Switching from SolidWorks to SelviCAD: shortcuts and matching commands

First, bring your parts over: STEP

SelviCAD works with its own format (.kcad) and does not open SolidWorks .SLDPRT and .SLDASM files directly. The common language of the two programs is STEP: a standard format that carries the full geometry and that most CAD programs read and write.

1. Save as STEP in SolidWorks

   Open the part or assembly; in File → Save As, choose STEP (*.step, *.stp) as the format.

2. Open it in SelviCAD

   Choose the STEP file with Dosya (File) → Parça aç… (Open part) → Bilgisayardan seç… (Choose from computer). A STEP file with an assembly structure opens as an assembly; to add it to an existing part as a component, use the İçe Aktar (Import) button on the Kütüphane (Library) tab.

3. Work on top of the body

   The part arrives as a body. You can add new features to it (hole, fillet, chamfer, cut…), and change a hole diameter or a wall thickness directly with Yüz Ötele (Move Face) and Yüz Sil (Delete Face).

4. If you need to send it back

   Export with Dosya → Dışa aktar → STEP (File → Export → STEP); STEP opens in most CAD and CAM programs, SolidWorks included. IGES, STL, 3MF, OBJ and GLB are also available.

Good to know: STEP carries geometry only. The SolidWorks feature tree, sketches, dimensions, relations, mates and configurations do not come through STEP. For a part you will change often, rebuilding it in SelviCAD with a sketch, dimensions and an extrusion is the most robust way; link the dimensions to the Parametreler (Parameters) table once and change them there afterwards.

Four steps for your first day

1. Go through the tutorial once

   Yardım → Eğitim (Help → Tutorial) has seven short lessons: first part, sketch and dimensions, hole and chamfer, technical drawing, sheet metal, assembly, preparing for 3D printing. The button to press at each step is circled on screen; the program sees what you did and moves to the next step by itself.

2. Open the shortcut list

   Yardım → Klavye kısayolları ve fare… (Help → Keyboard shortcuts and mouse) shows every key and mouse gesture in one list, for the active key layout.

3. Open the ready examples and explore

   Dosya → Örnekler (File → Examples) has six examples: a sheet metal box, a welded table frame, a tube frame, a flange, a small assembly and a bookshelf whose size changes. Change the dimensions and look at the feature tree.

4. Bring one of your own parts with STEP

   Open your own part as described above, add a hole or a fillet, then make its technical drawing.

Shortcuts

The keys below are SelviCAD's default key layout. Most view and mouse shortcuts are the same as the SolidWorks defaults, so your hands' habits still work. The current list is always in the Yardım → Klavye kısayolları ve fare… (Help → Keyboard shortcuts and mouse) window.

View and mouse

Modelling and general

Letter keys work on the model when no sketch, panel or assembly is open.

Sketch

In a sketch, letters pick tools; here R is the rectangle, on the model it is the fillet.

If you are also used to Fusion 360: in Ayarlar (Settings, the gear icon) → Kısayol düzeni (Shortcut layout), choose “Alışık olduğunuz tuşlar” (The keys you are used to). In that layout F is fillet, Q press/pull, M move body; O offsets in a sketch; dragging with the wheel held pans, with Shift it rotates; zoom to fit becomes Home.

Matching commands

SolidWorks command names are written as in its English interface; the SelviCAD names are the Turkish labels you will see on screen. SelviCAD's ribbon is split into tabs: Unsurlar (Features), Çizim (Sketch), Sac Levha (Sheet Metal), Profiller (Profiles), Kütüphane (Library), Simülasyon (Simulation) and Hesapla (Evaluate); when an assembly is open, the Montaj (Assembly) tab appears.

Part modelling

These commands are on the Unsurlar (Features) tab; standard parts are on the Kütüphane (Library) tab.

Sketch

Sketch commands are on the Çizim (Sketch) tab.

Feature tree, parameters and evaluation

Sheet metal, weldments and drawings

Three of these topics have their own detailed guide: sheet metal flat patterns, technical drawings and a first part for 3D printing.

Sketch relations and assembly mates

While you sketch, the cursor snaps to end, mid, centre and intersection points; horizontal, vertical and alignment guides appear, and snapped points are added as coincident, midpoint or on-entity relations. You give the dimensions. The sketch panel shows the state: Eksik tanımlı (under defined, with the number of degrees of freedom left), Tam tanımlı (fully defined) or Aşırı tanımlı (over defined). The “Tam tanımla (otomatik ölçü ve ilişki)” button completes an under-defined sketch with suggested dimensions; you can type different values before you accept them.

SelviCAD's relation list also has Üzerinde (a point on a line or circle).

Assembly mates

In an assembly, parts are placed with mates that seat faces and edges against each other. Click a mate in the tree to see which faces it joins.

Assembly commands

Things to keep in mind

• File format. SelviCAD saves .kcad (part) and .kasm (assembly). Your parts live in the Documents\SelviCAD folder. It does not open SolidWorks files; it opens STEP, IGES and STL.
• Drawings come in one click. When you open a drawing from a part, the program places the views, dimensions, centre lines and title block; you edit them. Details in the technical drawing guide.
• Sheet metal flat patterns use the K-factor, and bend lines go to their own DXF layer: flat pattern guide.
• Weight, cost and analysis are in the same package. On the Hesapla and Simülasyon tabs; analysis results are estimates, and load-bearing parts need an engineer's approval.
• The interface is in Turkish today. The tables above give you the Turkish label next to the SolidWorks name; an English UI is coming soon.

Frequently asked questions