For some reason, hardware guides on the Internet are a mess. This is here to fix that. Whether you’ve never opened up Solidworks, or you’re scaling to production, this is for you. Contact [email protected] or @Diego Paredes if you have anything you would like to add.

*** Looking for a Software building resources guide? You can find it here! ***

DESIGN 📐📏

Reminder! The best CAD models begin with a paper sketch. But if you’re aching to jump into the 3D realm, Michigan offers a plethora of resources to turn your ideas into reality.

What CAD Software Should I Use?

This is the most common question people ask when first getting started, but the answer isn’t as simple as that. Here are some popular choices UM students get for free:

SOLIDWORKS - Used by ME classes, Project Teams, and Most F500s

SOLIDWORKS - Dassault Systèmes

AUTODESK (FUSION, AUTOCAD, INVENTOR)

Autodesk empowers innovators everywhere to make the new possible

SIEMENS

NX software | Siemens Software

ONSHAPE

Onshape | Product Development Platform

UM Virtual Desktop (CAEN & VMWARE)

Unless you have a powerhouse PC, your GPU probably can’t keep up with most design software. Luckily, students get free remote access to CAEN on both Mac and Windows. This lets you run any UM-licensed software in a fully loaded environment.