Solidworks - Student Engineering Kit (SEK)

Licensing:

• Using SOLIDWORKS Education Edition and Student Engineering Kit (SEK) for commercial or funded research is NOT license compliant.

• The SEK version cannot be installed on UC-owned computers including research labs and computer labs. 

• Use the Education version for UC-owned computers

• Non-Engineering users contact labs@eng.uci.edu for permission and guidance

Introduction

Solidworks Student Engineering Kit is available to HSSOE students at no cost. 

• This is a full version of Solidworks.

• There is no cost to end-users

• Details about features included in Solidworks SEK.

Solidworks Tutorials and Training

Visit MySolidworks for "All Things Solidworks" including tutorials, training, CSWA & CSWP prep, and user forums.

Solidworks Training

• www.solidworks.com/media/mysolidworks-students 

• Register your account using the serial number on this site.

Vouchers for CSWA and CSWP exams

• Please contact Lisa Preble labs@eng.uci.edu  to obtain a voucher if you're interested in taking the CSWA or CSWP exams outside of your Solidworks course.

• Scroll down to find exams you can take

• Exam info for MAE 52 students, Spring 2024

What is included with our campus license?

1) The Solidworks SEK Software

2) Training via MySolidWorks for Students ($360 value per student)

• • www.solidworks.com/media/mysolidworks-students

    • USE SOLIDWORKS Student Premium serial number-

    • Online Training Catalog (powered by SOLIDProfessor) tutorials, with learning paths including: CSWA Exam Prep Course and Sample Exercises, CSWP Exam Prep Course and Sample Exercises, SOLIDWORKS CAM, and Additive Manufacturing.

  • Fundamentals of 3D Design and Simulation - eBook

  • Fundamentals of SW Electrical - eBook

3) Certification Exams - Your instructor or Lisa Preble (lpreble@uci.edu) can provide you with a voucher

Certified SOLIDWORKS Associate Academic

• • CSWA - Academic $99 value each

  • CSWA - Additive Mfg. $50 value each

  • CSWA - Electrical $20 value each

  • CSWA - Sustainability $20 value each

  • CSWA - Simulation $50 value each

Certified SOLIDWORKS Professional Academic

• • CSWP - Academic $99 value each

  • CSWPA - Drawing Tools $20 value each

  • CSWPA - CAM $50 value each

  • CSWPA - MBD $50 value each

  • CSWPA - Mold Tools $20 value each

  • CSWPA - Simulation $50 value each

  • CSWPA - Sheet Metal $20 value each

  • CSWPA - Surfacing $20 value each

  • CSWPA - Weldments $20 value each

Certified SOLIDWORKS Accredited Educator is provided when you complete: Certified SOLIDWORKS Associate Exam, and the Technology Educator Competency Exam

Academic certifications changes:

a) Post-secondary institutions are not required to proctor certification exams.

b) Faculty can now request exam vouchers: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/7dc24a0f6b394aa7bbebee63428af4d2

Download Solidworks SEK

• • Solidworks SEK is a full-version licensed directly with Solidworks for 365 days.

STEP 1 - Open the following links:

• www.solidworks.com/sek

• Serial number and SEK-ID  - VERSION:  SOLIDWORKS 2023 Student Premium

Use your UCI Google Apps account to view SEK-ID.

• • • If you see the "You Need Permission" message it means you are NOT logged in with your UCI Google Apps account.

      • Switch to your UCI Google Apps account

      • NOTE: We will ignore all "Request Access" messages

      • OIT provides UCI Google apps support:

        • • UCI Google Apps

          • Note: You can use UCI Google Apps w/o Gmail. 

STEP 2  - Go to download site and fill-in Student Access Form:

1. Visit: www.solidworks.com/sek

2. Enter your personal information

3. Select a current version

4. Use your @UCI.EDU email address.

   1. You cannot download the software with a non-UCI.EDU email address.

5. Click "Request Download"

STEP 3- Download Software

1. Accept Agreement

2. Click Download

Solidworks Prerequisites:

Before proceeding with your Solidworks installation, please do the following:

1. Run Windows Update.  

   1. Install all of the security updates and driver updates.

   2. Windows update instructions and video.  Additional instructions here.

   3. A lot of random errors happen when video drivers are not updated.

2. Uninstall or pause third-party anti-virus software  such as McAfee, Norton, AVG, etc .

   1.  DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP.

   2. I use the built-in Windows AV software

3. Install the latest Microsoft .NET framework.

4. Disable UAC

5. Verify that your system meets the criteria specified in www.solidworks.com/System_Requirements.

   2. • If your system or video card isn't listed, the installation might still be okay.

      • The video card requirement is approximate. 

      • I do not use a supported video card in the HSSOE computer labs and Solidworks works.

6. Uninstall any alpha, beta, or pre-release versions of the Solidworks software.

• • • • • Back up all SOLIDWORKS files you have created and wish to continue using (e.g. parts, assemblies, and drawings, document templates, sheet formats, library features, form tools, Toolbox parts (as applicable)) before upgrading to Solidworks.

        • If you uninstall an older version, please be sure to also uninstall Simulation products, along with older versions of eDrawings®, and other products, etc.

