Top 10 SolidWorks Shortcuts Every Industrial Designer Should Know – From DesignWithAjay
At Ajay Industries, speed and precision go hand in hand. Whether you’re modeling a twin-shaft shredder, drafting exploded views for a gearbox, or preparing BOM-ready drawings, mastering SolidWorks shortcuts can dramatically improve your productivity. These top 10 shortcuts are handpicked from our daily workflow to help industrial designers work smarter, not harder.
Why Shortcuts Matter
SolidWorks is powerful—but navigating menus and toolbars can slow you down. Keyboard shortcuts:
- Accelerate repetitive tasks
- Keep your cursor focused on design
- Improve modeling accuracy with fewer clicks
DesignWithAjay’s Top 10 SolidWorks Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Function | Use Case at Ajay Industries |
|---|---|---|
| S | Shortcut Toolbar | Access sketch, feature, or assembly tools instantly based on context |
| D | Confirmation Corner | Pops up OK/Cancel near your cursor—great for rapid feature confirmation |
| Q | Show Hidden Planes | Reveals all hidden planes—perfect for sketch setup and reference geometry |
| F | Zoom to Fit | Instantly zooms to fit the model—ideal for large assemblies or lost views |
| Ctrl + B | Force Rebuild | Rebuilds the model—useful after equation updates or parametric changes |
| Ctrl + Tab | Switch Between Open Files | Quickly toggle between parts, assemblies, and drawings |
| Ctrl + Z | Undo | Undo last action—essential during sketching and mate adjustments |
| Delete | Remove Selected Entity | Deletes selected features, sketches, or components instantly |
| A | Toggle Line/Arc | Switches between line and arc while sketching—great for blade profiles |
| Ctrl + Select | Multi-Select Entities | Select multiple items without a selection box—useful for applying mates or constraints |
Bonus Tip: Customize Your Shortcuts
Go to Tools > Customize > Keyboard to assign your own shortcuts. At Ajay Industries, we often create custom hotkeys for:
- Exploded View Toggle
- BOM Table Insertion
- Mate Reference Setup
DesignWithAjay Tip: Print your shortcut list and keep it near your workstation for quick reference.
Real-World Example: Shredder Blade Modeling
Using shortcuts:
- S to access sketch tools
- A to toggle blade edge profiles
- Ctrl + B to rebuild after variable updates
- D to confirm feature creation Result: 35% faster modeling time and fewer mouse movements