New Tools & Features for Part Modelling Workflows in SOLIDWORKS Design 2026
Written by: Terry O'Reilly
Published: Jan 15, 2026
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Every year, SOLIDWORKS introduces a suite of enhancements across the portfolio to upgrade the software and enhance the experience for its user base.
For many commercial SOLIDWORKS designers, part design workflows are where the majority of modelling time is spent, so it’s only natural that this is where the most exciting new tools and features come in.
With insight from one of our Elite SOLIDWORKS Engineers, Terry O’Reilly, let’s explore the new features that SOLIDWORKS 2026 brings to part design, including updates to sheet metal tools, structural systems, and equations.
Latest Updates to SOLIDWORKS Design 2026
Whether you’re designing complex assemblies, collaborating across teams, or detailing production-ready drawings, SOLIDWORKS 2026 offers something for every engineer and designer!
Sheet Metal Base Flange Offset
Sheet metal design gets a major upgrade with the ability to offset base flanges from the sketch plane.
Previously, flanges were locked to the sketch origin, limiting flexibility in certain manufacturing scenarios.
Now, engineers can offset by a specific value, vertex, surface, face, or plane, giving greater control over part geometry and alignment.
This enhancement is especially useful for assemblies requiring precise spacing or clearance.
SOLIDWORKS has long been regarded for its powerful, feature-rich Sheet Metal functionality, and each year it gets even better.
Breaking internal corners can be a fairly common operation in Sheet Metal design, so the ability to now do this with a single click is a welcome timesaver!
Internal Corner Treatments
The Break Corner tool has long simplified exterior corner finishing, but SOLIDWORKS 2026 extends this functionality to internal corners.
Engineers can now apply chamfers or fillets to sharp internal edges with the same ease, selecting ‘Collect All Corners’ to automate the process.
This saves time and ensures consistent edge treatments across complex sheet metal parts, improving both aesthetics and manufacturability.
Equation Cleanup
Equations are powerful for linking dimensions and driving parametric design, but they’ve historically caused issues when features are deleted.
SOLIDWORKS 2026 introduces a ’Delete Equations’ checkbox that automatically removes dangling equations, preventing errors in the FeatureManager Tree.
This small but impactful change streamlines design iteration and reduces troubleshooting time.
Equations are incredibly useful for adding a layer of control and intelligence to your designs. When you modify dimensions, equations help rebuild your model in a predictable, consistent way, ensuring no unwanted surprises.
This new feature saves users even more time; you no longer have to manually identify and delete dangling equations in the Equation Manager when errors appear, a simple new check-box fixes the issue immediately!
Structure System Corner Control
Structure Systems offer a fast way to build welded frames without sketching each member.
In SOLIDWORKS 2026, corner treatments are more intuitive and visually guided. A new graphical selection pane appears when modifying complex corners, offering better previews and control.
Color-coded indicators help identify corner types, making it easier to apply the right treatment and maintain structural integrity.
This is a great update to the Structure Systems user interface which really simplifies what can be a complicated procedure, after all – complex corners can get pretty complicated
The new visual feedback makes it easy to choose the best corner trim options for your structure. If you design large structural frames, then it might be worth checking-out Structure Systems.
You can find it in the tabs menu in every SOLIDWORKS package – it simplifies the design process by eliminating the need for complex 3D sketches, and makes the addition of beams and connection elements used in building structures a breeze!
Cut List Property Integration
Cut lists provide essential Bill of Material information which is particularly important to purchasing and manufacturing teams.
SOLIDWORKS 2026 makes this data more accessible by allowing full cut list properties, such as description and total length, to be referenced directly in part configuration properties.
This eliminates the need for workarounds and ensures seamless integration with downstream systems like PDM, PLM, and ERP platforms.
Reference Point Definition
Reference points are invaluable for locating features, setting up measurements, and guiding assemblies.
SOLIDWORKS 2026 enhances its utility by allowing numeric input for X, Y, and Z coordinates.
This precision enables engineers to bypass complex 3D sketches and use reference points as paths for features like sweeps, making layout-driven design more intuitive.
Bounding Box Direction Control
Bounding boxes help define the smallest enclosing volume for parts, but the default orientation isn’t always ideal, especially with anisotropic materials or grain direction.
SOLIDWORKS 2026 introduces user-defined coordinate systems for bounding box orientation.
Engineers can now lock X, Y, and Z directions to specific planes, ensuring consistent labelling even when part geometry changes.
Conclusion
This year, the new features for part modelling are well positioned to remove frustrations from part modelling workflows as SOLIDWORKS 2026 delivers meaningful improvements that simplify part design while enhancing control and integration.
From smarter sheet metal workflows to intuitive structure systems and equation management, these updates reflect the evolving needs of professional engineers.
Categorised as: SOLIDWORKS Design | Software | What's New
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