Key details

Comprehensive SolidWorks training for newcomers, teaching key techniques for creating parametric parts and assemblies. 

SolidWorks 3D design software helps teams around the world bring their ideas to life. It is easy to learn and use, letting you concentrate on your designs, not your CAD software.

Introduction to SolidWorks training provides a thorough grounding in SolidWorks. The topics covered include:

• Sketching
• Part modelling
• Patterning
• Shelling and ribs
• Editing: Design changes
• Configuration
• Drawings
• Assembly modelling
• Templates

Throughout the course you’ll learn tips for using SolidWorks in the most productive way.

Next course date

Who should attend?

This course is aimed at designers and engineers who want to start using SolidWorks.

Expert SolidWorks trainers

SolidWorks training is hosted by highly-experienced CAD experts from an engineering background. See Expert trainers.

How will I learn?

SolidWorks training is hands-on and practical.

Our trainers teach the necessary theory then demonstrate techniques step-by-step. You then practice the techniques, with assistance from our trainer.

There is plenty of time to ask questions, and you can keep all the files you create.

SolidWorks training guide and certificate

Course delegates receive:

• A comprehensive training guide for SolidWorks, to refer to throughout the course and to use as a refresher afterwards.
• An e-certificate confirming successful SolidWorks course completion. Click here to see an example of the certificate you receive.

After course support

Following SolidWorks training, you’re entitled to 30 days’ email support from your SolidWorks trainer to help with any post-course issues. For further details, see Support.

Prerequisites

Delegates should have a good working knowledge of Windows. No prior CAD or SolidWorks knowledge is necessary.

SolidWorks version

Training is based primarily on SolidWorks Design Standard/Premium 2026. It is relevant to users of SolidWorks version 2022 and later.

Access to SolidWorks software

You’ll need access to a computer running SolidWorks Design Standard or Design Premium to carry out exercises and practice the techniques taught. This must be a desktop installation, not the browser-based version.

Entrepreneurs, startups and larger companies can request trial software from an official reseller such as Solid Solutions or Hawk Ridge Systems, who will provide the installation files and a trial serial number

Students are eligible to free software. Click here for details.

Armada cannot provide SolidWorks software for delegates to use.

For full details about the setup you’ll need, see Hardware requirements for online training.

Our guarantees to you

We offer:

• A price guarantee that you’re getting the best value for money.
• A training guarantee that you’ll learn the concepts and skills you need.

On-request SolidWorks training available

Introduction to SolidWorks training is also available on-request, i.e. one-to-one training or a ‘closed course’ for your group, hosted live online or at your site.

On-request SolidWorks training can be tailored to take into account any existing knowledge you have, and the work you’re going to be doing. Please contact us for a quote.

General information

Payment

Payment for SolidWorks training can be made by:

• Bank transfer. Please call 01527 834783 for our bank details.
• Card. Visa, Mastercard and American Express cards accepted. Payment can be made securely online or over the phone. Armada doesn’t record or store your card details.
• Buy now pay later. Available for private bookings; pay in 4 x interest-free fortnightly instalments. Facility provided by Clearpay. For details, see Clearpay terms of service.

Purchase orders

We accept purchase orders from UK registered companies with turnover £1m+, and public sector organisations.

Cancellations and transfers

You can cancel a booking on a scheduled training course, or transfer to a later course, without penalty providing you give us 10 working days’ notice. Any fees already paid will be refunded.

If you cancel a booking on a scheduled Introduction to SolidWorks course giving less than 10 working days’ notice, or request a transfer to a later course, a cancellation/transfer fee is payable. The fee charged depends on the notice period given. For details, see cancellation terms.

Different terms apply for the cancellation or postponement of an on-request course (one-to-one training or a ‘closed course’ for your group). For details, see course cancellations.

Terms and conditions

Training course bookings are subject to our terms and conditions.

Expert trainers

Introduction to SolidWorks training courses are hosted by:

• Carl Portman
• John Billyard

Carl Portman

Carl Portman has been an Autodesk-accredited instructor for 25 years, a College Lecturer (City and Guilds 3D modelling) for 15 years and a CAD consultant for 35 years.

Carl’s background is in engineering. He has vast design experience in a wide range of industries, including automotive, aerospace and medical, and he continues to carry out project work for a range of clients. Projects that Carl has completed include designing complete car plants for Jaguar Land Rover.

Carl has expert knowledge of:

• A wide range of 3D design applications used in engineering, including AutoCAD, Fusion, Inventor, SolidWorks.
• Machining, CAM and CNC.

John Billyard

John has used CAD software for over 35 years, providing high quality engineering and architectural designs to a wide range of clients

He has provided training in the applications he uses for a similar length of time, and for the last 15 years, has been commissioned directly by Autodesk to provide consulting and training services to their corporate client base.

John hosts courses in various Autodesk applications including AutoCAD, Fusion, Inventor and Vault. He also trains Dassault Systèmes’ SolidWorks, Trimble SketchUp and Epic Games’ Twinmotion.

He takes pride in keeping pace with the latest industry design tools and technologies; enabling him to meet the challenges and demands of an ever changing working environment.

