SolidWorks 2022 introduced the Silhouette Refinement setting (Tools > Options > Performance). This allows users to trade a small amount of visual accuracy for smoother rotation of highly tessellated models (like scanned mesh data or complex surface imports). On a mid-range workstation (e.g., Intel Xeon W-1350, Quadro P2200), rotating a 5,000-component assembly feels noticeably snappier than in 2021.

However, the Envelope Publisher tool, while powerful for top-down design, remains computationally expensive. Activating it on a master assembly with 10,000+ components can trigger a 10–15 second freeze, even on certified hardware.

For section views, the hatched area tool now recognizes curved boundaries with far fewer glitches. You can also apply a "Transparent Hatch" that shows model edges underneath, removing the need to manually erase hatch lines that cross over holes.

To run SolidWorks 2022 smoothly, avoid these pain points:

No release is perfect. Users have noted a few pain points in SolidWorks 2022:

For users driving designs with global variables and equations, the old equation dialog was a cramped, line-by-line text box. SolidWorks 2022 replaces this with a spreadsheet-like interface. You can now reorder equations, copy/paste cells, and see real-time dimensional dependencies. Conflicts are highlighted in red instantly, not after a rebuild error.

Sheet metal designers will find several workflow accelerators in this release.

SolidWorks 2022 is arguably the last version where drawings received significant love before the industry shift toward Model-Based Definition (MBD). Key drawing improvements include: