Getting Started with 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS for Makers and Obtaining Support

3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS for Makers is an effective tool to design, create, and model using the Professional version of SOLIDWORKS. Makers get a familiar and installed SOLIDWORKS application that requires Microsoft Windows 10, this version is also cloud-connected. In this post we’ll show you how to get started, find learning resources and obtain support.

3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS for Makers licensing is handled online (requires an internet connection), and users can save and collaborate on those files efficiently in the cloud of what’s referred to as the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform. But the application is still traditional desktop SOLIDWORKS software.

Who qualifies for the software and how do I get it?

Check out the SOLIDWORKS website for more details on obtaining 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS for Makers and buy it online »

NOTE: If you make less than $2,000 per year, you qualify for this version and the software will cost $99 per year before tax.

Getting Started

If you’ve decided to purchase the software, here are some handy basics you’ll need to know:

1. Go to and bookmark this site: https://eu1-makers-ifwe.3dexperience.3ds.com
   • Again, bookmark this. If you have multiple machines, use a logged in user in your browser, so that bookmark will travel with you between machines.
   • This is the landing spot – if you go to the wrong URL, you will not be able to access your tools.
2. Ensure that you have been assigned the role: 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS Professional
3. As shown in the image below, select Platform Management, and under Members. Select the letter ‘i’ next to your name.

3DEXPERIENCE Platform Management

4. In the Roles panel, select View all,
5. Ensure 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS Professional is assigned, this will bring along the prerequisite Collaborative Industry Innovator with it.

3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS Role

6. Select the Compass in the top-left as shown below, this is like your Start button in Windows. It reveals your roles (like licenses) and apps contained in those roles.
7. Under My Favorite Apps look for SOLIDWORKS Connected
   • Note there are many roles and apps that likely will not correspond to what you’ve purchased. We are strictly focused on SOLIDWORKS Connected – this is the installed application contained in the role called 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS.
   • As you and your team grow, there are many roles that allow everyone in your organization to plug into the common 3DEXPERIENCE Platform, and these roles allow for sharing and collaborating immediately.

Pick SOLIDWORKS Connected

8. Click SOLIDWORKS Connected – this will launch the installation process if it’s not currently installed.
   • Prerequisite – 3DEXPERIENCE Launcher: This is the first app that you will install- this is your personal portal from your machine into the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform. This installs a service in Windows that must run. Accept the default installation options.
   • Prerequisite – Java: Once 3DEXPERIENCE Launcher is installed, then you will need Java. There are 2 options, here we will choose the open-source version (free), this is called AdoptOpenJDK, there is a hyperlink provided during installation.
   • Select the msi file (Microsoft installer) for Windows, the package should be approximately 30 mb.
   • SOLIDWORKS Connected: Accept the default installation options.
9. After successful installation, restart Windows.
10. Log back into the 3DEXPERIENCE website and click SOLIDWORKS Connected to launch.
    • Once installed, launching the application will be done through the browser. This is the best way to ensure the connection into the 3DEXPERIENCE, so be sure to favorite the site and shortcut in the compass.
11. Visual cues of a successful connection
    • It will read SOLIDWORKS Connected in the top-left since this version of SOLIDWORKS is connected to the cloud/3DEXPERIENCE Platform
    • Look for your initials and the 3DSpace name in the top-right. If you have not created additional 3DSpaces (vaults), this should read “Common Space”. Here, for me, it reads “zz_Biodapt”.

SOLIDWORKS Connected Application

You can now begin to make awesome designs with SOLIDWORKS. As noted above, this is a different version of SOLIDWORKS, but at the heart, this app is very much the same as desktop SOLIDWORKS. So, what’s different about it?

Saving and Opening 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS Files

Saving and opening files in 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS will be different to regular desktop SOLIDWORKS:

1. If you want to work from your local disk, be sure to select File > Save to this PC

Save to this PC

2. If you want to save to the the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform to leverage Cloud storage and collaboration, select File > Save to 3DEXPERIENCE. Additionally, there is a blueberry/icon for your vault in the SOLIDWORKS Task Pane on the right side of the SOLIDWORKS screen.

3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS Task Pane

3. Pack and Go is executed via File > Export SOLIDWORKS Files. Remember, Pack and Go is a way to store a version of the data set in a specified location, possibly to share with an external member.
4. Saving templates can be done via File > Publish. Again, it should be noted there are more specific steps that are covered in our 3DEXPERIENCE Platform training courses.

How do I learn more?

Do you know bookmarks, collaborative lifecycle, lock/unlock, managing local cache, 3DPlay, CAD family vs physical products? What about managing local files versus 3DEXPERIENCE? These are all the essential 3DEXPERIENCE apps and knowledge you need to know.

Professional 3DEXPERIENCE Training from Certified Experts

We highly recommend our 3DEXPERIENCE Training Courses for Administrators and End-users.

It should be noted the 3DEXPERIENCE is a vast environment that can overwhelm you if you don’t pinpoint your goals. 3DEXPERIENCE can be as simple as a cloud-connected data management solution for your SOLIDWORKS files or as complex as a rich PLM tool that will help automate, track and collaborate with any file across the globe. For these reasons, training is critical to ensure your success in the environment.

Basic Video Tutorials

Head over to www.mysolidworks.com for basic video-based content that will get you up and running in many of the roles.

3DEXPERIENCE Tutorials

How do I get Support for 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS for Makers?

Join the Maker Support community to get peer-to-peer support to help you make amazing things. Dassault Systèmes SOLIDWORKS employees will join you in the communities to help answer your questions. For questions during the ordering process, please email support.makers@3ds.com.

Additionally, once you make it to that Community, be sure to use the filters on the right side of the screen, selecting the Wiki section will provide much more information to the Maker tools.

3DEXPERIENCE Community Wiki

Next Steps

This covers a lot. The 3DEXPERIENCE is a vast platform and navigating it can be daunting. Be sure to explore the training paths on MYSOLIDWORKS, check out our professional training courses to become proficient with this powerful tool and join the community to get support.