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Re:Show HN: AI in SolidWorks by starky on Tuesday January 13, 2026 @11:29AM (#46603225)
Long time SolidWorks user here with experience in other programs. Frankly, SolidWorks is one of the easiest pieces of CAD software to use, being much more flexible in how things are done compared to a lot of other programs. That said, it is incredibly powerful software, and while someone can learn how to use it in a week, it takes months or years to be actually proficient.

My big tip if you can't find a button there is always the search bar. Just search the command you are looking for, it will even show you where the button is located for next time. That said, they don't move things around that much from year to year, I'm surprised if you can't find a command in a tutorial made in the last 10 years.

The features you are talking about sound like you want to be doing surfacing, which is definitely a more advanced modeling technique that I only recommend trying to learn once you understand the basics and can predict how the software wants you to model something.

Re:Show HN: AI in SolidWorks by areoform on Tuesday January 13, 2026 @01:24PM (#46605367)
Would you be willing to teach me? Or, take 30 minutes to walk through what I'm not getting?
Re:Show HN: AI in SolidWorks by idiotsecant on Tuesday January 13, 2026 @09:06PM (#46611421)
Would you be willing to bake me some cookies? Or, spend 30 minutes making cookies for my consumption?
Re:Show HN: AI in SolidWorks by areoform on Wednesday January 14, 2026 @01:03AM (#46612861)
Sure! Why not?
Re:Show HN: AI in SolidWorks by Melatonic on Tuesday January 13, 2026 @01:55PM (#46605887)
Not the OP but is Solidworks similar to other professional software in that keyboard shortcuts give you a big leg up vs point and click ? I would imagine learning those would be better long term than a GUI that might change