# SolidWorks

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Desktop software for 3D modeling

SolidWorks SolidWorks 2023 displaying a 3D assembly. Developer Dassault Systèmes Release November 1, 1995; 30 years ago (1995-11-01)[1] Stable release SolidWorks 2025 / November 15, 2024 Operating system Microsoft Windows Available in Chinese, Chinese Simplified, Czech, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Turkish Type CAD CAE PDM PLM License Proprietary, term Website solidworks.com

**SolidWorks** (stylized as **SOLIDWORKS**, officially rebranded as **SOLIDWORKS Design** in 2026) is a brand of software used for [solid modeling](/source/Solid_modeling) [computer-aided design](/source/Computer-aided_design) (CAD) and [computer-aided engineering](/source/Computer-aided_engineering) (CAE).[2] It was one of the first 3D CAD applications designed to run on a desktop PC.[3]

The brand is owned by French software company [Dassault Systèmes](/source/Dassault_Syst%C3%A8mes).

## History

SolidWorks Corporation was established in December 1993 by [MIT](/source/Massachusetts_Institute_of_Technology) graduate [Jon Hirschtick](/source/Jon_Hirschtick), who used funds from his time with the [MIT Blackjack Team](/source/MIT_Blackjack_Team) to start the company.[4][5] Hirschtick's aim was to develop a user-friendly, cost-effective 3D CAD software for the Windows desktop. Originally based in [Concord, Massachusetts](/source/Concord%2C_Massachusetts), the company later moved to [Waltham, Massachusetts](/source/Waltham%2C_Massachusetts).[6][7] Its first product, SolidWorks 95, was released in November 1995.[8] In 1997, Dassault Systèmes, known for its [CATIA](/source/CATIA) CAD software, acquired SolidWorks for $310 million in stock.[9]

In 1999, SolidWorks started introducing software for 3D modeling, and in 2006 introduced SolidWorks Design-to-Manufacturing solutions, an integrated system enabling design and manufacturing teams to work together concurrently. [*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

As of 2024, SolidWorks had an estimated 7.5 million users.[10]

## Modeling technology

Screenshot captured from a SolidWorks top-down design approach

Screenshot captured from a SolidWorks top-down design approach

SolidWorks is a [solid modeler](/source/Solid_modeling), and utilizes a [parametric feature-based](/source/Solid_modeling) approach which was initially developed by PTC (Creo/Pro-Engineer) to create 3D CAD models and assemblies. The software uses the [Parasolid](/source/Parasolid) modeling kernel.[11]

SolidWorks software includes tools for analyses and simulations, such as Finite Element Analysis, which supports modeling, design, and collaborative work.[12]

SolidWorks offers multiple work tools to be used when building system assemblies such as the interference detection tool. This enables the detection of potential interfering part which could cause issue in the assembly system.[13]

## See also

- [Comparison of computer-aided design software](/source/Comparison_of_computer-aided_design_software)

- [List of 3D printing software](/source/List_of_3D_printing_software)

- [Power Surfacing](/source/Power_Surfacing) – allows users to create and edit complex freeform surfaces in SolidWorks

