Happy 2024 SOLIDWORKS enthusiasts🥳! Brace yourselves for a year brimming with boundless creativity, relentless innovation, and just a sprinkle of unconventional inventions. To embark on this exciting journey, let’s dive into the realm of SOLIDWORKS assembly modeling. As design complexity increases, mastering efficient assembly techniques becomes paramount.
To kick things off, we’ll share practical strategies to make your design process smoother and more efficient.
Component Organization
Start by establishing a structured approach to organizing your components. Utilize folders and sub-assemblies to categorize parts logically. This not only makes your assembly tree more manageable but also enhances collaboration when working in a team.
Top-Down Design
Explore the benefits of top-down design to create relationships between parts directly within the assembly. By defining key features and dimensions at the assembly level, you can ensure that changes propagate seamlessly throughout the entire design, saving time and reducing errors.
Efficient Mate Usage
Mates are powerful tools for establishing relationships between components. However, an overuse of mates can lead to performance issues. Opt for the smart use of standard mates and explore advanced mate options like width and symmetry to reduce the mate count and improve performance.
Simplified Configurations
Take advantage of configurations to manage different versions of your assembly. Create simplified configurations for specific purposes such as analysis, rendering, or lightweight viewing. This helps enhance performance during specific tasks without affecting the overall design.
SpeedPak
Integrate SpeedPak into your workflow to simplify assemblies even further. By creating a lightweight representation of your assembly, you can navigate and work with large designs more efficiently. This is particularly useful when dealing with intricate components and large assemblies.
Sub-Assembly Design
Break down your assembly into sub-assemblies based on functional or structural relationships. This modular approach makes it easier to focus on specific sections of your design, simplifies collaboration, and facilitates changes without affecting the entire assembly.
Component Patterns
Leverage component patterns to replicate parts efficiently. Whether using linear, circular, or sketch-driven patterns, this feature can save time and effort when dealing with multiple instances of the same component.
Assembly Visualization for Enhanced Assembly Insight
Take advantage of SOLIDWORKS Visualize to gain a deeper understanding of your assemblies. This powerful tool allows you to create stunning visual representations of your designs, providing invaluable insights. Use Visualize to analyze and optimize your assembly based on various parameters such as component size, mass, or custom properties. By harnessing the capabilities of SOLIDWORKS Visualize, you can identify and address potential performance bottlenecks while creating visually compelling representations of your designs. This tool not only enhances the efficiency of your assembly but also elevates your ability to communicate and showcase your work effectively.
By implementing these strategies, you can enhance your proficiency in SOLIDWORKS assembly modeling, leading to more efficient designs and improved collaboration within your team. Happy modeling!
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SOLIDWORKS is an indispensable tool for engineers and designers across various industries. One standout feature that elevates SOLIDWORKS to new heights is its Simulation module. This powerful tool enables users to analyze and validate their designs before physical prototypes are created, ultimately saving time and resources while ensuring optimal product performance. In this blog, we will delve into the capabilities and benefits of SOLIDWORKS Simulation, shedding light on how it empowers engineers to bring their innovative ideas to life.
Understanding SOLIDWORKS Simulation
SOLIDWORKS Simulation is a robust finite element analysis (FEA) tool integrated seamlessly into the SOLIDWORKS CAD environment. It allows engineers to subject their designs to virtual testing, simulating real-world conditions and scenarios. This simulation-driven design approach empowers users to make informed decisions early in the design process, leading to better product performance, reduced development costs, and faster time-to-market.
Key Features of SOLIDWORKS Simulation:
Structural Analysis
SOLIDWORKS Simulation provides a comprehensive suite of tools for structural analysis, allowing engineers to evaluate the effects of loads, forces, and vibrations on their designs. Whether it’s a simple static analysis or a complex dynamic simulation, this feature helps ensure that components can withstand real-world conditions.
Thermal Analysis
Thermal management is crucial in many engineering applications. SOLIDWORKS Simulation allows users to simulate heat transfer and thermal behavior within their designs. This capability is particularly beneficial for optimizing electronic components, ensuring they operate within acceptable temperature ranges.
Fluid Flow Simulation
For products that involve fluid dynamics, such as pumps, valves, or HVAC systems, SOLIDWORKS Simulation provides a fluid flow analysis tool. Engineers can visualize and analyze how liquids or gases move through their designs, enabling them to optimize performance and efficiency.
Motion Analysis
Understanding the motion of mechanical components is essential in designing machinery and mechanisms. SOLIDWORKS Simulation offers motion analysis tools that help engineers simulate and validate the movement of assemblies, ensuring proper functionality and performance.
Benefits of Using SOLIDWORKS Simulation:
Reduced Prototyping Costs
By virtually testing designs, engineers can identify and rectify potential issues before physical prototypes are created. This significantly reduces the need for costly iterations and prototyping, saving both time and resources.
Improved Product Performance
Simulation allows for a deep understanding of how a design will behave under various conditions. This insight enables engineers to optimize designs for maximum performance and reliability.
Faster Time-to-Market
The ability to perform thorough virtual testing expedites the design validation process. Engineers can make informed decisions early in the development cycle, accelerating the overall product development timeline.
Enhanced Innovation
SOLIDWORKS Simulation encourages a more iterative and innovative design process. Engineers can experiment with different concepts, knowing that they can quickly assess their viability through simulation before committing to a specific design direction.
SOLIDWORKS Simulation is a game-changer for engineers, providing a virtual testing ground that empowers them to create better, more reliable products. By seamlessly integrating simulation into the design process, SOLIDWORKS enables engineers to push the boundaries of innovation while ensuring the practicality and performance of their designs. Whether it’s structural analysis, thermal simulation, fluid flow analysis, or motion analysis, SOLIDWORKS Simulation is a versatile tool that unlocks a world of possibilities for engineers seeking to bring their creative visions to life.
To learn more about SOLIDWORKS Simulation visit our webpage, Click Here.
To reach out to an Xpert for more information or to start taking advantage of our Simulation solutions, Click Here.
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SOLIDWORKS CAD 2024 is a landmark release that redefines the 3D CAD landscape. Driven by user feedback, it introduces groundbreaking features that promise to revolutionize design, engineering, and collaboration. This year’s release is guided by 3 major principles that seek to define the future of Computer-Aided Design:
Efficiency is a constant focus. Streamlined workflows in assemblies, parts, features, and drawings simplify complex tasks. Features like the Defeature Silhouette option make large assembly management a breeze while previewing and editing dimensions upon entity selection saves valuable time.
Clear communication is critical. Enhanced chain dimensioning and the ability to exclude hidden sketches ensure that design intent is communicated accurately.
Intelligent and flexible workflows are paramount. Whether you’re working on sheet metal designs, complex structures, electrical routing, or comprehensive documentation, SOLIDWORKS equips you with tools to work more intelligently.
With the release of SOLIDWORKS CAD 2024, users can expect a host of innovative enhancements designed to improve productivity, communication, and collaboration. In this article, we’ll dive into the top ten enhancements that SOLIDWORKS has in store for its users in the 2024 release.
SOLIDWORKS CAD 2024 introduces a game-changing feature – Previous Release Compatibility. This allows users to save their files in formats that are compatible with SOLIDWORKS versions up to two years prior to the latest release. This means you can collaborate effortlessly with colleagues or clients who might be using older versions of the software, eliminating compatibility issues, and streamlining your workflow.
#2 Assemblies: Streamlined Design and Collaboration
In large assembly projects, efficiency is crucial. SOLIDWORKS CAD 2024 simplifies large assembly design, documentation, and collaboration with several new features. The Defeature Silhouette option allows you to create simplified versions of your models based on criteria such as custom property, mass property, and file name. You can also represent post-assembly machining operations using the “Insert Assembly into Part” feature.
#3 Parts and Features: Sketching and Dimensioning Made Easy
This release focuses on making sketching and dimensioning more efficient. You can now preview and edit dimensions as soon as you select one or more entities. The new Symmetric option for Linear Patterns simplifies bidirectional, symmetric patterns. Additionally, displaying the unit of measurement as a custom property in notes and tables ensures clarity in your design intent.
#4 Drawings and Detailing: Clear Communication
Clear and efficient communication is vital in engineering. SOLIDWORKS CAD 2024 enhances your drawing and detailing capabilities. Improved chain dimensioning alignment and adherence to drawing standards ensure that your design intent is communicated clearly. Dangling dimensions can be cleaned up more efficiently by reattaching them to the proper reference points. You can also exclude hidden sketches from DXF™ Flat-Pattern, reducing post-processing work.
#5 Sheet Metal: Meeting Manufacturing Standards
Sheet metal design is made easier in the 2024 release. The new Rip tool lets you create rips in hollow or thin-walled cylindrical and conical bodies, simplifying the flattening process. Other enhancements include the Normal Cut option for slots when tabs are created at an angle and the automatic propagation of slots to all instances of a tab that intersects a specific part. You can even create a stamp/form feature on the fly using just a Sketch, eliminating the need for form tool creation.
#6 Structure Systems: Faster and Easier Weldments
Creating weldments becomes faster and requires fewer modifications in SOLIDWORKS 2024. With improved corner treatment functionality, you can speed up the editing and management of corner treatments. The software now automatically creates an open corner for the addition of a connection block with a new corner treatment option, saving valuable time in your design process.
#7 Routing: Complex Electrical Routing Made Easy
Handling complex electrical routing scenarios is more straightforward with new options for flattening, reorienting, and displaying wires and connectors. You can update only the current 3D electrical route and add electrical routes as either single segments or as groups of discrete wires in electrical bundles. These enhancements enhance routing design clarity and efficiency.
#8 SOLIDWORKS Electrical: Speedier Documentation
Better performance is a constant priority, and SOLIDWORKS Electrical delivers just that. Key enhancements include the ability to insert auto balloons in SOLIDWORKS Electrical 2D cabinet layout drawings and the ability to shorten lists using ranges. Excel automation now automatically resets undefined macro variables, making documentation more informative and faster.
#9 SOLIDWORKS MBD: Clear Communication Downstream
In SOLIDWORKS MBD, several updates improve communication downstream to manufacturing. These include the ability to export a hole table when publishing a part to 3D PDF, edit dangling dimensions and reattach them to a feature in the model, and export custom properties from a part or assembly to the STEP 242 format. These updates ensure your design intent is communicated clearly in 3D.
#10 SOLIDWORKS Visualize: Realistic Renderings
SOLIDWORKS Visualize allows users to create compelling appearances with advanced real-life rendering capabilities. You can now select appearance types and optimize their parameters more easily with a simplified interface. Adjusting textures and texture maps provides greater control and fidelity. Combining normal and displacement maps and applying vector displacement allows you to replicate the realistic appearance of various surfaces, from metal to glass to plastic.
