Over the past few months, I’ve been putting more time into something I genuinely enjoy mechanical design and CAD.

I’m happy to share two milestones from this journey:

🔹 CSWE – Certified SOLIDWORKS Expert
🔹 3DEXPERIENCE CATIA Mechanical Designer – Professional

Preparing for these exams was very different from simply learning software commands. I had to focus on how to approach a design problem, choose the right modelling strategy, understand design intent, and work efficiently under time constraints.

For the CSWE, I worked on advanced SOLIDWORKS modelling and assembly challenges involving areas such as complex features, in-context design, configurations, 3D sketches, weldments, sheet metal, belts and chains, and assembly design. The CSWE itself is designed around solving complex modelling challenges and has a 4-hour exam with an 80% passing requirement.

For the CATIA Mechanical Designer Professional certification, my preparation focused on building a stronger understanding of Part Design, Assembly Design, Sheet Metal, Generative Surface Design, Smart Mechanical Components and Drafting. The certification uses hands-on challenges based on industrial use cases, where parts and assemblies have to be designed, modified and analyzed.

What helped me the most was regular practice through projects and design work rather than preparing only for the exam. Working on engineering projects made it easier to connect individual CAD features with the bigger picture of product development.

As a student, I see these certifications less as an endpoint and more as milestones in building my design foundation.

There is still a lot more I want to learn especially around product development, design for manufacturing, simulation and real-world engineering problems.

For now, I’m happy to look back at these two milestones and keep moving forward. 🚀