Archived Stories
Shop Customizable 3D Products Online? Of Course!
Online shopping has been widely adopted across the globe. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could interrogate 3D product models on a webpage, customize desirable options to your liking in an online catalog, and make informed decisions right away on a computer at anywhere and anytime? Let’s see who has done it and how.
Controlling Your Mates: How to Use Mate Controller
Engineers Rule guides readers through the process of using Mate Controller for assemblies.
CAD Steps in for Consumer Product Design
EngineersRule breaks down a number of case studies in which consumer product manufacturers rely on CAD tools for design.
The Certification Game: The Ultimate Strategy Guide and Walk-through
Engineers Rule walks you through a game to obtain your certification for the most widely used CAD software.
‘Impossible’ Modeling Challenges Solved by CAD Power Users
Engineers Rule explores one of the SOLIDWORKS Power User Challenges and its solution from a power use.
Atoms to Bits, and Back Again: Emerging Technology and the Role of the Engineer
We are in the midst of a transformation to Industry 4.0—“the next phase in the digitization of the manufacturing sector” (McKinsey)—a transformation made possible by the newfound ability of design data to originate as either atoms (physical) or bits (digital), be converged, refined and optimized, and then be recast as “new and improved” iterations of… View Full Story
All the Small Things: CAD Tips and Tricks
Engineers Rule breaks down a number of CAD tips and tricks in a fun, informative Jeopardy! Format.
Unchain the ShopFloor through Software-Defined Automation
Engineers Rule looks at the way that the cloud, IT and the digital twin will be tied to manufacturing technology.
CAD in Space: How CAD is Being Used by the Space Industry
A look at the way CAD is being used by the space industry.
Making a Part with the 3DEXPERIENCE Marketplace
Earlier this year, Dassault Systèmes launched a new platform called the 3DEXPERIENCE Marketplace. Billed as “the Amazon of Manufacturing,” the 3DEXPERIENCE Marketplace is split into two halves: Marketplace PartSupply, an online 3D components catalog, and Marketplace Make, a service to connect with manufacturers around the globe to make your parts via whatever process you prefer:… View Full Story
Tutorial: Performing Flow Simulation of an Aerofoil
In this tutorial, we are going to be taking a look at running flow visualization simulations on a basic aerofoil (or “airfoil”), which will hopefully be of use to those of you in aerospace engineering courses—or maybe you just like designing RC aircraft and want to simulate your wings before chopping up a load of… View Full Story
Model-Based Enterprise Implementation Insights from SOLIDWORKS World 2018
A common question on Model-Based Enterprise is how to implement. At SOLIDWORKS World 2018, several experts shared their insights. Let’s recap the lessons learned and recommended practices.
Three Key Points to Bear in Mind When Reusing Sketch Dimensions in Model-Based Workflows
SOLIDWORKS can help you reuse sketch dimensions. However, here are three areas to consider with this practice.
America’s Next Top CAD Modeler
An interview with Tom Smith, winner of SOLIDWORKS World 2018’s Model Mania.
Unlimited Tomorrow: Making Prosthetics Accessible and More Functional
A prosthetic device startup is on the verge of changing its industry thanks to an ambitious business model and the acceptance of advanced technologies.
How to Reuse Sketch Dimensions in Model-based Workflows
Some manufacturers define dimensions and tolerances in sketches, so would like to reuse them in the 3D space. Let’s find out how.
Neri Oxman—Vision for the Future of Engineering
Can Neri Oxman’s vision of computational design, additive manufacturing and biomimicry lead to a new product design paradigm?
Amazing Mechatronic Exoskeletons Making Headway Towards FDA Approval
Newer lightweight robotics wearable to help patients with limited mobility.
Your Place for All Things SOLIDWORKS
The many resources of MySolidWorks helps users and prospects alike.
For Technical Documentation, Animation is Worth Way More Than a Thousand Words
Most people would agree that a great product starts with a great design, but what makes a great design? Some descriptive terms that might come to mind may be: innovative, useful, functional, aesthetically pleasing, long-lasting, and manufacturability, just to name a few. Looking at your product through the end user’s eyes, however, there are some… View Full Story
Managing Appearances—Making Your Parts and Assemblies Stand Out
We take a look at how to best alter the appearances of parts and assemblies.
Performing Topology Optimization: A Step-by-Step Guide
A tutorial covering the basics of topology studies for CAD.
My 5 Favorite Little Things about SOLIDWORKS 2018
EngineersRule.com explores five of the most useful features of the newest version of the popular CAD software.
Ensure Solid GD&T Datum Practices with SOLIDWORKS MBD
Datum features are the foundation of sound GD&T definitions. As the basic references of dimensions and tolerances, they guide the machining and inspection procedures. SOLIDWORKS MBD has built GD&T rules into the software to automatically ensure solid datum practices.
Three Wheels, 3,000 Watts and an Ingenious Designer
Founder of Icon Wheelchairs, Christian Bagg, describes the design behind his motorized, articulating tricycle for disabled athletes.
Three MBD Advantages over 2D Drawings in GD&T Compliances
GD&T is an engineering language widely used in both 2D drawings and MBD. Are there any definition differences in these two approaches? This article will illustrate three MBD advantages over 2D drawings in GD&T compliances.
What’s New in Inspection: Extract Key Characteristics from 3D Annotations for Inspection Reports
After annotations are defined on 3D models directly, rather than in separate 2D drawings, how can a quality inspector extract the key characteristics to generate inspection reports? SOLIDWORKS Inspection 2018 answered this need to support model-based workflows.
Putting Artificial Intelligence to Work in CAD Design
SOLIDWORKS ramps up AI in CAM 2018 and in the forthcoming Xdesign.
Assembly Model Performance in SOLIDWORKS 2018
New tools in SOLIDWORKS 2018 to determine which part files are slowing down your assemblies.
What’s New in SOLIDWORKS 2018: Tolerance-Based Machining in SOLIDWORKS CAM
New in SOLIDWORKS 2018 is a dedicated CAM package. To automate the Numeric Code programming, it reads the tolerance information from the 3D annotations directly attached to models. SOLIDWORKS calls it a game changer. How does it work? What can you do with it?
Thanks to CAD, Building an Aircraft Kit Has Never Been Easier
Sebastien Heintz, Zenith Aircraft Company CEO, Discusses How the Company Uses CAD and CAM to Make Aircraft Kits.
What a Fine Mesh We’re In
Until recently, the number of SOLIDWORKS users who needed to import mesh files in SOLIDWORKS was relatively small. They would have typically needed to reuse geometry created in an artistic modeling software, such as Maya or 3DS Max, or import point cloud files representing scanned data. The process of importing and converting these files to… View Full Story
New in 2018: Automatically Program NC Code Based on 3D Surface Finishes
SOLIDWORKS 2018 released a dedicated CAM package. To automate the Numeric Code (NC) programming, it reads the surface finishes in 3D annotations directly attached to models. How does it work? What can you do with it?
Design Branching and Merging: New in 2018, How Does It Work, How to Best Use It
We look at some of the updates in new PDM software in 2018.
What’s New with Drawings in SOLIDWORKS 2018
We explore the new drawing features available in SOLIDWORKS 2018.
Ringbrothers Uses CAD/CAM to Bring Classic Cars into the 21st Century
Engineer Matt Moseman lets us in on how Ringbrothers uses modern machine tools and advanced CAD software to pull off some of the most exciting car mods on the road today.
What’s New in SOLIDWORKS MBD 2018: Build a Bridge Between MBD and 2D Drawings
Many manufacturers are moving toward Model-Based Definition (MBD), but the daily productions cannot run without 2D drawings. How can you accommodate both approaches? SOLIDWORKS MBD 2018 built a bridge in between.
Why and How You Can Create Self-Locating and Self-Fixturing Designs Using SOLIDWORKS 2018
Pairs of tabs and slots are widely used in self-locating and self-fixturing designs such as food processing machines and furniture. Up to now, it has been time consuming and repetitive to manually create multiple pairs of tabs and slots, as well as to maintain the relationships between them. SOLIDWORKS 2018 adds a way to automatically create associative pairs.