SOLIDWORKS CAD 2024 is a powerful and user-centric release that underscores its position as a leader in 3D CAD software. With an unwavering commitment to user-driven innovation, a focus on interoperability and collaboration, streamlined workflows, improved clarity and communication, and increased efficiency and productivity, SOLIDWORKS empowers engineers and designers to tackle their most challenging projects with confidence. As technology continues to evolve, SOLIDWORKS remains a reliable partner for professionals seeking to bring their design visions to life with greater ease and effectiveness.
Working offline in 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS allows you to continue working on your CAD models even when you don’t have an internet connection. Here are the steps to work offline in 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS:
Step #1: Save Your Files Locally
1 – Open the 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS application on your computer.
2 – Log into the 3DEXPERIENCE platform.
3 – Open the model or file you plan to work on while offline. You can do this by either dragging and dropping it into SOLIDWORKS or choosing “Open from 3DEXPERIENCE.”
4 – Make sure to lock the file and its components on the platform to prevent others from making changes while you work offline.
5 – The file is now cached locally on your computer.
Step #2: Switch to Offline Mode
1 – In the upper right corner of the SOLIDWORKS interface, click on your user icon.
2 – Click the globe icon next to ‘Work Offline.’
3 – A dialog box will appear, providing information about working offline and allowing you to set the offline time (up to 30 days).
4 – Click ‘OK’ to switch to offline mode.
Step #3: Work Offline
1 – While working offline, you can make changes to your locally cached files.
2 – Save your changes using local save options like ‘Save to This PC’ or ‘Save As New.’
3 – You can continue working on your files without an internet connection.
Step #4: Save Your Files Back Online
1 – To switch back to online mode, click your user icon again and then click the globe icon next to ‘Work Offline.’
2 – Open the files you saved locally while offline.
3 – Use the SOLIDWORKS save options, including ‘Save to 3DEXPERIENCE,’ to save your files back to the 3DEXPERIENCE platform.
4 – Your files are now synchronized with the online platform, and you can continue working online.
Remember that you can work offline for a maximum of 30 consecutive days. Ensure you plan your offline work in advance and save the necessary files locally before going offline. Additionally, create desktop shortcuts for locally installed apps to access them while offline.
Working offline in 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS allows you to be productive even when you don’t have an internet connection. This feature can be particularly useful for remote work or situations where a stable internet connection is not available.
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Christian Bagg, co-founder of Bowhead Corporation, is an admitted adrenaline junkie and outdoor enthusiast. After a snowboarding accident left him paralyzed from the waist down, all Bagg could think about was returning to his “normal” activities. His passion drove him to invent a mountain bike that accommodated the inability to use his legs. Although he was psyched to get back in the saddle again, another life-changing event lay just around the corner.
Bagg loaned one of his bikes to a camp for disabled children. There he witnessed a 14-year-old girl with cerebral palsy, who rarely spoke, return excited and energized from her first-ever experience of complete freedom on a bike. “Best day of my life!” she exclaimed. Her incredible joy galvanized Bagg’s mission: His company, Bowhead Corporation, would make access to mountain trails, woodland hikes, and the beauty of the great outdoors a reality for people around the world who have disabilities.
With SOLIDWORKS 3D CAD, Bowhead Corp. introduced its innovative hybrid ATV/mountain bike a year ahead of schedule. Along with streamlining design efficiency, SOLIDWORKS Simulation enabled the Bowhead team to reduce its need for prototypes, which helped the company produce the bike with dramatically lower costs.
The first Bowhead Reach bike was delivered in November 2018. The company quickly learned that some riders were jumping over obstacles while sailing the bike up to eight feet in the air.
This prompted Bowhead to modify the base design by beefing up the shock absorber. It also replaced the throttle and braking controls with forearm paddles and built helmet-mounted bite throttles for use by quadriplegics.
“Now we have three bikes. We [also] have customer service, operations, engineering, and inventory management,” says Bagg. “SOLIDWORKS plays a role in every piece of our company.”
The growing company needed a data management and collaboration solution to continue working as an efficient and unified team.
Everyone on the Same Page
With 800 to 900 parts, Bowhead bikes are complex. “The [cloud-based] 3DEXPERIENCE platform became a way to manage an engineering company, not just to engineer the parts,” notes Bagg. “It was a funny moment realizing … that SOLIDWORKS and the 3DEXPERIENCE platform were more than just engineering tools,” he recalls. “They became this sort of marriage counselor between operations and customer service and engineering. It was a way for everyone to look at a problem in a focused manner and then deal with it as a team.”
Modifications during product development can originate from the shop floor, designers, managers, and even customers. “When you are working with a complex product like ours, it is very important that you stay on top of the changes,” says Mechanical Engineer Sanket Patil. “A simple change affects everything, be it in your assembly or processes.”
The browser-based aspect of the 3DEXPERIENCE platform brings familiarity to any user who accesses the internet. “One of the things that I really enjoyed was giving access to the platform to non-CAD users who needed access to it because they do so much with the data,” notes Patil. “I didn’t have to hold their hand [or teach them anything]. I sent them a link where they created their user credentials, and they started using the system like pros from day one.”
“You find different ways of using the tool that wouldn’t be obvious to an engineer. By using 3DEXPERIENCE, things become less obscure, and everyone starts speaking the same language. As a communication tool, we finally have one way to bring everybody together.”
-Christian Bagg, co-founder of Bowhead Corporation
Control As a Positive Force
Managing all product data, parts, inventory, and bills of material is critical for Bowhead’s operational efficiency, collaboration, and success.
VP of Engineering Roger McPherson notes, “… to maintain the quality of our product, control is really important. The 3DEXPERIENCE platform has been useful for us in that way. We must make sure that our changes—and they come from everywhere—are managed whether from builders, customers, quality, or suppliers. We must manage that [data in an automated way].”
