAD model. From there, SOLIDWORKS for Makers generates detailed woodworking plans, with part drawings, cut lists, and views that guide every step of your build, from layout to completion.

Use the surface and freeform tools in SOLIDWORKS for Makers to create smooth, curved, and natural surfaces. You can blend features, refine contours, and combine geometric and sculpted details to achieve realistic figurine poses and expressions.

You can design classic joinery details such as mortise and tenon, dovetail, dado, or slot-fit joints. SOLIDWORKS for Makers enables you to visualize clearances and fit before fabrication, ensuring your pieces assemble cleanly and securely.

Design with wall thickness, tolerance, and support direction in mind. FDM printers require thicker walls and fewer overhangs, while resin printers capture finer details but require good drainage and proper orientation. SOLIDWORKS for Makers helps you analyze both, ensuring your figurine prints cleanly across various printer types.

Visit the Maker | Support community and follow the clean reinstallation guide. This covers clean installs after a previous desktop license and reinstalls if a hotfix update fails.

Go to the password reset page and follow the steps to create a new password for your account.

In SOLIDWORKS Connected, the default Save writes to the 3DEXPERIENCE cloud. To save locally, choose 'Save to my PC' from within SOLIDWORKS Connected, or edit your keyboard shortcut to set Ctrl+S to save locally. In offline mode, all files save to your local computer automatically.

Use the Split and Assembly tools to divide big models, such as helmets or armor, into smaller printable sections. You can add tabs, joints, or dowels for easy alignment and reassembly after printing, ensuring accuracy and ease of use.

After modeling, you can export STL files for 3D printing or DXF files for laser cutting. Once printed, finish your parts with sanding, priming, and painting—or add foam, LEDs, and fabric details to complete your look.

Log in to your My Account Portal, go to the Payment Methods tab. If you need help, submit a Support Form.

Stop your current monthly subscription in the Subscriptions tab of your My Account Portal, then wait until the renewal date. On that date, purchase the yearly plan from the Makers store using the same email address to keep your existing files. Do not start the new plan before the current one ends or both subscriptions will overlap. For help, submit a Support Form.

Run fit checks, motion studies, and stress simulations to confirm that your drone design is ready for assembly. You can also create drawings and 3D renderings to document your project or share it with other makers for feedback.

You can sketch, dimension, and generate drawings or cut lists to ensure your parts fit correctly and that you know exactly what materials you will need. You can start with simple 2D sketches and quickly transform them into precise 3D models for efficient and accurate home builds.

3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS for Makers has the same core CAD functionality with the addition of the 3DEXPERIENCE cloud platform for file storage, sharing, and version control. It is not compatible with commercial SOLIDWORKS licenses or third-party Add-Ins. Files are watermarked and can only be opened with a SOLIDWORKS for Makers license.

SOLIDWORKS xDesign for Makers runs entirely in your browser and works on any device with an internet connection. It is not compatible with commercial SOLIDWORKS licenses or third-party Add-Ins. Files are watermarked and can only be opened with a SOLIDWORKS for Makers license.