The features of SolidWorks can be divided into three categories:
1) MCAD or Mechanical CAD: SolidWorks Software comes with the SWIFT™ (SolidWorks Intelligent Feature Technology) that enables you to concentrate more towards your design instead trying to make the software work for you. It automates a number of processes that consume lots of time. SolidWorks has heads-up user-interface that allows you to easily use and customize visual display thus reducing the time to access various tools, which translates into fast design process. With SolidWorks you can easily edit DWG files made in AutoCAD and convert them into 3D models.
With SolidWorks you can make 3D models of the parts of the object, visualize the designs clearly, and improve the aesthetics and ergonomics of the product. There are various mechanical design related tools for sheet metal design, weldment design, mold design, assembly modeling, etc.
2) Design Validation: SolidWorks offers excellent simulation features that help the designers validate the design made by them. The products can be tested in the real-life like situations without actually converting them into the manufactured product, thus saving lots of time and money for the company in testing the actual products. The design validation tools can analyze the dimensions and tolerances, assembly of the parts, mechanisms, welded structures etc without actually producing them.
3) Workgroup Product Data Management (PDM): This is very useful feature that allows the small group of engineers working on the product design to capture the history of file revision automatically managing the data thus minimizing the errors and duplicating the efforts on the parts of engineers.