“All of our data is on the platform,” adds Patil. “We use the maturity states to control if a particular document or a part file or a drawing is being worked or if it’s released. This helps us to understand what is in the latest revision or what is the latest state of a drawing or a file.” Before using the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, Bowhead’s revision control was basically renaming a part file to something like “revision 1.11.2,” or “FINAL final revision.”
Great Communication Prevents Delays
Clear communication eliminates confusion and prevents duplicate or missed work, which improves productivity and speeds up the development process. When information is shared openly and effectively, all team members can make informed decisions faster and more effectively.
“As you grow your company, you really must grow the way you communicate. Having a cohesive, one-stop shop for communication has been, from a management side, the biggest addition of the 3DEXPERIENCE platform to the SOLIDWORKS engineering platform,” says Bagg.
For example, the company’s assembly team can now see inside the glass doors of an engineering room, so they feel like part of the engineering team. The 3DEXPERIENCE platform enables all key departments to give feedback on the design earlier in the process, which can help prevent misunderstandings and associated delays downstream.
Secure and Easy File Sharing
“We quite frequently share information (3D data and 2D drawings) with external stakeholders [via the 3DEXPERIENCE platform],” says Operations Specialist Tatiana Place. Some suppliers use the files to produce Bowhead parts. Others use 2D drawings to supplement the 3D model. Bowhead also sends files to a firm that supports the company’s engineering change processes when Bowhead’s in-house team needs additional help.
Place loves how the 3DEXPERIENCE platform has replaced cumbersome and confusing email communications and supports its collaboration with suppliers. “[The platform] has enabled us to amplify our workforce and continually innovate the rate that we come up with ideas,” concludes Place. “I can’t imagine a world without 3DEXPERIENCE right now.”
If you’d like more information about how the 3DEXPERIENCE platform can improve your data management, collaboration, and communication, contact our dedicated team of Xperts to learn how to make the platform part of your SOLIDWORKS workflow.
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Are you a seasoned SOLIDWORKS user looking to take your design skills to the next level? If so, you’re in the right place. In this blog, we’re diving deep into one of SOLIDWORKS’ powerful, yet often overlooked features: Design Tables. These versatile tools can significantly streamline your design workflow and help you manage complex configurations with ease.
Understanding the Power of Design Tables
Design Tables in SOLIDWORKS allow you to create multiple configurations of a part or assembly within a single file. This means you can quickly generate variations of your design without duplicating files or creating version confusion. Imagine the time saved by tweaking parameters in a single table rather than editing multiple files, assemblies, or individual parts.
Design Tables excel at managing configurations where multiple dimensions and parameters change together. For instance, if you’re designing a bracket that comes in various sizes, materials, and hole placements, a design table can efficiently handle these variations.
Getting Started: Creating a Design Table
To begin click Insert in your top toolbar, navigate down to Tables at the bottom of the menu, and select Design Table. SOLIDWORKS will guide you through the process of setting up the table.
Creating from Scratch: If you’re starting from scratch, you’ll define the columns and rows of the table based on the parameters you want to control. Each cell in the table corresponds to a parameter, and each row represents a different configuration.
Importing from Excel: If you have an existing Excel spreadsheet with the parameters and configurations, you can import it into SOLIDWORKS. This is a great option if you’ve already set up your design variations outside the software.
Automatic Generation: SOLIDWORKS can automatically create a design table for you based on the existing configurations. This can be a time-saver when you’ve already created multiple configurations.
Optimizing Your Workflow with Advanced Tips
Excel Expertise Pays Off: Design Tables are linked to Excel spreadsheets. A good understanding of Excel functions can help you manipulate your configurations more efficiently. You can use Excel formulas to control dimensions, equations, and more. For example, you can set up equations that derive one dimension from another, ensuring consistency across configurations.
Creating User-Friendly Tables: Make your design table easy to navigate by using clear headers, color coding, and grouping related parameters. This not only improves your experience but also makes it user-friendly for colleagues who may need to work with your design. Organize parameters logically to enhance the readability of the table.
Leveraging Global Variables and Equations: Design Tables can manage not only dimensions but also global variables and equations. This means you can create complex relationships between parameters, enabling more sophisticated design variations. Suppose you’re designing a telescopic mechanism. You can use equations to control the length of different components based on a single parameter.
Using IF Statements for Smart Configurations: IF statements within Excel can be used to control specific configurations based on certain conditions. This is a powerful way to automate design changes based on logical rules. For instance, you can use an IF statement to automatically select a specific material based on the desired load-bearing capacity of a part.
Linking External Data: Did you know you can link external data sources, like spreadsheets or databases, to your design table? This can be incredibly useful for keeping your design parameters up to date without manual entry. If you’re managing material specifications in an external database, linking it to your design table ensures accuracy and consistency.
Keep an Eye on Performance: While design tables can be immensely powerful, they can also impact performance in large assemblies. Use configurations wisely and consider suppressing unnecessary components to maintain performance. Additionally, if you’re working on a collaborative project, ensure that everyone understands the structure of the design table to avoid conflicting changes.
Conclusion
Design Tables in SOLIDWORKS are a potent asset for optimizing your design workflow, managing variations, and ensuring accuracy. By mastering the advanced tips mentioned in this blog, you’ll be better equipped to handle complex configurations efficiently and effectively.
Remember, practice makes perfect. Experiment with different scenarios, test your configurations thoroughly and embrace the flexibility and efficiency that SOLIDWORKS’ Design Tables offer. Your designs will thank you, and you’ll find yourself navigating even the most intricate projects with ease!
