CSWA key terms

A 2D profile made of lines, arcs, and other entities drawn on a plane or planar face; it provides the shape that most solid features use to add or remove material.

A sketch in which every entity's size and position is locked by dimensions or relations, so no geometry can be dragged. SOLIDWORKS displays it in black.

A geometric constraint such as horizontal, vertical, tangent, or equal that links sketch entities to each other or to the origin, removing unwanted freedom of movement.

A tool that creates a driving dimension by selecting geometry; the value entered controls the sketch size and can be edited later to resize the model.

The fixed reference point where the three default planes intersect; it anchors the first sketch and gives a stable datum for dimensions and assembly mates.

Sketch entities flagged as construction are used as guides or references for relations, mirrors, and patterns but are excluded from the solid feature that results.

A construction line, often used as an axis of symmetry or as the axis for a revolved feature, that helps align sketch entities and create mirrored or patterned geometry.

A feature that adds material by pushing a closed sketch profile a set distance along a direction normal to the sketch plane, with options for draft and thin features.

A feature that removes material by driving a closed sketch profile into existing solid geometry to a specified depth, through all, or up to a selected surface.

A feature that creates a solid by sweeping a closed profile around a centerline or axis, typically used for shafts, pulleys, and other round parts.

A rounded transition applied to an edge or corner of a solid, which reduces stress concentration and improves appearance or manufacturability of the part.

A beveled cut applied to an edge or corner, defined by a distance and angle or by two distances, commonly used to break sharp edges.

A construction surface used to sketch on or to define feature directions; it can be offset, angled, or built through selected points, lines, or faces.

A tool that copies edges or curves from existing model geometry into the active sketch as sketch entities, keeping them associated with the original edges.

A feature tool that builds standard holes such as counterbores, countersinks, and tapped holes using predefined standards, sizes, and end conditions.

A feature that hollows out a solid body by removing one or more selected faces and leaving walls of a specified thickness throughout the remaining geometry.

A thin open or closed sketch profile extruded normal to an existing face to add a strengthening web between walls or features of a part.

A feature that moves a profile along a path to create a solid, useful for handles, tubing, and other shapes that must follow a curved route.

A feature that blends two or more profiles on different planes into a smooth transition shape, controlled by guide curves and start or end constraints.

A feature that tapers selected faces by an angle relative to a neutral plane, typically added so molded or cast parts can be released from a tool.

A tool that repeats one or more features in a linear, circular, or sketch-driven arrangement, with each copy remaining linked to the original definition.

Named variations of a part or assembly that store different dimension values, suppressed features, or component states inside a single model file.

A command that temporarily removes a feature or component from the model so it is not rebuilt or displayed, without permanently deleting it from the file.

A file that combines multiple parts or subassemblies and positions them with mates to represent a complete product or a working mechanism.

A geometric relationship that constrains how components move relative to one another, such as coincident, concentric, parallel, distance, or angle.

A mate that aligns the axes of two cylindrical or conical features so they share the same centerline, while still allowing rotation and sliding along that axis.

A mate that forces two selected entities, such as points, lines, or faces, to touch or to lie on the same plane, line, or point.

A mate that permits movement only between a minimum and a maximum value, for example letting a hinged door swing through a set range of angles.

A component whose position is locked inside the assembly; it cannot be dragged and typically serves as the anchor to which other parts are mated.

An assembly inserted into a larger assembly as a single component, grouping related parts so they can be positioned and reused as one unit.

A tool that checks for overlapping volumes between components in an assembly and reports where parts collide or occupy the same space.

A display state in an assembly where components are moved apart along specified directions to show how the product is put together.

The background layer of a drawing containing the border, title block, and standard notes, which stays the same across many drawings made from that template.

A drawing layout that places front, top, and right-side views in a fixed projection arrangement, usually third-angle, to describe an object completely.

A drawing view produced by cutting the model along a section line and showing the internal geometry behind the cut plane, typically with hatching added.

An enlarged view of a small area of another drawing view, marked with a circle and a label, used to show features too small to dimension clearly.

A table placed on a drawing that lists the components of an assembly with item numbers, quantities, part numbers, and descriptions for manufacturing reference.

A numbered callout attached to a component in a drawing view that links the part to the matching row of the bill of materials.

A command that pulls dimensions, annotations, and reference geometry already defined in the 3D model into a drawing view automatically.

Text, symbols, dimensions, or notes added to a drawing to communicate manufacturing and inspection information that the geometry alone cannot convey.