> Moving from 2D to 3D > Moving from 2D to 3D > Approach to Modeling > Approach to Modeling

SolidWorks Fundamentals

Sketching versus Drawing

Feature-based Models

Types of Files

Glass Box Visualization

Templates

Parametric Dimensions

Design Studies in SolidWorks

Detailing and Drawings

Sustainability Products

Approach to Modeling

2D CAD systems and the SolidWorks application have fundamentally different approaches. In 2D CAD systems, you design in a 2D environment. In SolidWorks, you design in a 3D environment, and you create 2D drawings based on the 3D model. The first three lessons of the SolidWorks Tutorials cover basic part, assembly, and drawing concepts.

	2D CAD Systems	SolidWorks

Types of Models	2D drawings	3D solid parts and assemblies, from which you generate 2D drawings
Sketching versus Drawing	drawings	sketching is the basis for features, which are the basis for parts; drawings are generated from part and assembly models
Feature-based Models	models are viewed as a set of lines in 2D	parts are made up of features, as assemblies are made up of parts
Types of files	.dwg files	.sldprt (parts) .sldasm (assemblies) .slddrw (drawings)
Glass Box Visualization	visualize 3D models into 2D drawings	visualize (and convert) 2D drawings into 3D models
Templates	drawing templates	part, assembly, and drawing templates
Dimensions	geometry drives dimensions	dimensions define the geometry
Design Intent	accurate lines describe objects	design intent is captured by dimensions, relations, and equations
Configurations	configurations drawn manually	configurations of part or assembly models created in the model document
Exploded Views	exploded views drawn manually	exploded views are created as configurations in assembly documents

Related SolidWorks Topics

Basic Concepts
SolidWorks Fundamentals

Search 'Approach to Modeling' in the SOLIDWORKS Knowledge Base.

Provide feedback on this topic

SOLIDWORKS welcomes your feedback concerning the presentation, accuracy, and thoroughness of the documentation. Use the form below to send your comments and suggestions about this topic directly to our documentation team. The documentation team cannot answer technical support questions. Click here for information about technical support.

* Required


*Email:
Subject:		Feedback on Help Topics
Page:		Approach to Modeling
*Comment:
*		I acknowledge I have read and I hereby accept the privacy policy under which my Personal Data will be used by Dassault Systèmes

Cancel

Print Topic

Select the scope of content to print:

This topic and all topics linked from this topic

Just this topic

This topic and only immediate topics under it

This selected topic and all subtopics

Cancel

We have detected you are using a browser version older than Internet Explorer 7. For optimized display, we suggest upgrading your browser to Internet Explorer 7 or newer.

Never show this message again

Web Help Content Version: SOLIDWORKS 2010 SP05

To disable Web help from within SOLIDWORKS and use local help instead, click Help > Use SOLIDWORKS Web Help.

To report problems encountered with the Web help interface and search, contact your local support representative. To provide feedback on individual help topics, use the “Feedback on this topic” link on the individual topic page.