As the leading software suite for 3D modeling and design, SOLIDWORKS revolutionizes the way engineers and designers bring their ideas to life. Whether you’re a beginner looking to kickstart your SOLIDWORKS journey or an experienced professional seeking to enhance your skillset, training and certification play a crucial role in mastering this powerful tool. In this blog, we will explore the benefits of SOLIDWORKS training and certification, as well as provide valuable insights and Xpert tips to help you navigate the network of knowledge bases and learning pathways and get the most out of your trusted SOLIDWORKS software.
The Power of SOLIDWORKS Training
SOLIDWORKS training programs offer a structured approach to learning the software’s functionalities, tools, and workflows. These programs cater to individuals at all skill levels, from beginners to advanced users. By enrolling in SOLIDWORKS training, you gain access to expert instructors who guide you through hands-on exercises, real-world projects, and best practices. This immersive learning experience allows you to grasp SOLIDWORKS’ vast capabilities quickly and build a strong foundation for continued growth.
Benefits of SOLIDWORKS Certification
Earning a SOLIDWORKS certification validates your expertise and proficiency in using the software. It demonstrates your commitment to professional development and sets you apart in a competitive job market.
Industry recognition: Employers recognize SOLIDWORKS certifications as a mark of excellence and expertise, giving you a competitive edge when seeking job opportunities or advancements in your career.
Enhanced skills and efficiency: The certification process challenges you to master various aspects of SOLIDWORKS, expanding your knowledge and proficiency. This newfound expertise enables you to work faster and more efficiently, saving time, increasing productivity, and streamlining your design routines.
Network and community: Becoming certified connects you with a vibrant community of SOLIDWORKS professionals, providing opportunities for networking, knowledge sharing, and collaboration.
Navigating the Certification Path
SOLIDWORKS certifications are offered at different levels, allowing individuals to progress from entry-level to advanced designations. Understanding the certification path is essential for setting clear goals and planning your learning journey.
As a Certified SOLIDWORKS Training Center, SolidXperts offers training for all topics the SOLIDWORKS certifications cover, from SOLIDWORKS general training and performance optimization to tool-specific lessons. Plus, our courses discuss more than just the CAD training you’ll need, but also include information about exam prerequisites, formats, and tips for success at each level. Reach out to our certified trainers today and we’ll help you create the learning pathway that best suits how you design.
Certified SOLIDWORKS Associate (CSWA):
The Certified SOLIDWORKS Associate (CSWA) certification serves as the entry-level credential for SOLIDWORKS users. It validates your fundamental understanding of SOLIDWORKS tools and functionality. This exam option is a great place for graduating students to start their 3D certification journey. To prepare for the CSWA exam, you can follow these steps:
1 – Familiarize yourself with SOLIDWORKS: Begin by getting acquainted with the SOLIDWORKS user interface, basic sketching tools, part modeling techniques, assemblies, and drawings. This foundational knowledge forms the core of the CSWA exam.
2 – Enroll in SOLIDWORKS training courses: Check out our full catalog of training to find the right courses that will empower you to master SOLIDWORKS.
3 – Practice with sample exams: SOLIDWORKS provides sample exams that closely mimic the format and difficulty level of the CSWA certification. Practice these exams to familiarize yourself with the question types and identify areas where you need improvement.
Certified SOLIDWORKS Professional (CSWP):
The Certified SOLIDWORKS Professional (CSWP) certification is the next level after CSWA, focusing on more advanced modeling techniques, assemblies, and drawing functionalities.
1 – Gain practical experience: Build your proficiency by working on real-world projects that require complex part modeling, assembly design, and drawing creation. Practical experience enhances your understanding of SOLIDWORKS and prepares you for the challenges faced in the CSWP exam. This will also give you the opportunity to put your CSWA to work!
2 – Advanced training courses: Advanced SOLIDWORKS training courses cover the topics tested in the CSWP exam. These courses delve into advanced sketching techniques, surfacing, sheet metal design, and complex assemblies.
3 – Practice makes perfect: SOLIDWORKS provides sample exams and tutorials specifically designed for CSWP preparation. Use these resources to practice and reinforce your knowledge of advanced modeling techniques and assemblies.
It’s worth noting, though we recommend taking the CSWA before the CSWP, it is not a prerequisite. However, you must take the CSWP before taking the CSWE.
Certified SOLIDWORKS Advanced Professional (CSWPA)
In addition to the core certifications, SOLIDWORKS offers a range of specialty certifications that allow you to showcase your expertise in specific areas. These specialty certifications are designed to validate your proficiency in specialized skills, expanding your knowledge and making you a sought-after professional in your chosen field. Here are a few examples:
Sheet Metal (CSWPA-SM)
The CSWPA-SM exam assesses your proficiency in creating complex sheet metal designs using SOLIDWORKS. This exam tests your ability to create and modify sheet metal parts, apply bend allowances and reliefs, generate flat patterns, and create detailed drawings for manufacturing.
Mold Making (CSWPA-MM)
The CSWPA-MM exam assesses your proficiency in mold design using SOLIDWORKS. This exam tests your knowledge and skills in creating core and cavity components, applying draft angles, designing parting lines, and generating mold bases and inserts.
Surfacing (CSWPA-SU)
The CSWPA-SU exam evaluates your proficiency in advanced surfacing techniques using SOLIDWORKS. This exam tests your skills in creating complex surface geometry, utilizing surfacing tools, and applying advanced surfacing features.
