Glass Box Visualization

In 2D CAD systems, you think of projecting the views of a 3D model onto the sides of a glass box to visualize the 2D drawings...Visualize the 2D drawings folded up onto the sides of the glass box and projected into a 3D...The following example started as a 2D drawing and was converted into a 3D model

Using Imported 2D CAD Data

You can use legacy 2D CAD data by importing it into SolidWorks and you can convert 2D CAD drawings into 3D models...Layers in imported 2D CAD drawings are retained in SolidWorks...The 2D to 3D conversion process is usually faster than redesigning the part in SolidWorks

Moving from 2D to 3D

As a 2D CAD system user, you think about designing and drawing a certain way, and you are accustomed to using certain tools...Moving from 2D to 3D...Approach to Modeling (2D versus 3D

Approach to Modeling

SolidWorks, you design in a 3D environment, and you create 2D drawings based on the 3D model...3D solid parts and assemblies, from which you generate 2D drawings...visualize 3D models into 2D drawings

Sketching versus Drawing

In SolidWorks, drawings are the 2D documents that you create from 3D part or assembly models...The tools that are considered drawing tools in 2D CAD...Extrude the sketch to form a 3D solid base feature, which becomes the basis of a part

Types of Models

2D drawings...SolidWorks creates solid models, but it can also import, create, and manipulate surfaces, view models in wireframe mode, and generate 2D drawings from the 3D solid models

Drawings

You can generate drawings in SolidWorks the same way you would generate them in 2D CAD systems...You can review models in 3D and check for correct geometry and design issues before generating drawings, so the drawings are more likely to be free of...Comparison of drawings between 2D CAD systems and SolidWorks include

Feature-based Models

Extrude - Extrude creates a feature by extruding a 3D object from a 2D sketch, essentially adding the third dimension

Automatic Drawing Operations

3D annotations...The 3D annotations are organized into annotation views that...are converted into 2D drawing views

Drafting

You can draft in 2D in SolidWorks drawing documents using Sketch tools, Dimension tools, and Annotations as described in Creating Drawings...In SolidWorks drawing documents, as in 2D CAD documents, you can add sketch entities (lines, circles, rectangles, and so on) at any time...and create your own format, or import a 2D CAD block (a title block, for example...