        • Scroll down to "How to uninstall Solidworks"

                 5. If you wish to move your un-expired license to a new computer, please be sure to transfer your license before uninstalling the software. 

• • Start Solidworks, go to Help - Transfer licenses (select all the Solidworks products when doing this).

Solidworks installation 

1. READ THROUGH THE PREREQUISITES (ABOVE)

2. Right-click on the downloaded SolidWorksSetup.exe, Select "Run as Administrator."

   • The file will unpack to "SLDM" in your Downloads. 

3. Open SLDM. Right-click on sldIM.exe and select "Run as Administrator".

3) Solidworks Installation manager will start.

1. • Select "Install on this Computer"

   • Click Next.

4) Check the box for: "3D Design" 

1. • 1. SERIAL: Serial number and SEK-ID 

     2. Do not select additional features or serial numbers.

     3. Click Next

5) On Summary screen click Change next to Products.

6)  IMPORTANT!!  Do not install Solidworks Electrical

• De-Select Solidworks Electrical

• it will cause errors and it will also install Microsoft SQL Server.

•  Use this feature at your own risk

7)  Click Change for Download Options

8) Select the option to Download Only. 

•  Also look at download location.

• Click Back to Summary

• If you have the most recent version or if you don't want to download the latest version, select "Install Only".

  • Jump to step 13

9) Verify options, accept license agreement, click Download Now.

10) You will see a confirmation when the download is complete

• Notice download location

11) Find the download,

• Usually in Documents, Solidworks Download.

• Right-click on Setup.exe and select "Run as Administrator".

12)  Repeat steps 3 -6 above

• Remember to de-select Solidworks Electrical

13) Verify installation locations of files

14) Verify the options you selected and click Install Only

15) When you first launch Solidworks, you'll be asked to Activate the software. Activate it over the internet.

Activation

You need to activate Solidworks on your first use.

Select the option to activate over the internet.  ENTER YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS and then click next.

Solidworks Serial & Activation Issues

1) You see an error the Student Version has expired.

• Open File Explorer and go to C:\ProgramData\FLEXnet.

• Rename the FLEXnet folder to something like FLEXnet_old.

• Try again to activate the license.

• http://kb.mit.edu/confluence/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=155281129

2) How to Renew the SEK version without updating the software:

Solidworks installation for Students- How to update the license key

1. Go to Control Panel > Programs and Features.

2. Select SolidWorks and click on Change.

3. In the GUI that opens, select Modify the individual installation.

4. Enter the new key.

5. Click through Next to the end.

6. Click Modify now.

7. Then relaunch SolidWorks.

3) How many installations can I have with the SEK version?  

From Solidwroks SEK FAQ:

• Student Edition serial numbers allow for two simultaneous activations. You can install and activate SOLIDWORKS on two systems at a time. Hence you can use the same serial number to install and activate SOLIDWORKS on another system.  

• If you want to use on more than two systems, you can deactivate the software on one of the systems using the instructions below.

• Or, you can use the network license version, but you'll need to authenticate with campus VPN whenever you use Solidworks. This might be a problem with your wi-fi.

4)  I want to move the license to a different computer. How do I deactivate/activate a license.

Follow the steps below for deactivating a SOLIDWORKS license:

• 1. Open SOLIDWORKS on your current system.

  2. In the SOLIDWORKS window, navigate to Help > Deactivate Licenses.

  3. In the SOLIDWORKS Product Activation window, select the products and click on the 'Next' button.

  4. Once the deactivation is successful, you will be able to install and activate this license on the new system.

  5. Here's more details: https://help.solidworks.com/2021/english/SolidWorks/swactwiz/r_activate_transfer_sw_product.htm

5)  I need to de-activate Solidworks but the hard drive is broken

 Your options are

1. 1. 1. Our sales person says you should be able to install on the new hard drive without issues.   Let us know if you have problems at labs@eng.uci.edu

      2. Or, you can Install the network license version instead of the SEK version. Be sure to connect to UCI VPN whenever you use the software.

      3.   The SEK version deactivates after a year.  You can wait it out and install after a year has passed assuming you're still a UCI student.

Additional software troubleshooting tips

How to uninstall Solidworks

• This video shows the "Clean Installation" procedure

1) Go to Windows Settings, Apps & Features, Solidworks, click on Uninstall

2)  Go to Advanced, click Change

3)  Select the option to delete Registry items and program files.  (BACK UP YOUR DATA). Go Back to Summary.

4) Click REMOVE ITEMS

5) Consider something like CCleaner to do further cleanup and removal.

Solidworks PDM Standard

Solidworks PDM Standard is included with the SEK license for Students.

Please refer to the following pages:

• PDM Standard overview:

  • • https://www.javelin-tech.com/blog/2015/10/solidworks-pdm-standard/

• PDM server installation (supposedly included with PDM Standard)

  • • https://www.javelin-tech.com/blog/2015/11/solidworks-pdm-standard-server-installation-updated/ 

• PDM client installation:

  • • https://www.javelin-tech.com/blog/2020/04/solidworks-pdm-standard-client-installation/

Other file management options:

• GrabCad Workbench is cloud based file management.

• Google "solidworks file management without pdm" for other options