Drawing Tools (CSWPA-DT)
The CSWPA-DT exam assesses your proficiency in utilizing SOLIDWORKS drawing tools to create detailed engineering drawings. This exam evaluates your skills in creating and modifying drawing views, applying annotations, generating bills of materials (BOM), and utilizing advanced drawing tools.
Weldments (CSWPA-WD)
The CSWPA-WD exam evaluates your proficiency in using SOLIDWORKS Weldments to design and document welded structures. This exam tests your skills in creating and modifying structural members, generating cut lists, and creating detailed weldment drawings.
…and more!
Certified SOLIDWORKS Expert (CSWE):
The Certified SOLIDWORKS Expert (CSWE) certification is the highest level of achievement in SOLIDWORKS. It validates your comprehensive knowledge and ability to solve complex design challenges. In order to qualify to take the CSWE you must pass the CSWP as well as 4 additional CSWPA certifications. The CSWE exam covers a wide range of advanced topics, so be prepared with:
1 – Extensive hands-on experience: Accumulate extensive hands-on experience by working on complex projects and pushing the limits of SOLIDWORKS. Engage in challenging design scenarios that require advanced modeling, surfacing, and assembly techniques.
2 – Advanced training courses and workshops: Seek advanced training courses and workshops that focus on the topics covered in the CSWE exam. These courses often cover advanced surfacing, advanced assembly techniques, and simulation.
3 – Independent study and research: Conduct independent study and research to explore advanced SOLIDWORKS functionalities beyond what is covered in training courses. Experiment with advanced surfacing, advanced assembly configurations, and optimization techniques.
Conclusion
SOLIDWORKS certification exams can be challenging, but with the right preparation, you can increase your chances of success. SOLIDWORKS training and certifications are essential tools for unlocking your full potential as a designer or engineer. The knowledge and expertise gained through these programs can propel your career to new heights, opening doors to exciting opportunities and fostering limitless innovation. Whether you’re a recent graduate, an aspiring designer, or an experienced professional, the journey to mastering SOLIDWORKS begins with training and certification.
To explore the full SOLIDWORKS certification program, click here.
For more information about our training programs, custom training options, or how you can start your journey to SOLIDWORKS certification, contact the Xperts.
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At the forefront of CAD innovation and engineering design quality of life, the 3DEXPERIENCE platform is constantly looking for ways to improve how the world’s engineers and product designers work. From improving their options for browser-based 3D modeling to adding new, more accessible tools and collaboration opportunities, the 3DEXPERIENCE platform adds new features as often as the world starts a new design! In this blog, we’ll discuss some of the most recent upgrades, improvements, and additions to the browser-based roles on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform to see how both designers and non-CAD users, worldwide, can benefit and enjoy a more accessible, more fluid daily design and product development routine.
Without further ado, let’s dive into the R2023x FD02 release.
1 . User Experience Quality-of-Life Upgrades
New Default Dashboard – Now, you can access all your roles in one convenient location – the SOLIDWORKS Creator Home dashboard. This dashboard is designed to help keep you organized and reduce screen clutter, allowing you to quickly access your 3DEXPERIENCE roles.
Get easy access to all your roles in one place.
System Status Menu – Enhance system performance and accurately track issues with the new System Status menu. This menu allows you to easily check the status of your network and server connections, so you can quickly identify any underlying problems that may be impacting performance.
Ensure a smooth connection and a successful design experience before you start any project.
Design in the Context of HomeByMe in 3D Creator – You can now take advantage of 3D Creator’s parametric capabilities and test for fit, function, and aesthetics when bringing your HomeByMe designs into the environment. HomeByMe, a free home design and furnishings solution by Dassault Systèmes, allows you to measure, reference, and mate to geometry in one place, ensuring your design fits your specifications. Easily share your 3D Creator models back to the HomeByMe community.
Design in a more realistic, life-like setting, and take advantage of parametric capabilities.
Selective Save – With the Selective Save feature, you can improve your collaborative workflow by saving parts of an assembly without interruption. You can quickly identify which components are locked, deselect them, and save only the components that you are currently working on. This eliminates the need to ask someone to unlock a file.
Work more efficiently and without interruption.
Lock Status and Unlock Requests – With the latest tools, you can quickly and easily identify which elements are locked and by whom, and then instantly send unlock requests directly to the right people in real-time. No more waiting for someone to unlock a file.
Collaborate seamlessly, knowing exactly which components are blocked and who to contact for immediate access.
Sketch Pattern – The Sketch Pattern command now offers increased control and flexibility when creating patterns with the new Skip Instance checkbox. This is a helpful tool when you don’t want certain instances of the pattern to be created in overlapping or whole areas. With the Skip Instance feature, you can quickly add or remove instances from your pattern without disrupting the overall pattern.
It’s now much easier to create the exact pattern you need for your design.
Hide/Show Options in Measured Command – The Measure command now offers added control and time-saving features with the Hide/Show Options. These options allow you to quickly capture measurements related to internal and hidden components that are located behind other geometry, so you don’t have to leave the Measure command to get the measurements you need.
With the Hide/Show Options, you can save time and have more control over your measurements.
Volumetric Section View – By using Volumetric Section View, you can create a bounding box to divide your design into sections, allowing you to view the internal components without being distracted by additional elements. With this view, you can focus solely on the task at hand, giving you the ability to gain a better understanding of your design.
Easily cut through the clutter and gain clarity in your designs.
2 . Manufacturing Definitions
Section Views – With a new 3D view type, you can easily create professional representations of internal features and dimensions for downstream communication. This makes it easier to define manufacturing information for internal component geometry.
