SolidWorks
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Computer-aided design software |
| Founded | December 1993 |
| Founder | Jon Hirschtick |
| Headquarters | Waltham, Massachusetts , United States |
Key people | Jon Hirschtick (founder) |
| Products | Solid modeling CAD and CAE software |
| Owner | Dassault Systèmes |
| Parent | Dassault Systèmes |
| Website | www |
SolidWorks (commonly presented as SOLIDWORKS) represents a software line focused on solid modeling within the realms of computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided engineering (CAE). It was one of the pioneering 3D CAD programs created specifically for desktop personal computers. The brand is currently under the ownership of the French software firm Dassault Systèmes.
History
The inception of SolidWorks Corporation dates back to December 1993, founded by Jon Hirschtick, an MIT alumnus who funded the venture using profits from the MIT Blackjack Team. His vision was to develop accessible, cost-effective 3D CAD software tailored for Windows desktop users. Originally situated in Concord, Massachusetts, the company subsequently moved its headquarters to Waltham, Massachusetts. The debut product, SolidWorks 95, was released in November 1995. In 1997, Dassault Systèmes—recognized for its CATIA CAD offerings—acquired SolidWorks in a stock transaction valued at $310 million.
By 1999, the company broadened its product range by adding sophisticated 3D modeling capabilities. Later in 2006, it launched Design-to-Manufacturing solutions, a unified platform designed to facilitate concurrent cooperation between design and manufacturing departments.
As of 2024, SolidWorks supports approximately 7.5 million users globally.
Modeling technology
SolidWorks functions as a solid modeler utilizing a parametric feature-based methodology originally pioneered by PTC (Creo/Pro-Engineer) for constructing 3D CAD models and assemblies. It operates on the Parasolid modeling kernel.
The application integrates various analysis and simulation features, including Finite Element Analysis, which aid in advanced modeling tasks, design refinement, and collaborative project workflows.