What’s New in SOLIDWORKS 2023?

What’s New in SOLIDWORKS 2023?

The SOLIDWORKS R&D team have delivered an incredible lineup of enhancements that will help you to work together, smarter and faster than ever before. But there are also more ways to work with SOLIDWORKS now than there ever have been before.

Whether you’re connected to the 3DEXPERIENCE platform with Collaborative Designer for SOLIDWORKS, working within the platform itself on 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS, or you’ve got the global industry standard for Computer-Aided Design (CAD) simply installed on your desktop, there are going to be some differences for you to note in this update.

Luckily for you, this blog provides a full run down of the top 10 features for each 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS 2023, Collaborative Designer for SOLIDWORKS, and SOLIDWORKS 2023 3D CAD.

Top 10 Features for 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS 2023

Assembly

• Optimize resolved mode automatically by selectively using lightweight technology when you load components in resolved mode.

• Be more productive with the ability to save large assemblies faster.

• Speed up your downstream processes by exporting assembly components as separate STEP files.

Benefits

+ Work faster with large assemblies through automated, smarter assembly management.

Parts and Features

• Turbocharge the copying of bodies with the ability to control translation and rotation values with equations.

• Speed up part modeling by referencing coordinate systems in 3D sketches, 2D sketch dimensions, and mirroring.

• Create wrap features from sketches that use single-line fonts, also known as stick fonts.

Benefits

+ Create part geometry faster with multi-body modeling improvements and more extensive use of coordinate systems.

Sheet Metal

• Equalize bend radius values more easily by applying symmetric thickness with the Base Flange or Lofted Bend feature.

• Include the sheet metal gauge value in annotations and cut lists.

• Receive automatic sensor alerts when you exceed the sheet metal bounding box size limits.

Benefits

+ Speed up sheet metal design while improving communication with manufacturing.

Drawings and Detailing

• Ensure standardization by limiting geometric tolerances to a specific standard with the Enable/Disable options.

• Identify overridden values in a BOM table more easily with values turning blue when overridden.

• Display transparent models in drawings with Hidden Lines Removed (HLR) and Hidden Lines Visible (HLV) modes.

Benefits

+ Create drawings that represent designs more accurately with improved transparent model display and ensure standardization by limiting geometric tolerances to a specific standard.

Structure Design

• Group similar corners and apply trimming, then automatically apply connection plates, with the new Pattern feature.

• Select a set of weldment members of the same size and type and change their size for specific configurations.

• Zoom to a selected corner from the FeatureManager® design tree or the Corner Management PropertyManager.

Benefits

+ Build and modify more complex structures easily with the streamlined user experience.

Electrical and Pipe Routing

• Create splices with multiple circuits to which wires or cable cores are connected.

• Visualize your harnesses segment clearly by viewing its graphical cross section.

Benefits

+ Handle more complex electrical routing scenarios with new options for flattening, reorienting, and displaying wires and connectors.

Cloud Data Management

• Prevent production errors by ensuring drawings are released only when all components are released.

• Ease revision control with a choice of new flexible revision formats.

• Manage saved data on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform by defining a Bookmark to your content on Save.

Benefits

+ Securely store and manage your SOLIDWORKS data in the cloud while preventing production errors by streamlining drawing release.

Data Exchange with External Suppliers

• Share design projects quickly outside the 3DEXPERIENCE platform with a simple SOLIDWORKS command.

• Control your data integrity by setting permissions on your shared data.

• Add supplier design changes while maintaining the PLM data when saving to the 3DEXPERIENCE platform.

Benefits

+ Easily and securely communicate with your external suppliers by providing relevant PLM data.

Offline Mode

• Work with your CAD designs anytime and anywhere, regardless of internet connection, with the new offline mode.

• Never lose design changes with local file saving, recording to the 3DEXPERIENCE platform when back online.

Benefits

+ Continue your work without interruption even when internet connectivity is limited or lacking.

Task Scheduling

• Save time and effort by automating manual tasks, such as drawing creation, and performing them later.

• Automate the export of released or frozen content such as DXF™/DWG files on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform.

Benefits

+ Improve efficiency by automating manual tasks.

Top 10 Features for Collaborative Designer for SOLIDWORKS 2023

Flexible Revisioning Scheme

• Ease product development revision control while strengthening data governance with the ability to choose from new flexible revision formats.

• Utilize primary and secondary levels of revision-enabling component A.1 on revising to become A.2.

Benefits

+ Meet your engineering standards and avoid confusion with an improved revisioning scheme.

Data Exchange with External Suppliers

• Collaborate faster with people outside of the 3DEXPERIENCE® platform with the ability to share an entire design project using a simple command from within SOLIDWORKS.

• More easily share data with external stakeholders with 3DDrive integration.

• Control data integrity by setting permissions on your shared data.

Benefits

+ Easily and securely communicate with your external suppliers by providing relevant design data.

Batch Save — Bookmark Editor

• Manage and organize your newly saved data on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform seamlessly by defining a Bookmark to your content on Save.

• Classify data using a Bookmark structure that corresponds to the local folder organization while preserving the local folder structure.

Benefits

+ Save time when organizing your data with the ability to create Bookmarks during Save.

Derived Output Management

• Select the format before sharing your data with the ability to maintain consistent settings for derived outputs from the admin console.

