Learn the essentials of 3D modeling and design at your own pace by completing a full playground set design in this beginner SOLIDWORKS course. You’ll work through the core tools and workflows of SOLIDWORKS, including part modeling, assemblies, and technical drawings, building a strong foundation for more advanced design projects. The self-paced format lets you develop skills gradually while gaining confidence in creating and communicating your designs.
By the end of the course, you’ll understand SOLIDWORKS fundamentals such as sketches, part modeling, and design intent, and you’ll be able to create and manage precise multi-part assemblies. You’ll also develop technical drawings and blueprints that support manufacturing and clear design communication.
By completing this course, you will have developed expertise in:
Navigate the SOLIDWORKS interface and core toolkits with confidence
Apply sketching tools, constraints, and dimensions to drive parametric models
Build 3D parts using essential features (extrude, revolve, cut, fillet, shell, pattern)
Design with intent so models remain clean, organized, and easy to edit
Create assemblies, add mates, and manage part relationships
Produce professional 2D drawings with views, dimensions, and annotations
Complete a cohesive project: a playground modeled as parts and sub-assemblies, finished with a blueprint set
Course Curriculum
Lesson 1: Getting to Know SOLIDWORKS
Planes, Sketches, & Volumes (12m 50s)
Build Volume, Measure & Evaluate: Part 1 (7m 40s)
Build Volume, Measure & Evaluate: Part 2 (11m 31s)
Build Volume, Measure & Evaluate: Part 3 (2m 53s)
Setting Preferences (12m 16s)
Lesson 2: Modeling the Playground
Master Model Methodology (6m 17s)
Defining Entities & Global Variables (18m 8s)
Ground Plane Reference Sketch (14m 27s)
Heights Reference Sketch (8m 8s)
Build Flooring & Explore Appearances: Part 1 (7m 29s)
Build Flooring & Explore Appearances: Part 2 (12m 35s)
Extruded Cut, Hide Sketches (10m 29s)
Fix a Broken Sketch or Feature (11m 6s)
Review of Quick Modeling (6m 41s)
Mirror Entities Within a Sketch (11m 38s)
Convert Entities & Offset Entities (6m 36s)
Mid Planes (2m 48s)
Linear Feature Pattern & Create Main Walls (15m 6s)
Troubleshooting: Checking Solid Bodies and Volume (9m 24s)
Complex Sketch Pattern, Set Stairs (14m 6s)
Set Handrail Pattern, Boss Extrude in Two Directions (7m 34s)
Move Copy Bodies (5m 40s)
Intro to Split Line (9m 32s)
Continue Hand Rail (13m 49s)
Mirror Feature, Finish Hand Rail (5m 57s)
Create Roof, Rotate Copy Bodies (11m 23s)
Create Fire Pole, Revolved Boss Base, Sketch Fillet (7m 38s)
Arc Tools, Swing Seat (7m 7s)
Swept Boss Base, 3D Sketch (7m 18s)
Slot Sketch Tool, Pattern in Move Copy Bodies (7m 8s)
Lesson 3: Creating Part Files
Swing Hook, Fillet (5m 54s)
Play Window, Polygon Sketch Tool (12m 49s)
Slide: Part 1 (13m 49s)
Slide: Part 2 (12m 51s)
Slide: Part 3 (10m 9s)
Slide: Part 4 (6m 18s)
Slide: Part 5 (5m 25s)
Brackets, Boss Extrude Thin Feature (7m 12s)
Ladder: Set the Sketch Pattern (6m 9s)
Ladder: Move Copy Body & Mates (3m 56s)
Ladder: Create Attachment Brackets (13m 48s)
Ladder: Creating the Rope (13m 16s)
Midterm Submission (9m 6s)
Lesson 4: Creating Subassemblies
How to Create Parts from the Master Model (13m 16s)
All Bracket Part Files (14m 36s)
New Assembly File, Slide Assembly (3m 44s)
How to Mate, Frame Sub Assembly (22m 9s)
Pattern in Assembly: Swing Set (5m 53s)
Begin Deck & Frame Subassembly (10m 16s)
Finish Deck & Frame Subassembly, Cont. Patterning in Assembly (14m 5s)
Roof Subassembly, Intro to Complex Mirror Features in Assemblies (9m 1s)
Wall Parts 1: Begin Loading Wall Components (5m 13s)
Wall Parts 2: Add Footer Boards, Width Advanced Mate (8m 25s)
Wall Parts 3: Pattern Support Boards (16m 33s)
Wall Parts 4: Start General Assembly, Use GA to Finish Slide Wall (7m 44s)
Rope Subassembly, Creating Mating Tools within Part Files (18m 9s)
Stair & Handrail 1: Load Parts, Update Model (7m 23s)
Stair & Handrail 2: Patterning the Handrail Components (5m 42s)
Stair & Handrail 3: Finish Subassembly, Create New Mirrored Part (12m 27s)
File Name & Relink References, Fire Pole (6m 28s)
Adding Support Brackets (9m 33s)
Lesson 5: Creating Drawing Files
Introduction to SOLIDWORKS Drawings (7m 33s)
Begin New Drawing File of GA (8m 55s)
Adding Perspective View to Drawing (9m 27s)
Create Section Views (6m 39s)
Create Detail View (5m 36s)
Subassembly in Drawing, Create Bill of Materials (5m 20s)
Import Cutlist, Alter Balloon Text, Alter Views (11m 24s)
Set Formatting & Graphical Preferences (9m 6s)
Pack & Go Original Design into Zip Folder (3m 10s)
Lesson 6: Project Rendering
Update Model Design in New Revision (11m 46s)
Prepare Model for Rendering (8m 45s)
Complete Simple Rendering of Model (4m 32s)
