Frequently Asked Questions - Makers

3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS® Makers is an innovative suite of software tools designed specifically for makers, hobbyists, and DIY enthusiasts who are passionate about creating, designing, and bringing their ideas to life.

Currently this offer is available for purchase with a billing address within the following countries: Algeria, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Morocco, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. More countries will be added soon.

3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS for Makers is meant for personal projects and non-commercial use. Per our terms and conditions, you may sell items you make for a profit up to and not exceeding US$2,000 a year. If you are interested in building your business with SOLIDWORKS tools, check out our start up program  or our commercial offers.

Our Cloud Eligibility tool is the easiest and quickest way to check the compatibility of your environment with the 3DEXPERIENCE platform. Check out this web page to run this tool on your environment and discover more information about the requirements.

If you are searching for a workstation to use the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, please have a look at the complete list of certified workstations.

We also recommend exploring the official Cloud Program Directory which contains detailed prerequisites and system requirements. Click “Client Software” on the left-hand navigation for the most up-to-date information.

For 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS Professional, the design app (SOLIDWORKS Connected) cannot be installed on a Mac. It requires a supported version of Windows 10 or Windows 11 on your computer to install. 

Note that if you log onto the 3DEXPERIENCE platform from a Mac, The SOLIDWORKS Connected app will be missing from your compass. The same applies to the NC Shop Floor Programmer role and Shop Floor Machining app.

However, you can use the design apps included in 3D Creator and 3D Sculptor (xDesign and xShape) as these are browser based applications that are perfect for using on a Mac or an iOS/Android device. 

3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS for Makers’ user interface, workflows and commands are intuitive with just a little practice, and we have the Get Started video playlist, training content, online tutorials and makers in our community willing to lend beginners a helping hand.

You can buy online in the following countries:

North America

A yearly subscription of 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS for Makers costs US $48 (excluding taxes); a monthly subscription of 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS for Makers costs US $15 (excluding taxes).

You can make upfront payments using credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, Amex, UPI).

Here are possible options:

• Your country is not listed in the billing address page. Please go to “I don’t see the prices in my local currency”.
• You have entered your card number and received a purchase failure message. Your bank might have rejected the purchase, so please try with another credit card. 
• If the issue persists, you can contact us by filling out this support form.

The currencies and countries available to purchase are:

• AUD with a billing address in Australia
• EUR with a billing address in Algeria, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Morocco, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland
• GBP with a billing address in the United Kingdom
• USD with a billing address in the United States
• CAD with a billing address in Canada
• JPY with a billing address in Japan
• SEK with a billing address in Sweden
• NOK with a billing address in Norway
• INR with a billing address in India

For the other countries, we will update this page as they progressively open. We invite you to regularly check this page for updates.

If you want to switch your subscription length (e.g., from a Monthly to a Yearly plan), you will need to place a stop on your current subscription and re-purchase the new plan once your current subscription ends.

The Yearly subscription once subscribed, will start from the date of purchase and not after the end date of your Monthly subscription

Here are the steps:

Stop the Monthly Subscription:

• Go to your 3DEXPERIENCE environment and access the platform management dashboard via this link.
• Stop the monthly subscription. It will remain active until its expiry date.
• The steps are indicated in the video here on the MAKERS | Support Community.

Purchase a Yearly Subscription:

• Buy a new Yearly subscription and link it to your existing environment to retain your data. You can make the new purchase using this link.
• After completing the purchase, a pop-up will prompt you to select the platform for deploying your order.
• Ensure you link the new Yearly subscription to your previous environment to avoid losing any data

After you purchase your subscription of 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS for Makers, you will receive an email titled "Get started with your 3DEXPERIENCE subscription". If you do not receive this email, please check your spam folder. You can use the link in the email or the following link to access the software from any device with an internet connection and supported operating system.

To see how you can install SOLIDWORKS Connected, explore the Get Started video playlist and 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS Installation Guide.

Follow this link to get back to the 3DEXPERIENCE platform.

Please share a screenshot of the error in the MAKERS | Support community to receive guidance for next steps.

You may log in at solidworks.com/maker-cloud. If you need further assistance, submit the Online Support Form https://www.3ds.com/online-store/support-form

Please see the step by step instructions for performing a clean reinstallation.

Files and data created with your Maker account are digitally watermarked and can only be opened with a 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS for Makers license.

You cannot open Makers files with a commercial or academic license. The digital watermark is added to native 3D file formats, such as .3dxml, .sldprt, .sldasm, and .slddrw. Neutral 3D file formats, such as .stp or .iges can be opened on any platform.

There are a variety of different methods you can use to find your models. Here are a few of them:

On the Platform - xDesign | xShape:

For Recently created files:

1. At the top of the page, click the 'Search' bar > type in filename.
2. If you cannot find your file, click on the clock icon 'Show my content from the last 5 minutes.' Clicking this will only show things created in the last five minutes.
3. Click 'Show my recent content'.
4. Click the down arrow (chevron) next to the file name > click 'Open With' to see the list of apps in which to open the file.
   • NOTE: if you click on 'More Apps', you can click on an app from the 'My Apps' section of Compass pane to choose to open the file in that app.

To use 6WTags to find and open a file in a specific app (xShape, xDesign):

1. Click on the desired app from the Compass, 'My Apps' list > Once the app widget opens, click 'Open'.
2. The 6WTags pane should have expanded on the left and the '6WTags' icon should be highlighted light blue. If you don't see the 6WTags pane, click on the '6WTags' icon to expand it.
3. If you click on any of the tags, it will filter the results to only show items that match the selected tag. For example, if you know the file was saved to a specific collaborative space, you can click on that specific collaborative space tag, under 'Where' > 'Source' > '<collaborative space name>'. Similarly, if you know you're the file owner, under 'Who' > 'Persons' > click your username from the list to filter out files by other owners.

