SolidWorks 2007 Released

By DE Editors

SolidWorks Corporation(Concord, MA) has announced the immediateavailability of its SolidWorks 2007 MCAD system late last week. In arelated announcement, the company also released the 2007 of its COSMOSsuite of analysis software. (Click here to read the COSMOS 2007 announcement.) Thelatest version of the widely deployed SolidWorks incorporates more than200 new features, according to the company. A new technology introducedin SolidWorks 2007 is SWIFT—SolidWorks Intelligent FeatureTechnology—which, in the company’s words, “expert-level techniques for3D CAD’s most challenging design operations in the hands of every user.”

SWIFT lets you leverage a variety of so-called Xperts that, put simply,combine familiar wizard technology with situational know-how. Xpertstake the hassle out of a number of design chores by automaticallyfiguring out and executing the proper order of actions to implementyour intentions rapidly. For example, say you want to add a draft to apart with fillets. You invoke the FeatureXpert dialog and tell it whatyou want to do. FeatureXpert then reorders the part’s features so thatyou can add the draft. At a demonstration attended by DE, the precedingexample required just seconds. While it’s difficult to quantify exacthow much design time you will recoup leveraging FeatureXpert, it’slikely to add up to a significant amount quickly.

SWIFT technology permeates SolidWorks 2007. For example, the SWIFTSketchXpert resolves dimensional and relational conflicts whensketching and the SWIFT MateXpert removes conflicts that arise when youadd or modify mated parts.

A new Search capability, somewhat reminiscent of a Google search, ispart of SolidWorks 2007. The Search tool enables you to find filesassociated with your 3D design work whether on your local desktop, inshared files, in your PDM system, or in your supply chain. The toolalso harmonizes with standardized content such as that found on theSolidWorks 3D ContentCentral part-finding service.

SolidWorks 2007 now automatically displays multipart interaction andmotion of 2D sketches of belts, chains, pulleys, and gears. Alsoenhanced in version 2007, the SolidWorks Design Checker has newfeatures that enable you to ensure drawings meet your organization’sdefined standards, including auto-correction and the ability to “learn"from a finished drawing.

SolidWorks 2007 also introduces new consumer design and assemblyinteraction capabilities. Its new freeform surfacing tool lets designteams simply “push and pull” control points to create stylish surfaces.Additionally, new 3D gear mates and belt interaction capabilitiessimulate belts, chains, racks, pinions, and gear assembly action.Miscellaneous new features include the ability to save files in Adobe3D PDF format and a new ScanTo3D capability that includes a wizardinterface to step the user through the scanning and data importprocesses.

COSMOSXpress, SolidWorks’s integrated analysis software toolbox, hasbeen enhanced in version 2007 with new optimization capabilities.COSMOSWorks Designer tool, which comes with SolidWorks Office Premium,now provides weldment analysis capabilities. COSMOSMotion analysissoftware now comes standard with SolidWorks Office Premium.

SolidWorks 2007 is available immediately. For a registration-freeonline video demonstration, click here. You can register for aninteractive tour of SolidWorks Office Premium by clicking here. To findthe dates and locations of SolidWorks 2007 seminars, click here.

Sources: Meeting and other briefings with the company, press materialsreceived from the company, and additional information gleaned from thecompany’s website.