New features bridge the gap between design and manufacture, changing your design and production habits
A need for better ways to bring your ideas to life
SOLIDWORKS 2018 includes enhancements and new features that directly address user demands and align with the needs of product development in the 21st century. Work more efficiently with an improved user interface that leverages the capabilities of touch devices, let SOLIDWORKS automatically generate the optimal shape of your design based on operational and manufacturing criteria, or let SOLIDWORKS automatically generate the NC tool paths needed to machining of parts. These are just a few examples of how SOLIDWORKS is changing design and manufacturing practices.
SOLIDWORKS 2018 enhancements:
Significant changes to the user experience
SOLIDWORKS 2018 features a touchscreen mode, with a variety of productivity tools for working on devices with touchscreens. Freehand sketches drawn with a pen are automatically converted into shapes so you can quickly jot down your ideas – in the office or on the go.
No more hesitation in your designs
Automatically optimize the shape of your design based on weight, function, and manufacturing criteria using the new topology study simulation. You can also improve the performance of the product or reduce its weight depending on operating or manufacturing constraints.
Finally, integrated and intelligent CAM tools and inspection tools
With CAMWorks, SOLIDWORKS CAM performs machining according to defined rules and performs automatic feature recognition, in order to optimize NC programming. Additionally, both SOLIDWORKS Inspection and SOLIDWORKS CAM support 3D dimensions and tolerances, simplifying design, manufacturing, and inspection, without the need to create 2D drawings.
More flexibility in data management
Easily work with many file formats including STL, OBJ, JT, ACIS, STEP, and IGES. 3D Interconnect automatically updates your design as new files arrive and now supports internal file information like custom properties, material properties, and datum axes. SOLIDWORKS 2018 also lets you select faces from imported mesh data, convert them to SOLIDWORKS surfaces, and modify them with features and geometry.
Improvements to the drawings? Of course.
The list is too long to mention them all here, but here are just a few: inserting 3D model views, automatic advanced drilling symbols, layer support for hatching, new display options for leading zeros, Breakout view support for section view and alternate position view, and the ability to capitalize all text in tables.
Tenon and mortise: a perfect fit for the production of your designs
SOLIDWORKS 2018 allows users to automate the creation of the tenon and mortise elements used to join the parts to be welded. Other sheet metal enhancements include the new normal cut feature, which helps ensure that the correct clearance is maintained for fabrication, as well as the new bend feature that gives users the ability to create and unfold folds at three corners.
Improved project management and process management
SOLIDWORKS Manage helps manage data, projects, and processes in a single, easy-to-use application. It integrates powerful features for managing items, processes, and projects into SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional.
Priority to simplicity
Online license management further simplifies the use of your license on multiple machines. SOLIDWORKS Login moves custom content and settings to any machine where SOLIDWORKS is installed, and the Administration Portal simplifies the management of SOLIDWORKS products and services.
Get to know all the new in SOLIDWORKS 2018
Much remains to be discovered. For full details and other information about the enhancements and new tools in SOLIDWORKS 2018, visit https://launch.solidworks.fr/.
