Please watch our videos “SOLIDWORKS Online Trial – Getting Started” and "User Interface and Basic Controls" to get a quick understanding of how to start using the trial and then make use of the resources on this page. The resources include video walkthroughs, interactive step by step guides and links to helpful playlists.
These short videos are subtitled so they can be viewed with or without sound.
We have made various resources available on this page to help you get started using your trial. Within the trial you will also find SOLIDWORKS has extensive help documentation. Virtually every command in SOLIDWORKS has tool tips that explain its function and a button that you can click to learn more.
If you have technical issues with your trial then please get in touch with our support team using these details.
U.K. Phone: 01 297 4440
Ireland Phone: 01 297 4440
Email: support@solidsolutions.ie
Files can be uploaded from your local machine to the Home Folder within the online trial.
1. Access My Files using the command from the toolbar in the upper left corner and open the Home folder.
2. Choose Upload Files
Files can be downloaded to your local machine from the Home Folder within the online trial.
1. Save files you wish to download into the Home Folder from inside SOLIDWORKS .
2. Access My Files using the command from the toolbar in the upper left corner and open the Home Folder.
3. Select a file and choose Download.
SOLIDWORKS recommend using a broadband connection of at least 3000/300 Kbps (Download/Upload). For the best experience, it is suggested to use 5000/500 Kbps to be ideal for 1920x1080 resolution. If you find the online trial too slow to evaluate the please contact us to talk about the possibilities of running a downloaded trial version.
The online trial works well with most common browsers provide they are compatible with HTML5. We’d recommend using the latest versions of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Microsoft Edge as these are the browsers we have used most with the online trial.
Any files you save within your Home Folder will be kept between sessions of your online trial, other files will not be kept. You can also download files from your Home folder if you want to keep a local copy.
A session can expire if the maximum duration is exceeded or if you are inactive for more than 10 minutes. Following the expiration, you will have 10 minutes to reconnect to your session. If you connect after this then you will be given a new session and any unsaved work will be lost.
If for any reason you get disconnected, the platform will preserve your session for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, you will be given a new instance and any unsaved work will be lost. Please save your files regularly to your Home Folder.
If you have further questions then please get in touch with our support team or review some additional Online Trial FAQs from SOLIDWORKS.
Support Details
U.K. Phone: 01 297 4440
Ireland Phone: 01 297 4440
Email: support@solidsolutions.ie
User Interface and Basics – Video Explanation
Even though SOLIDWORKS is simple to learn it’s best not to jump in blind. This three minute video will introduce you to the main areas of the interface along with the basic controls, and is a must watch for anyone that’s new to SOLIDWORKS.
Holmatro Rod End – Interactive Virtual Walkthrough
Follow this beginner's guide to learn how to create this simple Rod End part. After creating the part you'll be shown how to create an engineering drawing and be introduced to the basics of virtual testing. This interactive virtual walkthrough runs in a browser and will guide you through every step required. You can follow along with each click or step through the tutorial using the left and right arrow keys.
Tripod Lamp – Interactive Virtual Walkthrough
Follow this beginner's guide to learn how to create this Tripod Lamp assembly. After creating one of the legs you'll be shown how start an assembly, create a pattern and position the rest of the components.
This interactive virtual walkthrough runs in a browser and will guide you through every step required. You can follow along with each click or step through the tutorial using the left and right arrow keys.
Creating Drawings – Video Walkthrough
Communicating your designs properly with 2D Drawings is often a vital step in any product's design cycle. SOLIDWORKS makes this process simple by letting you create 2D views that reference the 3D model through simple drag and drops. This video will demonstrate how to create drawings, place views and annotations and make use of custom properties to automatically display information such as the part's weight and material.
Weldments – Video Walkthrough
Weldments are a quick and easy way to model just
about anything that is cut from length. Weldments make use of multiple
bodies within a single part file allowing for faster creation and greater
control of the entire frames shape and size. In this video you can follow along with all the steps required to go from a blank document to a fully complete trailer
chassis using Weldments as the primary modelling tool.
Sheet Metal – Video Walkthrough
Sheet metal tools in SOLIDWORKS allow you to easily create a range of bent metal components. Sheet metal models can be used to generate an accurate flat pattern that can be represented on a drawing or exported as a DXF. In this video we'll cover the major sheet metal tools and show how you can easily modify the bend radius, thickness, and K-factor of a sheet metal part.
Simulation – Video Walkthrough
Simulation in SOLIDWORKS allows you to evaluate how a part will perform under a range of conditions by testing it virtually. The results from these tests can then be used to address potential issues, or to optimize a design by removing unnecessary material. This video will guide you through how to set up and run a simple linear static study, the results will give us an indication of the stresses and displacement a part will undergo during static loading.
Appearances and Rendering – Video Walkthrough
Adding appearances to your models helps bring them to life and make your designs easier to understand. If you need to take it a step further then SOLIDWORKS Visualize can help you to create stunning visual assets for your business. This video will guide you through the basics of adding appearances and creating your first render.
Assembly BOMs and Exploded Views – Video Walkthrough
Bills of Materials (BOMs) can be easily created in an assembly or drawing, and as SOLIDWORKS keeps track of all components within an assembly you can be certain that your BOM will always be up to date. In this video we'll also show you how to create an exploded view of your assembly and then annotate this using balloons that reference the BOM. Adding your Company Logo – Video Walkthrough
It’s a common requirement to place a company logo onto a model or drawing sheet. This video will quickly show you how to do both. This video also references a guide on how to import pictures to use as a guide when creating features,
check it out here. SOLIDWORKS Basics - Video Playlist
Looking to learn more? Check out this video playlist for some more in depth looks at various topics.
View Playlist Quick Tips - Video Playlist
There are loads of time savings techniques to discover in SOLIDWORKS. If you’ve only got a few minutes and you want to learn something new then this playlist is right for you.
View Playlist