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-The_future_of_Solidworks_1-0)** ["The future of Solidworks"](https://web.archive.org/web/20170412180053/http://blog.dasisolutions.com/2011/09/27/the-future-of-solidworks-has-always-been-in-your-hands/). September 27, 2011. Archived from [the original](http://blog.dasisolutions.com/2011/09/27/the-future-of-solidworks-has-always-been-in-your-hands/) on April 12, 2017. Retrieved May 6, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-a_2-0)** Durham, Phil (January 25, 2022). ["What is SolidWorks?"](https://www.technia.us/blog/what-is-solidworks/). *Technia (US)*. Retrieved September 5, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Bethany (December 7, 2017). ["A Brief History Of SolidWorks"](https://www.scan2cad.com/blog/cad/solidworks-history/). *Scan2CAD*. Retrieved September 5, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["SolidWorks Founders Reunite to Ponder Their Second Act"](https://www.thecadinsider.com/2012/11/solidworks-founders-reunite-to-ponder-their-second-act.html). *The CAD Insider*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230905182839/https://www.thecadinsider.com/2012/11/solidworks-founders-reunite-to-ponder-their-second-act.html) from the original on September 5, 2023. Retrieved September 5, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Bob Tremblay (March 26, 2008). ["Fomer \[*sic*\] MIT blackjack team member talks about breaking the bank"](https://www.standard-journal.com/article_7ad892c5-7cbd-5144-aa7d-2036702b5d68.html). *standard-journal.com*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230905182839/https://www.standard-journal.com/article_7ad892c5-7cbd-5144-aa7d-2036702b5d68.html) from the original on September 5, 2023. Retrieved September 5, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Solidworks: Engineering 4.0"](https://www.tecnetinc.com/Solidworks%20engineerng%204-0.html). *www.tecnetinc.com*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240520054614/http://tecnetinc.com/Solidworks%20engineerng%204-0.html) from the original on May 20, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Petrock, Stephen (September 22, 2023). ["An Introduction to SOLIDWORKS"](https://www.engineering.com/story/an-introduction-to-solidworks). *Engineering.com*. Copyright 2024 WTWH Media LLC. Retrieved April 17, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-The_History_of_SolidWorks_8-0)** Brejcha, Bart (March 14, 2024). ["From Origins To Now: The History Of The SolidWorks Saga"](https://design-engine.com/from-origins-to-now-the-history-of-the-solidworks-saga). *www.design-engine.com*. Retrieved March 14, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Dassault Systemes Is Acquiring SolidWorks"](https://www.nytimes.com/1997/06/25/business/dassault-systemes-is-acquiring-solidworks.html). *The New York Times*. June 25, 1997. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0362-4331](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0362-4331). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230905182838/https://www.nytimes.com/1997/06/25/business/dassault-systemes-is-acquiring-solidworks.html) from the original on September 5, 2023. Retrieved September 5, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Petrock, Stephen (June 15, 2023). ["The Guide to Passing the SOLIDWORKS CSWP"](https://www.engineering.com/the-guide-to-passing-the-solidworks-cswp/). *Engineering.com*. Retrieved December 20, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Stepping outside of the parametric feature-based paradigm in SolidWorks"](https://dezignstuff.com/12/). April 30, 2007. Retrieved September 5, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Alba, Michael (July 14, 2020). ["Sports Cars and Chin-Up Bars: Accelerating Designs with SOLIDWORKS Simulation"](https://www.engineering.com/story/sports-cars-and-chin-up-bars-accelerating-designs-with-solidworks-simulation). *Engineering.com*. Copyright 2024 WTWH Media LLC. Retrieved April 17, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Patil, Rajesh V. (2025). ["Performance Assessment of Sagacious E-Powertrain Tiller for Smart Farming"](https://doi.org/10.25103/jestr.184.20). Retrieved November 6, 2025.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: url-status ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_url-status))

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [SolidWorks](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:SolidWorks).

- [Official website](https://www.solidworks.com/)

- SOLIDWORKS Value Added Partners :[Goengineer](https://www.goengineer.com/), [Visiativ](https://www.visiativ.com/), [Ohmycad](https://www.ohmycad.com/en/), ...

- SOLIDWORKS Solution Partners :[SolidProfessor](https://www.solidprofessor.com/), [BLUE BYTE SYSTEMS INC.](https://www.bluebyte.biz/), [Bechtle](https://www.bechtle.com/)

v t e Dassault Systèmes Brands CATIA SolidWorks Accelrys DELMIA GEOVIA Simulia Exalead 3dvia Netvibes Scilab Products Abaqus ACIS Dymola Virtools Related Dassault Group Spatial Corp People Bernard Charlès Charles Edelstenne

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [SolidWorks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SolidWorks) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SolidWorks?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.