First SolidWorks Application for 3DEXPERIENCE Platform

Dassault Systemes has announced the general availability of SolidWorks Mechanical Conceptual, its first SolidWorks application for the 3DEXPERIENCE platform of on-premise and cloud-based industry solutions. The conceptual modeling application, already installed in production environments at numerous customer sites, delivers significant collaborative benefits through its use of Dassault Systemes’ cloud-based capabilities, says the company.

The Sketch Motion ability in the SolidWorks Mechanical Conceptual for the 3DEXPERIENCE platform lets you evaluate your concepts for fit and function with early stage concept validation. Image courtesy of Dassault Systemes.

Described by Dassault as a complement to the SolidWorks MCAD solution, the cloud-based SolidWorks Mechanical Conceptual for the 3DEXPERIENCE platform combines the benefits of conceptual modeling with integrated social technologies and archiving of preliminary concept sketches and designs. Through it, design teams, customers and  supply chain partners can connect and capture ideas, use existing designs, collaborate, collect feedback and optimize designs quickly. Users can extend the SolidWorks Mechanical Conceptual for the 3DEXPERIENCE platform with analysis features to support their conceptual design process.

SolidWorks Mechanical Conceptual itself provides a suite of conceptual design tools. It deploys a single, structureless modeling environment with direct editing tools that, says Dassault, offer the benefits of parametric and history-free modeling.

SolidWorks Mechanical Conceptual for the 3DEXPERIENCE platform uses a single modeling environment with direct editing tools. Image courtesy of Dassault Systemes.

Among the features of SolidWorks Mechanical Conceptual for the 3DEXPERIENCE platform is Sketch Motion, which enables you to evaluate concepts for fit and function with early stage concept validation using trace paths and area sweeps. SolidWorks Mechanical Conceptual also offers deformable 3D geometry features that provide immediate performance verification. Other features include continuous background calculations of design data for immediate feedback, 2D to 3D motion and automatic capture and archiving of concepts as they progress.

Concurrent design features of the SolidWorks Mechanical Conceptual for the 3DEXPERIENCE platform include automatic locking and real-time. Image courtesy of Dassault Systemes.

Collaborative sharing capabilities with SolidWorks Mechanical Conceptual for the 3DEXPERIENCE platform offer access to design team members as well as users who need to manage data on the cloud but who do not need to create CAD models, such as executives, project managers and external collaborators. The interface, reports Dassault, provides a familiar set of social collaboration tools, such as instant messaging. Features include project communities, a central location for capturing and assembling design requirements, concepts, and decisions from key stakeholders; real-time concurrent design with automatic and real-time updates; screen capture and on-screen annotations; and defined-access, secure online collaborative spaces.

SolidWorks Mechanical Conceptual for the 3DEXPERIENCE platform also offers product design simulation from the Dassault SIMULIA brand for analyzing the structural performance of product concepts in virtual real-world environments before committing to detailed design. Analysis capabilities include simulation-based guidance during all phases of product design, easy analysis setup, tools that automatically assume nonlinear behavior and the ability to evaluate a single part, multiple components and complete assemblies.

The SolidWorks Mechanical Conceptual for the 3DEXPERIENCE platform uses SIMULIA to analyze the structural performance of product concepts. Image courtesy of Dassault Systemes.

“This is a big moment for SolidWorks as we make available a key application for design that harnesses the power and cloud capabilities of Dassault Systemes’ 3DEXPERIENCE Platform as well as continues SolidWorks’ commitment to ease-of-use,” said Bertrand Sicot, CEO, SolidWorks, Dassault Systemes, in the press announcement. “We have customers who have used this product and have seen tremendous benefits already, and through our burgeoning channel program, we are excited to extend these capabilities to a much broader audience.”

SolidWorks Mechanical Conceptual is available through Dassault’s network of reseller partners. More information can be found at the SolidWorks Mechanical Conceptual dedicated page.

Download the SolidWorks Mechanical Conceptual data sheet.

Learn more about the 3DEXPERIENCE platform.

See why DE’s editors selected SolidWorks Mechanical Conceptual for the 3DEXPERIENCE platform as their Pick of the Week.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.