SOLIDWORKS has long been the gold standard for mechanical engineers, product designers, and industrial businesses. Its reputation is built on a robust, feature-rich platform capable of handling complex parts and massive assemblies with precision and power. However, for a long time, this professional-grade software came with a professional-grade price tag, putting it out of reach for hobbyists, students, and DIY enthusiasts.
This all changed with the introduction of 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS for Makers.
This article delves into everything you need to know about this game-changing offering. We’ll explore its features, understand its limitations, and see how it stacks up against its competitors. Whether you’re a hobbyist looking to get serious about your projects or a student hoping to build your resume with industry-standard skills, this is the definitive guide to finding out if SOLIDWORKS for Makers is right for you.
Table of Contents
A New Chapter: The Genesis of SOLIDWORKS for Makers
To understand the significance of SOLIDWORKS for Makers, you have to look at the broader context of the CAD industry. For decades, the market was segmented into high-cost, professional-grade software (like SOLIDWORKS and CATIA) and free or low-cost options for hobbyists (like SketchUp or TinkerCAD).
Autodesk’s Fusion 360 disrupted this model by offering a hybrid CAD/CAM/CAE tool with a free personal-use license and a highly affordable commercial license. This move created a new category of “prosumer” CAD software, and soon, other companies, including Onshape, entered the fray with their own cloud-based or hybrid solutions.
Dassault Systèmes, the parent company of SOLIDWORKS, recognized this shift and sought to bring its powerful tools to the burgeoning maker community. The solution was the 3DEXPERIENCE platform. This cloud-based ecosystem was initially developed for large-scale enterprise collaboration, but Dassault realized it could be scaled down to serve individual users.
In 2021, SOLIDWORKS for Makers was officially launched, providing access to a tailored version of SOLIDWORKS Professional at a fraction of the cost. It was a strategic move to “democratize” professional design tools and build a new generation of users familiar with the SOLIDWORKS ecosystem.
What’s in the Box? A Deep Dive into the Feature Set
At its core, SOLIDWORKS for Makers is not a watered-down version of the software. Instead, it is a thoughtfully curated package designed to give makers and hobbyists everything they need without the bloat of enterprise-level features. The subscription includes a powerful suite of tools:
1. SOLIDWORKS Connected (Desktop Application)
This is the core of the offering. It is a full-fledged, locally installed version of SOLIDWORKS Professional, with all the robust parametric modeling capabilities that have made it an industry leader. This means you can create complex parts and multi-component assemblies with features like:
- Part and Assembly Modeling: Create and manage complex designs with features like extrudes, revolves, sweeps, and lofts. SOLIDWORKS’s assembly management tools are famously powerful, allowing you to create intricate mechanical systems with mates and motion studies.
- 2D Drawings: Generate professional, production-ready 2D drawings from your 3D models, complete with dimensions, annotations, and BOM (Bill of Materials) tables.
- Photorealistic Rendering: The package includes SOLIDWORKS Visualize, allowing you to create stunning, photorealistic images of your designs. This is perfect for showcasing your work in a portfolio or on social media.
- 2.5- and 3-Axis CAM: For those with CNC machines, the package includes DELMIA’s NC Shop Floor Programmer, a powerful CAM application for programming 2.5 and 3-axis milling and turning operations.
2. Cloud-Based Apps on the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform
The “3DEXPERIENCE” part of the name is crucial. This is more than just a desktop application; it’s a connected ecosystem. Your subscription gives you access to a suite of browser-based apps that run on the cloud, including:
- 3D Creator (xDesign): This app is a browser-based parametric modeler. It’s perfect for quick edits or for when you’re on the go and don’t have access to your primary workstation. It’s also Mac-compatible, addressing a long-standing issue for SOLIDWORKS users.
- 3D Sculptor (xShape): This is a subdivision modeling tool that allows you to create complex, freeform shapes and organic designs. Think of it as a tool for sculpting digital clay, which is then converted into a parametric body you can manipulate with traditional SOLIDWORKS tools. This is a massive advantage for designers working on consumer products or artistic pieces.
- Collaboration Tools: The 3DEXPERIENCE platform acts as a central hub for all your projects. You can securely store your designs in the cloud, manage different versions, and share them with other users.