What’s New in SOLIDWORKS MBD 2018: Update Configuration Specific Propertiesin One 3D PDF Document
Configurations are very popular among SOLIDWORKS users, but how can you present multiple configurations and associative properties in one 3D PDF document? SOLIDWORKS MBD 2018 now provides the answer.
SOLIDWORKS CAM for Free?
For SOLIDWORKS users on subscription, a lot of CAM now comes at no extra cost. 5 axis and turning is extra, however.
Automotive Adventure with SOLIDWORKS and Trakka
The story of how an Australian motorhome company boosted its business with SOLIDWORKS.
What’s New in SOLIDWORKS MBD 2018: Define Semantic Default Tolerances
Laborious 3D annotations and their overwhelmingly busy displays present constant challenges to MBD implementations on both the authoring and consumption sides. Let’s see how SOLIDWORKS MBD 2018’s can help.
You’re Connected. What Do You Get Out of That?
Welcome screen has links to MySolidWorks content. Alerts, updates about the product. What benefits to being online?
SOLIDWORKS 2018 Gets Touchy-Feely!
The latest release of SOLIDWORKS has got a bunch of great new sketch features all designed for boosting productivity and usability. Read on for more details.
Topology Optimization Comes to SOLIDWORKS
Optimization algorithm uses simulation to improve weight-to-stiffness ratios.
SOLIDWORKS Simulation 2018 Focuses on Free Surface Flows
Flow Simulation gets liquid-gas interface upgrades.
What’s New in SOLIDWORKS MBD 2018: Define a Pattern as a Datum Feature
Mounting clearance hole patterns are widely used in mechanical and electrical designs. Because a pattern holds multiple fasteners to fasten and stabilize components together, the entire pattern, rather than individual holes, is typically established as a datum feature. To serve this popular use case, SOLIDWORKS MBD 2018 added this functionality.
Set Up CAD to Work Faster
In this article, we will look at system settings and software settings to increase CAD performance.
Detect and Correct Model Quality Issues with SOLIDWORKS Design Checker
Not only can SOLIDWORKS Design Checker detect potential model quality issues, but it can also help correct them.
Exchange Model-Based Definition (MBD) Datasets Using SOLIDWORKS MBD 2018
With Model-Based Definition (MBD) datasets, how can you communicate more in 3D models directly and less in 2D drawings with your suppliers and clients? Let’s check out the data exchange support added to the latest SOLIDWORKS MBD 2018 release.
Using Design Tables in SOLIDWORKS
We walk you through all the different ways you can use design tables, starting with linking dimensions all the way through using it for assembly configurations.
Build Trust into Your Models with SOLIDWORKS Design Checker
How can you make sure that your 3D models are built with high quality to drive the model-centric manufacturing processes? SOLIDWORKS Design Checker can help.
Your Business Can Use Your CAD Data
SOLIDWORK’s Connector and 3DEXPERIENCE lets businesses leverage CAD data.
Call out Multiple Features Together with a Single Annotation
Are your MBD views crowed with 3D annotations? Try combining multiple callouts into a single annotation.
3DEXPERIENCE Lab opens in Boston
Engineering.com spoke with Abhishek Bali, the 3DEXPERIENCE Lab North America Manager, to learn about the new lab at the North American HQ of Dassault Systèmes.
How Engineering Can Impact a Life – Devin’s Story
Constraints are often the best generators of innovation, and that’s been the case for Devin, an engineer with cerebral palsy.
Essential Bonus Material for SOLIDWORKS
A deeper dive into some essential tips and tricks when working in sketching and feature modes.
Can a Bike Pass Your V8 on the Highway?
Simulation software helps engineers break a human-powered vehicle record.
More Modeling Tips and Techniques (The User Interface)
Keeping current with SOLIDWORKS enhancements can help users work more efficiently.