Capture design intent and internal details of complex components more clearly.
Bent Leader Option – You can now customize how you display your drawings with the new bent leader option in Manufacturing Definition Creator. This feature allows you to create annotations with bent leaders that meet ASME and ISO standards for radius and diameter dimensions, giving you more control over the look of your drawings.
Be confident that all your drawings are compliant with industry requirements.
STEP A242 Export – You can now use 3DPlay to share, view, and mark up STEP A242 files for downstream communication and manufacturing. This format provides the industry-supported model-based definition (MBD) workflows.
Export 3D annotations more efficiently.
3 . Freeform Design
Align Vertices Command – The Align Vertices command has been updated. Now, when using shift-select, the first two entities you select will define the alignment axis for all the remaining points.
Specify vertices for alignment more easily.
Bend and Flex Tool – When using the Flex tool, the robot manipulator and range manipulator are now offset from one another, making them easier to use. Additionally, the Bend tool now offers a Limit Bend option that allows you to ensure the deformation of a specific design region without bending the region beyond the manipulator. With this new option, you can easily control the exact shape and form of your design.
Make your design intent clearer and gain increased control.
Improved Copy/Paste – With improved Copy and Paste, placing a copied instance of a subdivision (Sub-D) body is easier than ever. When you Copy and Paste, a preview of the new instance appears in yellow, allowing you to accurately locate it in the desired position. You also have the option to scale and flip the instance.
Create complex Sub-D geometry faster and more easily.
Reflect Command – Creating a mirrored instance of an existing subdivision body is now even easier. Simply duplicate the existing body and use the mirror tool to flip the object along the desired axis. This will create a mirrored instance of the original body which can be modified independently of the original.
Easily create a mirrored instance of a subdivision body.
Crease Command – Save time with the new and improved Crease Command! When you apply a crease, the affected entities will remain selected, allowing for further modifications without having to reselect them.
Save clicks and streamline crease creation.
4 . Sheet Metal Design
Enhanced Workflows and Mini Dialogs for Custom Walls – The Wall on Edge feature includes enhanced workflows and mini-dialogs that provide quick access to the sketch option and help to streamline the creation of custom walls and flanges. The workflow is shorter than before and the mini-dialogs are user-friendly, making it easier to use on smaller devices such as mobile phones and tablets.
Create custom non-rectangular walls and flanges quickly and easily with the new Wall on Edge feature.
5 . Structure Design
Machine Learning for End Cap and Plate Placement – With the Design Assistant Selection capabilities, you will get suggestions for multiple end cap or plate placements. Simply click on one of the endcaps and the Design Assistant will automatically populate a suggestion for the other endcaps or plates and propagate them for you.
Reduce time spent on manual work by quickly placing multiple end caps or plates.
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Whether it’s communicating with colleagues or outside stakeholders, trying to add tools to a design more efficiently, encouraging experimentation with easy-to-use features, or just making your everyday designing more enjoyable, the 3DEXPEREINCE platform’s browser-based roles seek to make your daily design routines easier and more fluid, so you can focus on innovation.
At SolidXperts, we pride ourselves on our proven ability to help our clients optimize their design and manufacturing processes through the use of modern software solutions. As a trusted SOLIDWORKS, 3DEXPERIENCE, and 3D design service provider with more than 25 years of experience, our Xpert teams enable our clients to design products faster and more efficiently, empowering them to stay competitive in ever-evolving industries.
Recently, we’ve had the opportunity to work with Beaubois, a client in the architectural millwork industry, who was looking to transition from Solid Edge to SOLIDWORKS with the SWOOD add-on. In this post, we’ll share how we helped this client achieve their goals and improve their operations.
Step 1: Complete Process Diagnosis
Woodworking and architecture projects require a great deal of precision and expertise to create beautiful and long-lasting designs. To accomplish this, it’s important to use the right tools and software.
As a Quebec-based company that specializes in custom architectural woodwork, Beaubois aims to push boundaries and challenge the expected norms of the woodworking industry without sacrificing high standards and quality designs. In order to keep up with their unique customer requests and an increasingly intricate digital design landscape, they needed to take their design processes to a higher level of CAD and CNC machine communication.
To empower Beaubois’s 3D creative journey and support their long-term goals, our first step was to conduct a comprehensive diagnosis of our client’s existing design and manufacturing processes. We wanted to identify any inefficiencies or areas where improvements could be made. This process included an in-depth analysis of their CAD data, production workflows, and automation processes.
Step 2: Pilot Project Implementation
After the diagnosis phase, we moved to the pilot project implementation stage. We worked closely with a small team of Beaubois employees to test the SOLIDWORKS software and the SWOOD add-on in a real-world scenario. The pilot project allowed us to identify any potential issues and make necessary adjustments before a full-scale deployment.
Moving from Solid Edge to SOLIDWORKS can be an intimidating prospect. Even with a perfect solution, it can be difficult to onboard a full team quickly and cost-effectively while avoiding expensive downtime. For Beaubois, SOLIDWORKS offers superior CAD collaboration capabilities and a more intuitive user interface, along with improved 2D and 3D functionality.
Our team of Xperts helped onboard their design team to the SWOOD add-in, which provides a library of woodworking components, tools for designing 3D assemblies, the ability to create 3D renderings and presentations, and much more that allowed them to streamline their processes. The add-in also includes tools for estimating material costs and calculating production times, helping companies better manage their projects. With the SWOOD add-in, Beaubois can now design high-quality woodwork projects faster and more easily. Furthermore, SOLIDWORKS and SWOOD empower them to generate accurate and detailed toolpaths for their CNC machines.