The Elephant in the Room: The Maker License and its Limitations
While the feature set is impressive, it’s vital to understand the constraints of the Maker license. These limitations are put in place to differentiate it from the full commercial version and prevent its use for professional, revenue-generating activities.
- Non-Commercial Use: The most significant restriction is that the license is for personal, non-commercial use only. There is one small exception: you are allowed to earn a profit up to US$2,000 per year from projects made with the software. Beyond that, you must transition to a commercial license.
- File Compatibility: Files created with SOLIDWORKS for Makers are “watermarked.” This means they cannot be opened by any commercial or academic version of SOLIDWORKS. This is a major point of friction for some users, as it prevents seamless collaboration with professionals or other students who aren’t on a Maker license. The workaround is to export your files in a neutral format like STEP or IGES, which, while functional, strips the file of its design history (the feature tree).
- Internet Dependency: The software is “connected” to the cloud platform, which means it requires an internet connection to launch and authenticate the license. While you can work offline for a period of up to 30 days, you will eventually need to reconnect. For those in areas with unreliable internet, this can be a drawback.
- No Third-Party Add-ins: You cannot install third-party add-ins with the Maker version. This means you won’t have access to many specialized tools and workflows that professionals rely on, though most of these are geared towards niche applications.
SOLIDWORKS for Makers vs. The Competition
So, how does this package compare to its main rivals in the hobbyist space?
- SOLIDWORKS for Makers vs. Fusion 360: Autodesk Fusion 360 is arguably the most direct competitor. Its free personal-use license is a huge draw, and it offers a unified CAD, CAM, and CAE environment that is incredibly powerful for its price. The key differences are in the core user experience and file handling. SOLIDWORKS is renowned for its robust assembly management and feature-rich parametric tools, which some engineers and designers prefer for complex mechanical designs. Fusion 360, with its timeline-based workflow and integrated CAM, is often considered more intuitive for product design and 3D printing workflows. The biggest advantage for Fusion 360 is its truly free option, while SOLIDWORKS for Makers has a subscription fee.
- SOLIDWORKS for Makers vs. Onshape: Onshape, like SOLIDWORKS for Makers, is a cloud-native platform. It runs entirely in the browser, making it accessible on any device, including a Mac or Chromebook, without a local install. Its collaboration features are second to none, allowing multiple users to work on a single design simultaneously. SOLIDWORKS for Makers offers a hybrid solution with both desktop and browser-based apps. For those who need a full, powerful desktop experience, SOLIDWORKS is the clear winner. However, for true cross-platform flexibility and real-time collaboration, Onshape has the edge.
- SOLIDWORKS for Makers vs. Free/Low-Cost Software (e.g., SketchUp, FreeCAD): For a beginner, the learning curve for SOLIDWORKS can be steeper than for software like SketchUp. However, SOLIDWORKS offers a level of precision, control, and parametric functionality that is simply not available in these more basic programs. For anyone serious about making functional, manufacturable parts, SOLIDWORKS for Makers is a significant step up from these tools and a worthy investment.
A Verdict for the Modern Maker
SOLIDWORKS for Makers is a powerful and compelling offering for the right user. It is perfect for:
- Students: Gaining experience with an industry-standard CAD software is a massive resume booster.
- Hobbyists and DIY Enthusiasts: For those who want to take their projects from simple 3D-printed trinkets to complex, multi-part machines, SOLIDWORKS provides the precision and power to do so.
- Designers Transitioning to Parametric Modeling: If you’re coming from a mesh-based tool like Blender or a simple modeler like SketchUp, SOLIDWORKS for Makers offers an affordable way to learn the fundamentals of parametric and feature-based design.
The subscription model, while not free, is a reasonable price for the vast power and versatility it provides. While the file limitations and the cloud-centric nature of the platform are noteworthy drawbacks, they are minor when weighed against the benefits for the target audience.
In a crowded market of CAD software, SOLIDWORKS for Makers stands out by bringing the gold standard of professional design tools to the hands of every aspiring inventor, engineer, and creator. It’s a clear signal that the future of design is accessible, and the tools once reserved for large corporations are now within reach of a new generation of innovators.