Course content

SolidWorks basics

• What is SolidWorks?
• File references
• Opening files
• The SolidWorks user interface
• Using the Command Manager

Introduction to sketching

• 2D sketching
• Stages in the process
• What are we going to sketch?
• Sketching and sketch entities
• Basic sketching
• Rules that govern sketches
• Design intent
• Sketch relations
• Dimensions
• Extrude
• Sketching guidelines

Basic part modelling

• Design intent
• Basic modelling
• Terminology
• Choosing the best profile
• Choosing the sketch plane
• Details of the part
• Extrude feature
• Revolved feature
• Sketching on a planar face
• Cut feature
• Using the hole wizard
• View options
• Filleting
• Editing tools
• Detailing basics
• Drawing views
• Centre marks
• Dimensioning
• Changing parameters
• Edit material
• Mass properties
• File properties

Patterning

• Why use patterns?
• Reference geometry
• Linear, circular and mirror patterns
• Using pattern seed only
• Sketch driven patterns

Shelling and ribs

• Shelling
• Planes
• Ribs
• Full round fillets
• Thin features

Editing: Design changes

• Part editing
• Design changes
• Information from a model
• Rebuilding tools
• Sketch contours

Configuration

• Creating configurations
• Using configure dimension/feature
• Using global variables, equations
• Global variables
• Equations
• Modelling strategies for configurations
• Editing parts that have configurations
• Design library

Drawings

• More about making drawings
• Section, model, broken and detail views
• Drawing sheets and sheet formats
• Projected views
• Annotations

Assembly modelling

• Creating a new assembly
• Position of the first component
• FeatureManager design tree and symbols
• Adding components
• Using part configurations in assemblies
• Subassemblies
• Smart mates
• Inserting subassemblies
• Pack and go
• Analysing the assembly
• Checking for clearances
• Changing the values of dimensions
• Bill of materials
• Assembly drawings

Templates

• Options settings
• Document templates

Please note: Course topics may be modified by the instructor based upon the knowledge and skill level of the course participants.

Live online training

Online training lets you participate in a live SolidWorks course from your place of work or home.

We do everything possible to make your online training experience as close as possible to actually being in the classroom. You can:

• See and hear our trainer, and the other delegates participating in the course…
  
• Watch our trainer demonstrate techniques in SolidWorks.
• Interact by speaking, using chat, or raising your ‘virtual hand’ if you need assistance.
• Share your screen with our trainer, and allow them to take control to explain something.

Like our in-class courses, online Introduction to SolidWorks courses…

• Are presented by expert instructors.
• Give you plenty of opportunity to carry out assisted, practical exercises using SolidWorks.
• Offer 30 days’ email support from your trainer.

All you need is an Internet-connected computer with…

• SolidWorks installed.
• A webcam and audio capability. If your computer running SolidWorks doesn’t have these, you can use a second device, such as another computer or tablet. See Hardware recommendations for live online training for further details.

If there’s anything you’re not sure about we’ll do our best to help you. We won’t, however, be able to assist with your SolidWorks installation.

We provide everything else…

• Links to download the files, resources, etc. you’ll use in your course.
• A training guide. For most courses, you can choose from a printed copy that we post to you, or a PDF.

In the week before your course, we’ll send you an email containing everything you need to prepare for and participate in the training. We’re available in the days ahead of your course to assist if you need any help.

Please note that we are not able to record scheduled online courses for privacy reasons.

When you attend live online training, you’re participating in a real course, hosted by a real trainer, in real time

Discounts

To make your SolidWorks training as affordable as possible, we offer:

• A range of training discounts on our scheduled (public) SolidWorks training courses.
• A price guarantee that you won’t get SolidWorks training for less.

Training discounts

Multiple places

If you book multiple places on scheduled (public) training courses, we offer:

• 5% discount if you book two places.
• 10% discount if you book three places.
• 15% discount if you book four places.
• 20% discount if you book five or more places.

This can be for several people attending one course, one person attending several courses, or a combination.

These discounts are available for both classroom-based courses and live online training.

Concessions

We offer a 10% discount on scheduled SolidWorks course places to:

• Students, teachers and lecturers.
• People who work for a registered charity.
• ISTC members.

These discounts are available for both classroom-based courses and remote training.

Please call us if you qualify for a discount. Evidence of your status that entitles you to a discount may be requested.

Terms and exclusions

Only one of the above discounts can be applied to any booking.

The above discounts are not available for on-request course bookings (one-to-one training or a ‘closed course’ for your group).

Price guarantee

When you book training with Armada, we want you to be certain that you’re not paying over-the-odds. So, if you book a place on any scheduled (public) course and then find the same course at a lower price elsewhere, we will match that price.

To qualify for the price match:

• The course you find must be comparable. By this we mean it must:
  • Cover the same subject.
  • Be the same duration or longer.
  • Be a live course, i.e. not pre-prepared e-learning content.

• The lower price must be advertised on the other company’s website.

To claim a price match, just call any time before attending your course and tell us where you saw the price.