Step 3: Global Deployment and Change Management
Following the successful pilot project, we helped the client roll out SOLIDWORKS with SWOOD across their entire organization. We provided extensive training and support to ensure a smooth transition and minimize any potential disruption to their operations. We also assisted with change management to help the client’s employees adapt to the new software and processes.
As Beaubois transitioned to SOLIDWORKS and SWOOD, the investment in training and infrastructure was essential to ensure a successful transition and maximize the rewards of better design and fabrication processes.
Step 4: Improved Results
Our work with this client resulted in several key improvements to their design and manufacturing processes. With SOLIDWORKS and SWOOD, they were able to optimize their CAD data for use with their factory robots, leading to faster and more efficient production. Additionally, the SWOOD add-on allowed them to automate many of their manufacturing processes, further improving efficiency and reducing errors.
Thanks to SolidXperts’ help, Beaubois has been able to transition to SWOOD for design and fabrication, resulting in enhanced communication and collaboration among staff, customers, and suppliers. This streamlining of the design process has saved Beaubois both time and money, while also allowing them to create products of the highest quality that exceed customer expectations. SolidXperts’ guidance and support during the transition enabled Beaubois to significantly increase their output and cost efficiency, while simultaneously creating more productive, more easily managed workflows.
Conclusion
We’re proud of the work we did with this client, and we believe it can serve as an inspiration to other businesses looking to improve their operations. To highlight our work, we created a video testimonial featuring the client discussing their experience working with us. In the video, they describe how our team helped them achieve their goals and improve their processes. Check it out!
We are passionate about helping our clients achieve their goals through the use of modern software solutions. Our work with this client in the architectural millwork industry is a great example of how we can help businesses improve their operations and achieve success. If you’re interested in learning more about our services or how we can help you optimize your processes, please contact us today.
Using the finite element analysis (FEA) tools available in SOLIDWORKS can help engineers, designers, and other professionals quickly and accurately analyze the performance of their 3D designs. FEA is a powerful toolkit for predicting the behavior of structural components and assemblies across a wide range of conditions. It can help to reduce the number of physical prototypes that must be produced before a design is finalized.
To get started with your SOLIDWORKS tools, you’ll first need to understand the basics of FEA and how it can be used. FEA is a computational method that uses mathematical equations to simulate the behavior of a structure or component under different conditions. The equations are used to determine how the component or assembly will react to various forces and environmental factors such as temperature, vibration, and pressure.
To begin, you must open the SOLIDWORKS Simulation application from the Tools menu. This will provide the user interface for setting up your FEA analysis.
The first step is to define the type of analysis that you want to perform. You can choose from a variety of analysis types, such as linear static, non-linear static, modal, and fatigue. For each type of analysis, you’ll need to define the boundary conditions, loads, and material properties.
Once you’ve defined the analysis type and boundary conditions, you can then set up the mesh. The mesh is a grid of elements that are used to model the behavior of the component. The number of elements and their size will depend on the accuracy that you need for your analysis. A higher number of smaller elements will result in a more accurate result but will take longer and more computing power to complete.
Once the mesh is set up, you can then run the analysis. The results of the analysis can be visualized in the form of graphs, tables, and animations. These results can help you to quickly and accurately understand the behavior of your design under different conditions.
Using the FEA tools available in SOLIDWORKS can be a powerful way to reduce the time and costs associated with prototyping and testing. By quickly and accurately analyzing the behavior of a design, you can reduce the number of physical prototypes that need to be produced and tested before a design is finalized.
Any questions? Need help? Ask one of our experts.
Whether you’re ready to get started or just have a few more questions, you can contact us toll-free:
Seamlessly transition from SOLIDWORKS Desktop to 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS, and experience a new dimension of design and collaboration. With secure cloud data management, increased collaboration capabilities, and reduced IT administration, 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS empowers your team to work smarter and faster.
Option 2: Upgrade to SOLIDWORKS TERM w/Cloud Services
Opt for SOLIDWORKS TERM with Cloud Services, a flexible and convenient option that combines the power of SOLIDWORKS with the benefits of cloud-based solutions. Say goodbye to traditional licensing hassles and welcome easy deployment and automatic updates for a seamless design experience.
Promotion Perks:
This promotion covers both Standalone and Network licenses (SNL), making it suitable for businesses of all sizes.
Take advantage of the promotion price and add as many new licenses (3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS or SOLIDWORKS TERM w/Cloud Services) as you need on the same Purchase Order, with no limit on extra seats.
Enjoy the promotion discount for 3 years, whether purchased annually or upfront.
Even after the promotion period, you’ll continue to benefit with a 25% discount on successive years.
Option 1: For licenses <1 year expired( Pay 2 Years Forward Upfront )
Get back on track with SOLIDWORKS CAD w/Cloud Services. By paying upfront for the next two years, you not only regain access to the powerful features of SOLIDWORKS but also enjoy cloud services to boost collaboration and efficiency.
Promotion Perks:
No need to worry about backdating and penalties. We’ll waive them for you!
Regain access to your design projects and continue where you left off, without any interruptions.
Option 2: For licenses >1 year expired ( Pay 3 Years Forward Upfront )
If your license has been expired for over a year, we understand the urgency to get back in the game. With this option, you can secure SOLIDWORKS CAD ALC w/Cloud Services.
Promotion Perks:
Our team is here to support your reintegration process, and we’ll waive backdating and penalties for a smooth transition.
Take advantage of the comprehensive SOLIDWORKS suite and unleash your creativity with the latest tools and features.
