Advanced SolidWorks (ETD2368C)

Course Description

ETD 2368C – Advanced SolidWorks is a 3-credit, combined lecture/laboratory course (denoted by the "C" suffix) in Florida's Engineering Design Drafting taxonomy. The course presents the advanced use of new designing techniques and capabilities of solid modeling using SolidWorks software, including the integration of advanced parametric modeling and drawing tools. Students progress from intermediate solid modeling competencies to fully parametric, complex real-world models, and are prepared to sit for the Certified SOLIDWORKS Professional (CSWP) examination. This course is offered at multiple Florida State College System institutions, including St. Petersburg College (SPC), State College of Florida–Manatee-Sarasota (SCF), and Northwest Florida State College (NWFSC).

Learning Outcomes

Required Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Create and manipulate advanced 3-D sketches and work planes to support complex part geometries.
• Construct advanced assemblies using both bottom-up and top-down design methodologies.
• Apply part configurations to manage design variations within a single SolidWorks file.
• Utilize the SolidWorks Toolbox to insert and manage standard hardware components within assemblies.
• Create sheet metal parts and assemblies, including bends, flanges, and flat-pattern outputs.
• Apply advanced parametric features — including sweeps, lofts, and multi-body solids — to produce complex part geometry.
• Demonstrate proficiency in mold design concepts within the SolidWorks environment.
• Apply geometric dimensioning and tolerances (GD&T) to parts, assemblies, and engineering drawings.
• Produce complete, standards-compliant engineering drawings from advanced 3-D models.

Optional Outcomes

The following outcomes appear in selected Florida college offerings of this course and may be included at instructor discretion:

• Create complex organic shapes using surface modeling tools (lofted surfaces, swept surfaces, boundary surfaces, knit surfaces).
• Design and detail weldment structures, including structural members, gussets, end caps, and cut lists.
• Perform basic finite element analysis (FEA) using SolidWorks SimulationXpress to evaluate stress and deformation.
• Use assembly-level verification tools such as Interference Detection, Clearance Verification, and Hole Alignment.
• Prepare a portfolio of models demonstrating readiness for the CSWP specialty exams (Sheet Metal, Weldments, Surfacing, or Mold Tools).

Major Topics

Required Topics

The following content areas are covered consistently across Florida college offerings of ETD 2368C:

1. Advanced 3-D Sketching & Work Planes – Spline curves, 3-D sketch paths, reference geometry (planes, axes, coordinate systems).
2. Advanced Part Modeling – Multi-body solids; sweep and loft features; boundary features; advanced fillets and chamfers; rib and draft features.
3. Part Configurations & Design Tables – Creating and managing multiple part configurations; Excel-driven design tables for parametric variation.
4. SolidWorks Toolbox – Inserting standard hardware (fasteners, bearings, gears); customizing Toolbox libraries.
5. Advanced Assembly Modeling – Bottom-up vs. top-down assembly strategies; in-context design; advanced mate types; assembly patterns and mirroring.
6. Sheet Metal Design – Base flanges, edge flanges, miter flanges, hems, bend allowance/deduction, flat-pattern generation, and sheet metal drawings.
7. Mold Design Concepts – Draft analysis, parting lines, parting surfaces, core and cavity creation.
8. Advanced Engineering Drawings – Detail and section views, broken-out sections, auxiliary views, GD&T annotations, bill of materials (BOM), and revision tables.

Optional Topics

The following topics appear in selected offerings and may be included based on program emphasis and available lab time:

• Surface Modeling – Extruded, revolved, swept, lofted, and boundary surfaces; Trim/Untrim, Knit, Thicken, and hybrid solid/surface modeling workflows.
• Weldments – Structural member profiles, custom weld profiles, trimming/extending members, gussets, end caps, weld beads, and automatic cut-list generation.
• SolidWorks Simulation (SimulationXpress / FEA) – Applying fixtures and loads, running static analyses, interpreting von Mises stress and displacement results.
• Assembly Performance & Verification Tools – Interference Detection, Clearance Verification, Hole Alignment, Part Reviewer, and Performance Evaluation.
• CSWP Exam Preparation – Timed practice problems aligned to CSWP part modeling, configurations, and assembly segments.
• 3DEXPERIENCE / Cloud-Connected SolidWorks – Introduction to cloud-based collaboration tools available through the Dassault Systèmes 3DEXPERIENCE platform.

Resources & Tools

• Software: Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks (Education Edition or Student License) — the most widely used 3-D CAD package in engineering education and industry.
• Textbook / Lab Manual: Official SOLIDWORKS training manuals — Advanced Part Modeling, Assembly Modeling, Surface Modeling, Sheet Metal, and Weldments (Dassault Systèmes / SDC Publications); specific edition per instructor.
• Online Training: MySolidWorks (my.solidworks.com) — provides access to over 600 professional training videos ranging from basic operations through certification preparation.
• LMS: Canvas (used at SPC, SCF, and other Florida State College System institutions); course videos, quizzes, and assignments delivered online.
• Hardware: Windows-based workstation or laptop meeting SolidWorks system requirements; dedicated graphics card (NVIDIA Quadro or equivalent) recommended for complex assemblies.
• Reference Standard: ASME Y14.5 (Dimensioning and Tolerancing) for GD&T annotations on engineering drawings.

Career Pathways

Completion of ETD 2368C, particularly when combined with SolidWorks certification, prepares students for roles such as:

• Mechanical Designer / Drafter — creating detailed 3-D models and engineering drawings for manufactured products.
• 3-D Modeling Specialist — developing complex solid and surface models for product design teams.
• Industrial / Product Designer — translating design concepts into manufacturable CAD geometry.
• Sheet Metal Designer — producing flat-pattern layouts and fabrication drawings for sheet metal components.
• Mold Design Technician — developing core/cavity tooling designs for plastic injection molding.
• CAD Technician / CAD Operator — supporting engineering departments with solid modeling, drawing production, and file management.
• Fabricator / Weldment Designer — creating structural steel and weldment models for manufacturing and construction industries.

Students who complete the CSWP exam gain a nationally recognized professional credential that supports career advancement and higher earning potential in mechanical design and manufacturing sectors.

Special Information

Certification Preparation

This course is designed to prepare students for the Certified SOLIDWORKS Professional (CSWP) examination administered by Dassault Systèmes. The CSWP credential validates advanced competency in part modeling, configurations, and assembly design. Advanced elective topics in this course — sheet metal, weldments, surfacing, and mold tools — also align with the CSWP specialty segment exams required for the higher-level Certified SOLIDWORKS Expert (CSWE) designation. Students should confirm exam voucher availability with their instructor or institution.

Lab Fee

An additional special fee is typically required for this course to cover SolidWorks software licensing. At institutions participating in First Day Access programs (e.g., SPC), course materials including software access may be bundled and billed through the student account.

Program Context

At SCF and similar Florida state colleges, ETD 2368C is embedded within the A.S. Engineering Technology degree program and is commonly delivered as a compressed 8-week second module following ETD 2364C (Introduction to SolidWorks) within the same semester.