Multiple-CAD Environment Manufacturing Using SOLIDWORKS 3D Interconnect
Machine shops often receive a wide variety of CAD formats from clients to run machining jobs. Or an in-house factory may need to program toolpaths on models from engineering teams on different CAD platforms. SOLIDWORKS 3D Interconnect can help with your multiple-CAD environment manufacturing.
Lip and Groove Design Made Easy
Lips and grooves are a great and simple way to safely fasten plastic shells together.
Multi-CAD Simulations Using SOLIDWORKS 3D Interconnect
Are you running simulations with models of non-SOLIDWORKS formats? Check out how 3D Interconnect can help.
Denmark’s DIY Space Program
Copenhagen Suborbitals uses SOLIDWORKS to design rockets for its amateur space program.
How to Make Code-Free Reports
For those who are not familiar with SQL queries, we will look at tools in product data management (PDM) that can be used to generate a similar output.
Machine to the Mean with CAMWorks
Asymmetrical tolerances often cause headaches to machinists. To reduce the scraps and reworks, CAMWorks can help automatically machine to the mean sizes, rather than the nominal sizes.
How to Set Up Sheet Metal Gauge Tables
Save time bending sheet metal by not having to look up data in handbooks.
MBD Value Metrics and Transition Strategies at Johnson Controls
What MBD benefits did Johnson Controls observe? How did it manage the transition from 2D drawings to MBD?
New in SOLIDWORKS Simulation 2017: Automatically Update Beam Joints in a Simulation Study
An example of automatically integrating design changes into a weldment simulation study.
A Solid Composition: Technical Document Creation with Composer
This guide describes how to use SOLIDWORKS Composer to properly document a project.
FabLab Network Spreads to Rwanda
Fab Foundation Director Sherry Lassiter discusses the role that SOLIDWORKS has had in the spread of digital fabrication.
Whitepaper: Navigating the hurdles of hardware start-ups
Succeeding with a start-up is a difficult journey. Risk and money are two things that challenge you every step of the way. If you are a hardware start-up, the risks are even greater. Missteps and mistakes can set you back, and the risk is even higher. Money is important, but other things can directly affect… View Full Story
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Whitepaper: Superior product design through powerful in-cad simulation
Engineering successful, innovative products in today’s competitive environment requires simulation power. The ability to analyze the multifaceted physical performance characteristics of a design before making a prototype can substantially increase productivity. Companies need robust simulation tools to efficiently overcome time, budget, and quality demands. IN-CAD Simulation delivers powerful simulation capabilities that can solve complex analysis… View Full Story
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Tipping the SOLIDWORKS Fantastic
An inescapable truth is that 3D modeling is an inherently complicated activity. Anyone who has done it knows that. Why? It’s because 3D modeling is all about building high-quality, accurate digital representations of real-world or potentially real-world objects, or sets of objects. Another almost universal truth is that in most 3D modeling programs there are… View Full Story
Embedding Hardware in 3D-Printed Objects
The author describes the process of creating a 3D-printed drone with embedded electronics.
True CAD Portability—Are We There Yet?
How do ultraportable devices compare to “full-figure” mobile workstations? Let’s compare.
A Solid “STEP” Towards MBE: STEP 242
What is STEP 242? Why is it important? How is SOLIDWORKS supporting it?
Design for Manufacturing in the Digital Age
A closer look at DFMPro, which can be used to streamline design for manufacturability.
Proven 3D GD&T Advantages at Johnson Controls
Johnson Controls is convinced of the 3D GD&T advantages over 2D drawings in the MBD process.
MBD Implementation DOs and DON’Ts—Don’t Equate MBD with 3D PDF
Adopting 3D PDF doesn’t necessarily mean a successful MBD implementation. On the flip side, a successful MBD implementation doesn’t necessarily need 3D PDF either.
How to Choose Between a Feature Pattern and a Sketch Pattern
When creating a pattern in SOLIDWORKS, should I use a feature pattern or a sketch pattern?
MBD Implementation Dos and Don’ts: Verify and Validate MBD Data
Facing digital MBD data in place of 2D drawings, how should we build trust in the data?
