SOLIDWORKS What’s New 2025: Part and Feature

1. Z-Up Templates

Traditionally, SOLIDWORKS has used a Y-up orientation as the default for templates. While this served many workflows, there were limitations in adapting to specific industry requirements where a Z-up orientation is preferred.

Key Highlights:

• The Y-up orientation was previously the only option available for default templates created during a fresh install of SOLIDWORKS.
• With SOLIDWORKS 2025, you now have the ability to create your own Z-up templates by using the default templates as a base.
• A new Orientation section is now included in the Units and Dimension Standard dialog, allowing you to select either Y-up or Z-up when creating new parts or assemblies.

Benefits:

• Customizability: Tailor templates to match industry standards or project-specific requirements.
• Streamlined workflows: Enhanced flexibility for downstream processes such as CAM or manufacturing setups.

2. New Method to Simplify part – Silhouette Defeature

Simplifying parts for various purposes, such as protecting intellectual property or improving performance in complex assemblies, has become more accessible in SOLIDWORKS 2025 with the Silhouette Defeature feature.

Key Highlights:

• Now available for single and multibody parts, expanding its capabilities beyond assemblies.
• The defeature can be linked to the parent part, ensuring updates remain consistent and synchronized.

Simplification Methods:

• Bounding Box: Simplifies geometry into a rectangular outline.
• Cylinder: Ideal for cylindrical shapes or rounded components.
• Polygon Outline: Reduces geometry to a polygonal shape.
• Tight Fit Outline: Captures geometry tightly for better representation.

Output Options:

1. Create Configuration: Best for simplifying complex geometry while maintaining usability in assemblies.
2. Create New Part: Perfect for sharing files externally (e.g., requesting a quote) while safeguarding intellectual property.

By simplified parts as a configuration or a new part, you can ensure that critical design details remain protected and consistent.

3. Auto Repair Sketch Relations & Dimensions

Streamlining the sketching process, SOLIDWORKS 2025 introduces Auto Repair Sketch Relations & Dimensions, a feature designed to maintain design integrity and reduce manual repairs.

Key Highlights:

• Automatically detects and suggests repairs when a similar edge is nearby.
• Reduces manual intervention for repairing sketch relations and dimensions.

Benefits:

• Improved Efficiency: Saves time by automating repetitive tasks.
• Design Integrity: Ensures that repaired sketches maintain alignment with the original design intent.

4. Patterning Reference Geometry

For years, users have relied on the “Number of Planes” option in Plane properties to manually create multiple planes and replicate patterns. With SOLIDWORKS 2025, you can now create patterns directly from reference planes in just a few clicks. This enhancement significantly streamlines the design process while improving control, editability, and navigation.

Key Highlights:

• Manage plane patterns effortlessly with powerful options, including:

• Changing directions
• Adjusting instance counts
• Setting “up to reference” limits
• Skipping instances for enhanced customization

• Applies to both linear and circular patterns for maximum versatility.

Benefits:

• Accelerated Design Process: Saves time by automating plane-based pattern creation.
• Enhanced Customization: Flexible options for adjusting and fine-tuning patterns.
• Improved Workspace Organization: Keeps designs clean and manageable within the Feature Manager Design Tree.