CAD: Solidworks Essentials

This course is for beginners looking for an introduction to Dassault Systemes’ CAD/CAM program Solidworks, who are wanting to take advantage of Solidworks’ interactive and dynamic design functionality. This course will help those looking to get jobs using this industry-standard engineering software CAD package.

During this course, you will learn the essentials of how to use Solidworks, to produce 2D technical drawings from your own 3D Solidworks models, based on real-world projects.

You will cover a range of key subjects, including:

• Sketching and solid modelling 3D parts – parts being the basic building blocks of any 3D design.
• Combining parts to make assemblies – 3D models of your project.
• How to produce technical drawings of your model for production purposes.

To join this course, you will need to have an enthusiasm for learning Solidworks, but you don’t need any previous CAD experience. It will help if you have a basic understanding of industrial/product design or engineering and/or know about other 3D CAD/CAE/CAM programs.

You will need a working understanding of English and Maths and the ability to use Windows-based computers confidently.

Entry interview

You need to attend an interview – in person or by phone. Phone interviews can be arranged, as necessary; call 0117 3122703 or email CAD@cityofbristol.ac.uk.

If you want a college-based, in-person interview, sessions are on Wednesdays at the College Green Centre, during term time, in room 6E22H, at 16:00.

You do not need to book, just sign in at reception and allow upwards of an hour, just in case you visit us at a busy time. Other times can be arranged, simply call or email as above.

This course is a flexi-course which allows you to attend college as and when you can. Once enrolled, you can tailor your course timing to suit your needs. The course takes around 90 hours to complete, which must be done within a year of starting – how quickly is up to you.

At the end of the course, you will be assessed through the creation of your own basic Solidworks project. When successfully completed, you will receive a College Certificate to confirm your achievement.

After successfully completing this course, you will be equipped with the essential skills and knowledge to use Solidworks to produce basic projects. This will help you start, or further, your career – one which requires the ability to create 3D project models and their associated 2D technical drawings, in a variety of engineering and design fields that Solidworks is key to.

You can progress onto other CAD courses on offer, we recommend the CAD: Solidworks Intermediate course, or if you want to learn similar programs by other companies try Inventor, or Fusion360.

There are no required additional costs for this course beyond the course fee – call / email to find out the fee.

Enrolment on the course entitles you to download a free copy of Solidworks, for educational purposes, from Dassault. It is assumed that you already have a suitable computer to use this on. If you can’t / don’t want to use the College’s CAD Windows computers, Mac computers can be used, simply call / email for further information.