In SOLIDWORKS Connected: From the SOLIDWORKS Connected main menu, click File > Open > Open from 3DEXPERIENCE.

From the SOLIDWORKS Connected main menu, click File > Save to This PC.

Sharing and learning from others are some of the best things about being a maker. Connect with thousands of makers from across the world in our Made in 3D community - all for free. Learn how to share your designs with the community.

Yes, you can work with SOLIDWORKS Connected in an offline mode for up to 30 consecutive days.

Please note before starting ‘Work Offline,’ ensure the following:

1. Local File Copies: Make sure you have local copies of the files you plan to work on. Refer to the post 'Another Way to Search for 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS Files on Your Computer' for assistance.
2. Desktop Shortcut: Have a desktop shortcut for SOLIDWORKS Connected. See the post 'Desktop Shortcut Automatically Created for SOLIDWORKS Connected' for guidance.

Instructions:

Once offline, even if you are internet-enabled, SOLIDWORKS will remain in Offline Mode until you disable it, or the offline period expires.

To Enable WORK OFFLINE while in SOLIDWORKS Connected, click on your profile icon in the top right of the SOLIDWORKS window, and then Click on the ‘WORK OFFLINE’ option.

Unavailable Commands and Functionality in Offline Mode:

You can work with SOLIDWORKS Connected in an offline mode for a specified period of time between one and 30 consecutive days. During this time, no internet connectivity is required. Offline Mode is also available for Shop Floor Machining and SOLIDWORKS Visualize Connected.

While Offline Mode is active, the following commands and functionalities are unavailable:

• The 3DEXPERIENCE task pane tab is hidden (because the MySession app is not loaded).
• The 'Tools > Batch Save to 3DEXPERIENCE' command is disabled.
• All commands in the Lifecycle and Collaboration toolbar are disabled.
• The Lifecycle Status tab in the FeatureManager Display Pane is hidden.
• If autonaming is enabled on the platform, it will be disabled while Offline Mode is active. The setting will be applied only when you save your content to 3DEXPERIENCE after turning off Offline Mode.

Please ensure you review these instructions carefully before proceeding with Offline Mode in SOLIDWORKS Connected. If you encounter any issues or require further assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out to our support team for help.

If you plan to work in these apps during a platform update, you must start offline mode beforehand.

Join our Maker Support community to get peer-to-peer support to help you make amazing things.

You will have access to multiple maker communities, including the Maker Support Community , where you’ll find peers and experts ready to answer all your questions, and the Made in 3D Community, where hobbyists around the world share their designs and ideas.

If you have just purchased your subscription: A few minutes after your purchase, you will receive an email with a personal link to log in. If you did not receive it, please check your junk folder. If you cannot find the email, try to log in using this link: https://solidworks.com/maker-cloud. Use the same email address as the one used to complete your purchase.

If it does not work, follow these steps:

1. Open Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Microsoft Edge using Incognito, private or InPrivate mode.
2. Try to log in again. If login succeeds, you may need to clear your browser cache.
3. If the issue persists, please submit an Online Support form and select the category "First Access".

If it has been over 30 days since you subscribed: Your license might have expired either because your billing information was not up to date or because you did not have sufficient funds on your credit card. If so, please renew your subscription from the store.

If you have any questions, please submit an Online Support Form and select the category “Access to platform & log in issues”.

Your email is locked in for a period of 30 days. Once that period is over, an email change should be possible. You can use the currently registered email for accessing the Makers platform. 

Link to the Makers Platform: solidworks.com/maker-cloud

To replace email (once 30 days are complete), follow the steps:

1. Go to https://eu1-ds-iam.3dexperience.3ds.com/3DPassport/my-profile
2. Log in with your user ID or old/wrong email address.
3. Edit your email address.
4. Scroll down and click Update.

Your 3DEXPERIENCE ID is your passport to online resources.  If you have trouble logging in and need to reset your password, check out this page: Forgot my password

The 3DEXPERIENCE platform and its apps are continuously improved based on feedback from Makers and other users. These improvements are delivered to you via platform updates on a regular basis.

See the MAKERS | Support community for information about platform updates.

As you may know, the platform is inaccessible during updates. This can cause some inconvenience to those who are looking to access the apps during this period.

To help you work during platform updates, we encourage you to take advantage of the following enhancements.

You can work with SOLIDWORKS Connected in an offline mode for a specified period of time between one and 30 consecutive days. During this time, no internet connectivity is required. Offline Mode is also available for Shop Floor Machining and SOLIDWORKS Visualize Connected. If you plan to work in these apps during a platform update, you must start offline mode beforehand.

To work with offline mode in SOLIDWORKS Connected, you will need to have your model files downloaded to your computer. The open dialog box and 3DEXPERIENCE files on This PC tab help you find such files.

See the Quick Links page for more information about new Makers enhancements, known issues and more.

In general, there are 5 platform updates per year. Information about each platform update is communicated in the MAKERS | Support community starting around 21 days before the update. In addition, you will receive a communication by email from Dassault Systèmes around 7 days before the upfate.

Your data will be deleted from our servers 2 weeks after your subscription ends. If you are still within that timeframe and wish to retrieve your data, please submit a contact form and select "Other" as the issue category.