SOLIDWORKS 2026 Parts and Features: What’s New and What’s Improved
Creating Reference Points by XYZ Values
Precise control over geometry is essential when working on complex part or assembly models. To enhance accuracy and flexibility, SOLIDWORKS 2026 introduces the ability to create reference points by directly specifying X, Y, and Z values.
In earlier versions, creating reference points required selecting existing geometry, like vertices, faces, or edges to define the location. While this worked for most design situations, it limited how precisely you could position points in space, especially when no suitable geometry existed nearby.
With this new option, you can now define reference points using absolute numeric coordinates. This allows you to place points exactly where you need them, relative to the model’s origin, without relying on pre-existing features.
Benefits
· Improved Positional Control:Define the exact coordinates for a point, ensuring high precision for setups like fixtures, mounting holes, or simulation reference locations.
· Geometry Independence:Create points even before other features exist, enabling early planning for design references or layout sketches.
· Faster Workflows in Assemblies:Ideal for complex assemblies where you need consistent reference locations across multiple components.
· Supports Simulation and Measurement Accuracy:Perfect for defining load application points, sensors, or connection nodes that require precise 3D positioning.
Where to
Find It
You
can access this feature through:
Insert > Reference Geometry > Point, and then enable Define
position with numeric values in the PropertyManager.
The ability to create reference points by XYZ coordinates in SOLIDWORKS 2026 gives users greater control and flexibility in defining their design intent. Whether you’re aligning parts, setting up simulations, or simply organizing model references, this enhancement helps you build with accuracy from the very beginning, no extra geometry required.
Enhanced Selection Tools for Multibody Parts
Working with multibody parts just became more flexible and efficient. SOLIDWORKS 2026 introduces new tools that let you select individual bodies and features in a multibody part with far greater control, helping you manage complex models faster and with less effort.
Previously, there were no dedicated tools to isolate or select specific
bodies within a multibody part. Designers had to manually pick each body, which
was time-consuming, especially in large models with several discrete
components.
The new selection tools now make it easy to focus on the exact
portions of your design you need to work on. You can use:
- Select Bodies by Size: Selects bodies based
on their relative size in the model.
- Select Bodies by
Volume: Lets you drag and define a
temporary 3D volume to select specific bodies within or crossed by that
volume.
You can access these tools by opening a multibody part and selecting:
Tools > Selection or right-clicking the Selection Tools flyout
menu.
Select Bodies by Size
This option lets you choose bodies based on their percentage of the
total part size. It’s especially helpful for identifying and managing smaller
or nonessential bodies that impact performance.
You can also enable additional options:
- Dynamic Selection: Shows a live preview
of what’s being selected as you adjust the percentage.
- Select Parent
Features: Includes the parent features in the FeatureManager design tree for a
complete selection of geometry and features.
Once selected, you can easily delete, suppress, or hide these
bodies, streamlining model cleanup and performance optimization.
Select Bodies by Volume
This tool gives you a more visual and intuitive way to isolate geometry.
You can drag to define a rectangular selection volume directly on-screen:
- Drag left to right to select bodies fully
enclosed within the volume.
- Drag right to left to select bodies intersected by the volume.
You can also fine-tune the volume’s size and shape using adjustable handles in the PropertyManager to target specific bodies more precisely.
Benefits
- Faster Model
Management: Quickly isolate, hide, or remove unnecessary bodies to improve
performance.
- Better Visualization: Work more efficiently
with large multibody parts by focusing only on what matters.
- Cleaner Design Tree: Reduce clutter and
streamline your part for downstream operations.
- Improved Productivity: Minimize manual selection time when dealing with dozens or hundreds of bodies.
The new multibody selection tools in SOLIDWORKS 2026 give you greater flexibility in managing complex parts. Whether you’re optimizing for performance or refining design details, these tools help you work faster, cleaner, and with full control over your model’s structure.
Cancel Lengthy Operations with the Escape Key
Long operations can sometimes slow down your modelling process — especially when you’re working with complex geometry or large part files. In SOLIDWORKS 2026, you now have the ability to cancel ongoing part operations instantly using the Escape (Esc) key, helping you stay in control and save valuable time.
Certain features such as Linear Pattern, Circular Pattern, Fillet, and Chamfer can take significant time to preview or execute, depending on the complexity of the model. In earlier versions, if a command was started by mistake or took too long to compute, you had to wait for it to finish before making any further changes.
With the new update, you can now simply press the Esc key to stop the process immediately. The model automatically reverts to its previous state, allowing you to quickly make adjustments or exit the command altogether.
During execution or preview, the status bar displays clear messages like:
· Press <ESC> to cancel Preview
· Press <ESC> to cancel Linear Pattern / Circular Pattern / Fillet / Chamfer command
Benefits
· Instant Control: Cancel long or accidental operations without waiting for completion.
· Faster Iteration: Quickly test design changes without losing time to lengthy previews.
· Improved Stability: Prevents system slowdowns or unresponsiveness during heavy computations.
· Better User Experience: The visual status bar cues make the command behavior more transparent.
The Esc key cancelation is currently supported in the following tools:
· Linear Pattern
· Circular Pattern
· Fillet
· Chamfer
This small but impactful enhancement in SOLIDWORKS 2026 gives users faster responsiveness and better control during modeling. By allowing you to cancel long-running operations instantly, SOLIDWORKS ensures a smoother workflow — helping you focus more on designing and less on waiting.
Defining a Bounding Box Using aCoordinate System
Bounding boxes are a simple yet powerful tool for estimating material usage, packaging size, or machining stock requirements. With SOLIDWORKS 2026, you now have greater control over how bounding boxes are oriented, thanks to the ability to define them using a coordinate system.
Previously, bounding boxes were automatically aligned to the part’s default reference planes or faces, limiting how precisely you could align them with specific orientations or coordinate directions.
The latest update lets you associate a bounding box with any coordinate system, giving you full flexibility in defining how length, width, and thickness are measured. This applies to both rectangular and cylindrical bounding boxes.
Rectangular Bounding Box
When you create a rectangular bounding box, you can now:
· Select Coordinate System under Reference Face/Plane.
· Choose which coordinate system to use as the reference.
· The box edges will automatically align with the X, Y, and Z axes of that coordinate system.
You can further customize its orientation using the Fix Directions option to assign specific axes for:
· Length – Axis defining the bounding box length.
· Width – Axis defining the bounding box width.
· Thickness – Axis defining the bounding box thickness.
Cylindrical Bounding Box
Similarly, for cylindrical bounding boxes:
· Select Cylindrical as the type.
· Choose a Coordinate System as the reference.
· By default, the bounding box aligns its axis along the Z direction, but you can redefine it under Fix Directions to use X, Y, or Z as required.
Benefits
· Flexible Orientation Control: Align bounding boxes to custom coordinate systems for more accurate dimensioning and reporting.
· Improved Manufacturing Readiness: Define bounding boxes that match machining or setup orientations directly.
· Consistent Data Representation: Generate bounding boxes that align with your organization’s standard coordinate systems.
· Better for Automation: Ideal for parts that require multiple reference frames for analysis, costing, or export.
With the ability to define bounding boxes through coordinate systems, SOLIDWORKS 2026 makes it easier to align part data with real-world orientations. Whether you’re estimating material needs, preparing for fabrication, or documenting product size, this enhancement ensures your bounding boxes are as precise and adaptable as your design process.
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