SolidWorks: A Futuristic Tool for Engineers and Designers

Solidworks is the premier choice for designers and engineers worldwide for designing structural components, airplane parts, automobiles, cell phones, marine equipment, and more. Engineers and designers have the power to see the impact of changes on its neighboring components, or the overall design. For example, increasing the size of a single component will impact the hole or joint it’s connected with. Hence, they can quickly spot and rectify the issues.

This innovative software offers a multitude of features and functionalities and has grown in popularity because of its uses in parametric design. In this blog, let’s discuss more about Solidworks Design.

Capabilities of Solidworks

It is highly efficient and easy-to-use software, ideal for both experienced users and students. At the start, one may encounter issues in familiarizing themselves with the user interface, names, and buttons. However, new users must be aware of the functions of this application. Some of them are mentioned below.

Simulation

The simulation feature of SolidWorks allows designers to assess their designs. This makes identifying and correcting flaws easier and faster. Designers can access precise data, leading them to make changes to the design before developing a physical prototype. Early detection of design issues can help users save money and time.

Rendering

Creating photorealistic and presentation-ready renderings is easy with Solidworks. This application allows the opening of CAD files and helps render them through precise reflections, lighting, and textures. Most designers use this potent feature, however, it is more helpful for product designers because they can showcase their concept before the production begins.

Ease in Manufacturing

Another major feature of Solidworks is that it creates a prototype once the design is complete and all the errors are eliminated from it. Professionals use this software to create the design files, which are easy to send directly for production.

A searchable database of 3D printers, which generates 2D slice data from solid geometry is included in this platform. Moreover, it is possible to part manufacturing using the user interface and outsource prototypes through 3DEXPERIENCE Marketplace.

In-depth Evaluation

An engineer just needs to click a button to add dimensions, which accelerates the process of creating 2D representations of different aspects of a design. Engineers, architects, and designers can use this feature for a thorough evaluation.

Major Benefits of Solidworks

Learning is Easy

New users often face difficulties in learning this tool as it has a brand-new interface. However, the company provides tutorials to guide them in mastering the new user interface. Thus, individuals having a firm grasp of CAE and CAD can learn it easily.

This application allows learning at a convenient pace for the new learners and does not put too much burden on them at the start.

Master the Basic Features

Solidworks offers top-notch features and acing some of its basic features is essential for learning it. For example, take the first step by creating a sketch that is easy to convert into a 3D model with Boss Extrude. Make the 3D design revolve around a centerline. After that, use a hole wizard to create a hole in the center.

This tool offers a unique and free online user community. Additionally, videos on their YouTube channel explain various processes and features.

Product Data Management

Solidworks provides a product data management feature that works as a centralized repository for storing engineering data, designs, and files. It leads to:

• Preventing data loss.
• Ease in tracking versions and their changes.
• Retrieving data and files quickly.
• Integration of workflows.
• Reduction in time spent exploring parts, drawings, and assemblies.
• Improving collaboration.
• Increasing efficiency.
• Promoting design reuse.

It includes a multi-user environment called 3DEXPERIENCE, which enables multiple collaborators to access a design file simultaneously. Thus, empowering various teams to incorporate and track revisions, check statuses, and much more.

Package Designs in 2D and 3D

It is convenient to share designs in 2D or 3D leveraging Solidworks. This way, designers can receive quick feedback and work on their designs faster. Also, designs’ availability as 3D animations aids them in precisely showcasing new products and features.

Powerful Automation

This tool helps automate the process, which saves energy, time, and money. Automating dimensioning of 3D CAD models, and setting specific parameters, and rules is done by Solidworks design. It expedites the duplication for creating variations of designs.

Early Detection of Issues

Detecting issues in the design is vital to learning if there is a chance for vibration, stress, deflection, or other problems. This tool helps in early detection of the issues. Hence, engineers and designers can make corrections before beginning prototyping.

Analysis of Motion

It is easy to assess how the size, shape, and materials of a design will cope with various things such as friction and weight. Additionally, this software’s suggestions help improve the design.

Applications of Solidworks Design

Engineering and Product Design

It is one of the premier solutions for engineering designs and production. Users can utilize a multitude of features related to evaluations, design options, and manufacturing. Solidworks has earned the recognition as ‘The 21st Century Engineers Software’.

This application has been developed with the motto of boosting production efficiency in engineering firms. It covers all topics from conceptualization to end manufacturing.

Product designers can also harness this tool to generate concepts as it offers 3D modeling and rendering solutions.

Universities and Colleges

Engineering and production design colleges use Solidworks design to teach how to work efficiently using this industry-standard software. Students can easily understand various concepts and complexities as it offers simplicity in its basic 3D form.

Universities can avail of an educator package that contains tutorial and example files. Furthermore, they also allow students to purchase the application with a one-year license.

It is also used in aerospace, defense, automobile, industrial machines, and consumer products industries.

Which is the Best Solidworks Version?

Standard

This basic version is for beginners and does not have the same number of features as the other two versions. Drawings, parts, and assemblies are its core features. However, a designer gains access to a myriad of useful features to learn new skills.

Add-ins such as SimulationXpress, FeatureWorks, Interference Detection, Treehouse, 3D Interconnect, and Weldments are at the core of the standard version. These features can contribute to improving the designs and accelerating the process for designers.

Professional

Solidworks Professional contains the same features as the standard, however, it has various extras that promise to improve productivity and efficiency for seasoned designers.

These features are Toolbox, Costing, Task Checker, Design Checker, ToIAnalyst, and CircuitWorks. Designers also get valuable add-ins such as Photoview 360 and Visualize.

Premium

Solidworks Premium ensures access to features the same as standard and professional versions. However, it has more add-ins such as Routing, Simulation, Dynamic Motion Simulation, and Kinematic.

This version is recommended for mechanical engineers as it includes simulation tools that can expedite the design and prototyping process.

Solidworks System Requirements

Operating System

This software is available in Windows and below are the other requirements.

• Windows 10.
• Only SW2018 supports Windows 8.1, not all versions.
• Both SW2018 and SW2019 run on Windows 7.

Hardware System

Meeting the following minimum requirements is a must to avoid issues such as complex drawings, high complexity assembles, rendering, and simulations not performing.

• Processor: 3.3 GHz (minimum)
• Memory: 16 GB RAM (minimum)
• Storage: SSD (for optimum loading)
• Graphics supported graphics card (recommended)

Final Thoughts

Solidworks has gained popularity in the realm of 3D modeling, designing, and analysis. It is streamlining the design and manufacturing process for numerous engineers and designers with its rich simulation capabilities, user-friendly interface, and collaboration options.

In the years to come, this application will continue to serve engineers and designers to bolster efficiency in their work. All sectors such as construction, aerospace, automobile, industrial machines, defense, and consumer products will benefit from it.

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