Okay so this feels like a dumb question. But why is this extrusion got these arrows that let it change it's length? Are they the reason the linear pattern tool won't work?

I swear this didn't used to happen

Hi! I am quite new to SolidWorks and the industry and I am wondering what are the current standards among folks in the industry about communicating using STEP files?

Do most people communicate/ share using STEP files? When do you share STEP files?

From my experience, STEP files are quite limited to perform certain SolidWorks functions such as DFMXpress or Costing, or redesigning as it doesn't have full mathematical configurations. And oftentimes, I have to work around that.

What's your experience with STEP files? Thanks in advance!

Epic CAD vs CAD battle! - Video HIGHLIGHT here- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ododYb3FXQ&list=PLzMIhOgu1Y5fzCh_ZBoGrZ45eLxetHRtQ&index=105

Hey everyone,
I have this part and want to 3d Print it later on. For that I need a slope starting from the bottom and going about 45° up to the top. Do you have any tips, on how I can cut the red area away?

I’m practicing SolidWorks drawing and GD&T using a connecting rod as an example. Based on the feedback I received on the previous version, I’ve made several corrections. I’d appreciate any comments or suggestions on this revised drawing.

Randomly two days ago my PC started randomly bsod-ing when I am viewing my part in solidworks.

No updates or anything. Reinstalled studio driver

running a lenovo legion with 5070ti and 32gb ram

Running Sw2025 SP5 connected

most of the crashes dont log anything, but one of them showed error livekernelevent 193 and 117

any help is appreciated

edit: Been running this for a year with no issues

I am importing some assemblies into SolidWorks Visualize, but when I do it, some parts loose parts of their color, but it's not consistent across assemblies. In one assembly I imported, a case's color changed to white, but in a different assembly, it imported correctly.

I tried copying both the part file of the case, and the subassembly file the case is in and pasted it into the bad assembly, but it still wont import properly. The case looks ok when it's in SolidWorks, it's just when it goes to Visualize that it breaks.

For import settings, I've been using the appearance part grouping, but changing it to component/part/body doesn't change anything.

The first photo is what it should look like when imported, but the second picture is what it looks like in the bad assembly, I just hid all other parts around it

What am I missing?

I am on SW 2026 and I cannot find the old Alameda urban background. Was it removed? I can see Docks, California Desert, and others.

Version: SW Design Premium 2026 SP2.1

Have assembly > Part in assembly has Curve Pattern (found this to be useful in my case) > Need parts in assembly to repeat with pattern of part

Make folder for parts to be patterned.

Selected "Pattern Driven Component Pattern"

Issue: SW only lets me select components/assemblies to be patterned and not a folder. Unsure if there is a workaround.

Thought it could be of use.

[I hardly post on reddit or 3DExperience (lol) so lmk if unclear ty]

I'd like to have all components in the LockingHardware folder to be patterned. That way if i want to add components it will "auto-pattern"

I had success creating other library features, but for some reason it won't work here.

The goal of this feature is to create a sideways entry hole for a hex nut by simply selecting a point on a surface.

When I create the library feature, SolidWorks asks if I want to create a simpler part. If I select Yes, it creates an empty file. If I select No, it creates an .SLDLFP file, but when I drag it into my model, it says "The feature is empty."

Does anyone know what could be causing this?

The sldprt file is under this Google Drive Link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1arBLaTNg6FWD6ywbMgTC2Q9L7JBYToIE/view?usp=sharing

THANKS.

Edit: SWX 2021 SP1 if that matters.

Just wanted to show off my most complicated assembly to date

Looking to create a CD case tower (those shiny circular things that use to play music). The goal is to stack multiple 14 inch sections together that spiral upwards. My first couple attempts involved lofting between two squares with a 90 degree twist and then using the shell feature as seen in picture. Adding the layers of side walls to hold each CD has been tricky from there. There are not flat faces to work with. Translating vertically then rotating around 5 degrees is not quiet working. Edges are hanging out the sides. I tried linear patten repeat using the curved edge as the direction but not quiet what I was looking for.

Any thoughts on best steps to accomplish this task?

hi all,

i am trying to create weldmate profile list with excel

how i can get this directly in the description column so that when cutlist populated it will reflect it with applied specific size

Hello,
A colleague created this file for me in SolidWorks, and I printed the model. However, I’m seeing these stepped surfaces in the slicer, and, as expected, they also appear on the finished print.
Is there an explanation for this, or a way to fix it? I’m not familiar with SolidWorks myself, but I’m wondering if it’s just a small setting that needs to be changed or if it’s related to the file format. We’ve already tried both .STEP and .STL files.

Have ya'll seen this in action?

If possible I would like to see example portfolios so I could see how I should make mine for resumes, thank you.

I’ve been working as a CNC Operator for over 2.5 years with low salary,I work within the high-precision aerospace sector., so I’m very familiar with the manufacturing side G-code, technical drawings, tolerances, fixturing, tooling...
I’m currently teaching myself SolidWorks and MasterCAM and aiming to transition into a CAD Designer, or CAM programmer.

I think there some people here had this career path, what was the biggest hurdle, and how did you overcome it ?
and what kind of projects should i practice on? was it a real projects you have worked on it?
do you work with mechanical industry standards, like ISO,ANSI for drawings, fits, and tolerances, standard components,
I mean what sould I focus on, as learner has experience with CNC and manufacturing?

I am new to solidworks, came over from FreeCAD to try it out.

I wanted to use extrude cut on a skecth that looks like the red parts, but for some reason it woul not work, I ended up just using one triangle to do the cut and used Mirror on the cut to get what I wanted.

Can you guys explain to me why it didnt work with my original sketch.

Hey,

I am trying to create a relation of the sketched line so the line is perpendicular to upper edge of position no. 7 to make a section view perpendicular to this part. The problem is that solidworks doesnt let me - see picture. Everytime I create a relation of any sketched entity (I tried to make it perpendicular to one edge, parallel to another, I tried angle dimension etc.), solidworks says that "invalid geometry would be created", even though there are NO existing relation for this line.

This problem occurs only in this specific document. "Automatic relations" are not checked.

Any ideas what am I missing?

Thanks in advance

If i buy a Base package of Solidworks does it include ~}Solidworks Flow Simulation, or Do I need to buy it separately or premium package?

Any Existing user please clarify.

Thank you✌️

Focusing first on stability, not on sheer performance. Is there a consensus in the community on which is the better CPU brand?

Howdy, I was wondering if anyone has any advise for how to reinstall SolidWorks. I am a student and recently updated to SolidWorks Design 2026, however my instillation was messed up and had all sorts of duplicates. I went through and uninstalled all the files and now that I’m trying to reinstall the app, the installation manager has all the apps greyed out besides API Tools. Is there anyone that knows how to fix this issue?