Making Macros in SOLIDWORKS
A tool within SOLIDWORKS can enable users to create macros and help automate some tasks.
Building a Photo Storyline of Your MBD Data with 3D Views
With so many MBD variables such as models, annotations, configurations, display states, annotation views, orientations and zooming scales, how should we capture and retrieve them?
How to Set Up a Customized UI in MBD
As the capabilities of SOLIDWORKS MBD grow, more and more commands are emerging. You can customize the software’s UI to your liking.
My Top 9 Favorite SOLIDWORKS Drawing Tips
SOLIDWORKS best practices and drawing tips to help produce better drawings more quickly.
The MBD Experiences at Gulfstream in Empowering Downstream Manufacturing
Great design and engineering ideas have to go through manufacturing to reach fruition. Let’s find out how Gulfstream uses the MBD data to empower downstream manufacturing.
Choosing a Mobile Workstation for SOLIDWORKS
What to look for when selecting a new laptop to run SOLIDWORKS.
How Gulfstream Ensures Data Integrity for MBD
Facing the ocean of digital airplane representation data and tough FAA regulations, how does Gulfstream ensure data integrity?
The Gulfstream MBD Implementation Experiences in Software and Hardware
How did Gulfstream implement MBD? What are the lessons learned and recommended practices from the software and hardware setup?
2 SOLIDWORKS Shortcuts to Make Modeling Easier
An explanation of two great tools you can leverage to speed up the process of modeling in SOLIDWORKS.
How to Present the MBD Data of Sheet Metal Parts
After defining the MBD data of sheet metal parts, how should we present it?
How to Define the MBD Data of Sheet Metal Parts
Sheet metal is widely used in our daily lives. Let’s see how SOLIDWORKS MBD can help you define sheet metal MBD data.
The MBD History and Successes at Gulfstream
Gulfstream designed two jet models concurrently, reduced barrel joining time from 3.5 days to 15 minutes, and cut part numbers by more than 50 percent. How did Gulfstream do it?
An Advanced Breakdown: More Features of the SOLIDWORKS Fillet Tool
An advanced overview of the Variable Size Fillet, the Face Fillet and the Full Round Fillet commands.
What’s New in SOLIDWORKS 2017: Surfacing
Improved wrap features, new offset options and 3D curves promise easier design for users.
How to Manage Views in a 3D PDF
Recommended practices of 3D PDF views to make MBD data more organized and consumable.
What’s New in SOLIDWORKS 2017: More Tools for 3D PDF
Multiple 3D PDF attachments upon publishing, supplementary geometry displays in 3D PDF and the configuration-specific property update.
What’s New in SOLIDWORKS 2017: DimXpert
Easier 3D callouts, polar dimensions for GD&T and conical surfaces as datum features. Let’s explore further the new DimXpert enhancements.
How to Consume the PMI in a 3D PDF
Product and manufacturing information conveys critical design and engineering requirements. How can we take full advantage of it?
An Advanced Breakdown of the SOLIDWORKS Fillet Feature Tool
An advanced overview of the various options available in the Fillet feature tool.
What’s New in SOLIDWORKS 2017: 3D PDF
Customizable annotation text scales and 3D PDF accuracy controls have been added. Let’s see how these new features serve a tower crane assembly better now.
Getting Started with 3D PDFs
3D PDF is a PDF file with 3D content embedded that lowers the 3D communication barrier and facilitates MBD implementations. Facing the rich content and capable functionalities inside a 3D PDF, how should we get started?
What’s New in SOLIDWORKS 2017: Chamfer, Fillet and Advanced Hole Features
SOLIDWORKS 2017 adds several new modeling features, but is it enough to make you upgrade?
What’s New in SOLIDWORKS 2017: PCB Systems
First full release of SOLIDWORKS PCB includes a collection of tools and a collaborative workflow.
What’s New in SOLIDWORKS 2017: PDM
Version overwriting, group permissions and rollbacks are just a few updates that users can look forward to.
