This comprehensive course takes you from the basics of 3D design through intermediate mechanical modeling, assemblies, and professional engineering documentation. You'll work through real-world design challenges while building the skills needed to confidently prepare for the SOLIDWORKS Associate (CSWA) certification exam. By the end, you'll have a portfolio filled with industry-relevant projects and the confidence to step into design and engineering roles.
As the course progresses, you'll focus on assembling complex multi-part models using both standard and advanced mates, configurations, and exploded views. You'll also create professional technical drawings, schematics, and photorealistic renderings suitable for manufacturing and presentations. Throughout the course, projects and exam-focused practice help ensure you're not just learning the tools, but learning how to use SOLIDWORKS effectively in real engineering workflows.
By completing this course, you will have developed expertise in:
Navigate and customize the SOLIDWORKS interface while creating precise, parametric 3D models
Develop multi-component assemblies using standard and advanced mates, configurations, and exploded views
Apply sheet metal, mold, and weldment tools to produce manufacturable and visually refined components
Generate professional 2D drawing sets, including custom templates, dimensioning, and bills of materials
Render photorealistic visuals and animations in SOLIDWORKS Visualize to communicate design intent
Interpret and verify technical drawings and schematics to connect 2D documentation with real-world assemblies
Demonstrate complete project workflows, from concept modeling through documentation and presentation, in preparation for the SOLIDWORKS Associate (CSWA) certification exam
Course Curriculum
Unit 1: Intro to SOLIDWORKS Course Online (30 Hours)
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)
Unit 2: Intermediate SOLIDWORKS Course Online (30 Hours)
Lesson 1: Sheet Metal & Weldment
Introduction to Intermediate Course (2m 18s)
Review SW Design Methodology & Customization (9m)
What is Sheet Metal? (10m 36s)
Base Flange Practice Part 1 (7m 48s)
Base Flange Practice Part 2 (4m 25s)
Base Flange Practice Part 3 (5m 5s)
What are Weldments? (2m 35s)
Introduction to the Weldment Toolkit (14m 47s)
Lesson 2: Product Modeling & Assembly Setup
Review Engineering Starter File (4m 2s)
Create Custom Library Features & Weldment Profiles (4m 40s)
Create Main Weldments (5m 53s)
Create Main Sheet Metal Exterior (4m 18s)
Water Reservoir Lid & Surface into Base Flange (8m)
Explore Edge Flange Menu (4m 27s)
Closed Corner Feature (3m 21s)
Drip Tray Offset Base Flange (4m 11s)
Drip Tray Mitered Flange (6m 45s)
Drip Tray Hole Pattern (4m 42s)
Drip Tray Welded Corners (4m 29s)
Create Feet & Organize Feature Manager (4m 35s)
Import Logo Import Vector File (9m 35s)
Import Logo Create Coordinate System & Scale Tool (6m 13s)
Stamp Tool (4m 18s)
Mirror Stamp Circle Feature Pattern (3m 36s)
Create Logo Seal (6m 53s)
Digital Type Install Typeface on System (3m 10s)
Digital Type Create Digital Text (6m 25s)
Knurled Handle Prepare Body for Knurled Pattern (4m 51s)
Knurled Handle Helix and Spiral Tool (5m 41s)
Lofted Boss Base Organic Shaped Handles (9m 3s)
Adjusting and Evaluating Surface Quality (6m 49s)
Espresso Cup Variable Fillet (7m)
Subtract Bodies Espresso Liquid (4m 39s)
Assembly Prep Introduction (3m)
Assembly Prep Unique Features (2m 52s)
Assembly Prep Configuration Best Practices (4m 43s)
Assembly Prep All Configurations (3m 55s)
Assembly Prep Loading into Assembly (5m 19s)
Modify Part Configurations Safely (7m 22s)
Hole Wizard (7m 13s)
Smart Mates (3m 44s)
Pattern Driven Component Pattern (2m 49s)
Lesson 3: Advanced Mates & Motion Control
Advanced Mates Introduction & Setup (1m 5s)
Advanced Mates Distance Limitation Mate (2m 44s)
Advanced Mates Angle Limitation Mate (2m 41s)
Advanced Mates Symmetric Mate (2m 26s)
Advanced Mates Linear Coupler (2m 54s)
Advanced Mates Path Mate (4m 38s)
Advanced Mates Profile Center (3m 33s)
Gear Mates Intro to Gear Mates (3m 20s)
Gear Mates Gear Mate (6m 27s)
Gear Mates Rack Pinion Mate (1m 59s)
Exploded View (5m 50s)
Motion Study Intro to General Setup (3m 12s)
Motion Study Manipulating the Motion Steps (6m 34s)
Motion Study Basic Perspective Camera Setup (5m 17s)
Lesson 4: Professional Drawing Templates
Drawing Templates Introduction (3m 54s)
Drawing Templates Starting the Page (6m 3s)
Drawing Templates Creating Sections (6m 26s)
Drawing Templates Making Edits & Setting Text (5m 32s)
Drawing Template Adding Imagery (4m 26s)
Drawing Templates Sheet Properties (3m 6s)
Assembly Quick Fix (2m 43s)
Drawing Templates Default Model Properties (1m 56s)
Drawing Templates Additional Model Properties (5m 7s)
Drawing Templates Setting Design Preferences (6m 59s)
Drawing Templates Save Sheet Format & Drawing Template (3m 19s)
Lesson 5: Manufacturing Documentation Workflow
Put Template to Use Format Painter (8m 32s)
Sketch Blocks (7m 11s)
Revision Tables (5m 29s)
Half Section View 3D Drawing View (6m 51s)
Exploded View with Custom Balloons (4m 48s)
Custom Bill of Materials (4m 48s)
Weldment Cut List (5m 36s)
Weld Symbols (4m 41s)
Sheet Metal Drawing Tolerances (9m 30s)
Flat Pattern Drawing (15m 9s)
PDF Export Pack and Go (2m 18s)
Prepare Full Scale DXF for Manufacturing (5m)
Lesson 6: Rendering & Visual Presentation
Add Decals (4m 53s)
Render Hero Shot (5m 9s)
Render Exploded View (4m 26s)
Rendering in Environment Setting Backplate (2m 39s)
Rendering in Environment Setting Lighting (2m 5s)
Rendering in Environment Setting Perspective (4m 6s)
Rendering in Environment Final Touches (2m 34s)
