Installing Solidworks - VTAstrobotics/Documentation GitHub Wiki

Solidworks is the CAD software the team uses. It is a very powerful tool and is widely used in the real world. So it is worth getting experience in and it might help you get your next internship. If you are in engineering department you will already have access to solidworks through "Network Software".

  1. Click the following link to access Virginia Tech's network software page. Log in with and VT Username (PID) and passphrase.
  2. Click SolidWorks Software and then click the most recent solidworks release.
  3. Accept the license agreement and you will be presented with the download link for SolidWorks. There will also be a tab labeled Product Key(s) as shown below, which is where the SOLIDWORKS License Key is located. Make sure to write this down, as it will be needed later in the install process. Continue to download the installer and then double click on the downloaded file to begin setup.

  1. Click Unzip in the new window. Leave the default destination folder. Ensure that When done unzipping open: sldim\sldim.exe is checked.

  1. When the extraction is complete, the SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager window will appear. Click Install on this Computer and click Next to continue the installation.

  1. Enter the Activation Key under 3D Design and click Next. NOTE: Do not enter the key for other features.

  1. Accept the SOLIDWORKS terms and click Download and Install to begin the installation.

Note: if you get a Microsoft SQL error, ignore it and simply press resume after closing the error message.

  1. When the installation completes, click Finish and, if prompted, restart your computer to complete the installation.
  2. On the first launch of SOLIDWORKS, you will be asked to activate the software. Ensure that I want to activate my SOLIDWORKS product now is selected and click Next.
  3. Click Select All to select SOLIDWORKS for activation, ensure that Automatically over the internet (recommended) is selected, enter your email address and then click Next.

  1. Once activation is complete, click Finish.

If you need any help in the installation process, the best place to go is the SWAT in the library. Located at 2080 Torgersen Hall. Additionally, Virginia Tech has other resources. You can browse the knowledge base here.