Weldments (SOLIDWORKS)
Multi-body weldment modelling — structural members from cross-section profiles, trim/extend, gussets, end caps, cut list.
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Definition
Weldments use the Weldment toolbar. Start with a 3D sketch (or 2D layout sketch) defining frame centrelines. Apply Structural Member with a profile from the SOLIDWORKS profile library (or a custom profile). Trim and extend members at intersections; add gussets, end caps, fillet beads. The cut list aggregates the individual structural members into a tabular schedule on the drawing.
Why it matters
Weldments are the standard tool for steel frames, machinery bases, conveyors, and structural welded assemblies — anywhere a multi-body part is more practical than an assembly of individual SLDPRTs.
Common pitfalls
- Mixing weldment bodies with non-weldment bodies in the same SLDPRT — cut list ignores them.
- Using a custom profile without setting Configuration Specific properties — cut list reports wrong metadata.
- Modelling the structure as an assembly when a weldment would be cleaner.
Structural members, trim, and the cut list
Weldments build a frame from a single multibody part: sketch the skeleton, then Insert > Weldments > Structural Member sweeps a library profile (ISO/ANSI/DIN sections) along each segment. Trim/Extend resolves corner conditions (end-miter, butt). Each member becomes a solid body, and SOLIDWORKS auto-populates a Cut List that groups identical bodies with lengths and quantities — the basis of a cut-length BOM.
Gussets, end caps, and weld beads
Add Gusset and End Cap features for real fabrication detail, and Weld Bead features to document fillet/groove welds; weld beads carry size and length data into the cut list and drawing weld symbols. Create custom profiles by saving a sketch as a Library Feature Part (.sldlfp) under the weldment profiles folder so they appear in the Structural Member picker.
References
Primary and vendor documentation used while writing this page (external links, not republished):
SOLIDWORKS Ecosystem Context
This concept is a core structural element of the SOLIDWORKS drafting and engineering environment developed by Dassault Systèmes. Dassault Systèmes' mainstream parametric MCAD — feature-based modelling, assembly mates, and 2D drawings tightly coupled to the 3D model.
Relevant SOLIDWORKS FAQs
❓ Is SOLIDWORKS available on macOS?
Not natively. SOLIDWORKS is Windows-only. Mac users run it via Parallels, VMware Fusion, or Boot Camp (Intel Macs). On Apple Silicon, virtualisation is limited. The official cross-platform alternative from Dassault is the browser-based xDesign on 3DEXPERIENCE.
❓ What's the difference between SOLIDWORKS Standard, Professional, and Premium?
Standard is the core modelling + drawings package. Professional adds CAD Library, PhotoView 360 rendering, eDrawings Professional, Toolbox, advanced sheet metal. Premium adds Simulation, Routing (electrical/piping), ScanTo3D, Motion. Most production shops use Premium; education usually uses Premium-equivalent.
❓ What is 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS vs. traditional SOLIDWORKS?
Traditional SOLIDWORKS is a desktop product, files saved to disk/network/PDM. 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS is the same desktop product but cloud-connected: files saved to the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, license tied to a Platform identity, and access to companion cloud apps (3D Sculptor / xDesign, simulation, PLM).
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🎓 Recommended Practice Lessons
Step-by-step practical exercises and certification-aligned paths chosen by our editors to master this concept:
SOLIDWORKS - Tutorial for Beginners in 13 MINUTES!
SOLIDWORKS 3D CAD Specialization (Coursera)
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