• Enable administrators to choose from formats like PDF or STEP for parts and drawings.

• Set up new derived output rules utilizing asynchronous or synchronous rule generation.

Benefits

+ Save time by using consistent settings defined by your administrator.

Local Cache Explorer

• Access and manage cached content directly from the Task Pane.

• Easily view and manage your local cache, and quickly drop images in the graphics area and delete them.

Benefits

+ Quickly access and manage your local cache.

Design Sharing

• Easily share designs on your 3DSwym communities from within SOLIDWORKS.

• Enable community members to easily comment on models and provide immediate feedback to designers.

Benefits

+ Improve collaboration by easily sharing designs with internal and external communities.

Drag and Drop From FeatureManager Tree to 3DEXPERIENCE Platform

• Drag and drop components from the SOLIDWORKS Feature Tree to apps like Bookmark Editor within the 3DEXPERIENCE add-in.

Benefits

+ Save time and streamline your component workflow with FeatureManager Tree integration.

File Assistant Tool

• Prepare files for bulk upload while resolving issues related to trailing spaces and duplicate file names with the new standalone tool.

• Continuously improve your upload workflows by adding additional checks, like missing references, missing configurations, short file names, 3D Interconnect component links.

Benefits

+ Upload data faster with greater ability to prepare files and resolve issues.

Welcome App

• Get started more quickly by accessing a list of apps recommended for Collaborative Designer for SOLIDWORKS users from a one-stop resource destination.

• View new onboarding videos for Collaborative Designer for SOLIDWORKS.

• Replay the welcome tour at any time by clicking the Welcome Tour button.

Benefits

+ Enable an easy and fuss-free onboarding experience for your new users.

Drawing Maturity Transition Rule

• Reduce errors with the ability to release drawings only when all their dependents have reached the same release maturity stage.

• Ensure integrity with the ability to promote drawings only if their children are in the same state or higher.

Benefits

+ Improve your life cycle workflow with the ability to better manage drawing maturity transitions.

Top 10 Features for SOLIDWORKS 2023 3D CAD

Assembly

• Optimize resolved mode automatically by selectively using lightweight technology when you load components in resolved mode.

• Be more productive with the ability to save large assemblies faster.

• Speed up your downstream processes by exporting assembly components as separate STEP files.

Benefits

+ Work faster with large assemblies through automated, smarter assembly management.

Assembly Workflows

• Ensure design integrity by automatically replacing lost mate references with alternative mate references including faces, edges, planes, axes, and points.

• Speed up assembly feature creation with new end conditions, including Up to Next, Up to Vertex, and more.

• Save more time when designing assemblies with the ability to suppress unneeded Magnetic Mates and Connection Points.

Benefits

+ Speed up assembly design with streamlined assembly workflows.

Parts and Features

• Turbocharge the copying of bodies by controlling translation and rotation values with equations.

• Speed up part modeling by referencing coordinate systems in 3D sketches, 2D sketch dimensions, and mirroring.

• Create wrap features from sketches that use single-line fonts, also known as stick fonts.

Benefits

+ Create part geometry faster with multi-body modeling improvements and more extensive use of coordinate systems.

Sheet Metal

• Equalize bend radius values more easily by applying symmetric thickness with the Base Flange or Lofted Bend features.

• Include the sheet metal gauge value in annotations and cut lists.

• Receive automatic sensor alerts when you exceed the sheet metal bounding box size limits.

Benefits

+ Speed up sheet metal design while improving communication with manufacturing.

Drawings and Detailing

• Ensure standardization by limiting geometric tolerances to a specific standard with the Enable/Disable options.

• Identify overridden values in a BOM table more easily with values turning blue when overridden.

• Display transparent models in drawings with Hidden Lines Removed (HLR) and Hidden Lines Visible (HLV) modes.

Benefits

+ Create drawings that represent designs more accurately and ensure standardization by limiting geometric tolerances to a specific standard.

Structure Design

• Group similar corners and apply trimming, then automatically apply connection plates, with the new Pattern feature.

• Select a set of weldment members of the same size and type and change their size for specific configurations.

• Zoom to a selected corner from the FeatureManager® design tree or the Corner Management PropertyManager.

Benefits

+ Build and modify more complex structures easily with the streamlined user experience.

Electrical Routing

• Create splices with multiple circuits to which wires or cable cores are connected.

• Visualize your harnesses segment clearly by viewing its graphical cross section.

• Improve electrical routing design by reorienting the connectors to be parallel to a selected plane.

Benefits

+ Handle more complex electrical routing scenarios with new options for flattening, reorienting, and displaying wires and connectors.

Electrical Design

• Include report tables such as BOM and wire lists in any electrical project drawing.

• Display connection information about a component in a label that you can dynamically insert into schematics.

• Create better schematics automatically from electrical data in MS® Excel spreadsheets.

Benefits

+ Create more informative electrical documentation faster while reducing errors.

Model-Based Definition (MBD)

• View component dimensions in 3D PDF files, including feature dimensions, reference dimensions, and DimXpert™ annotations.

• Detail wedge-shaped features faster with expanded feature recognition.

Benefits

+ Communicate your design more clearly in 3D with the ability to view all dimensions in the assembly.

SOLIDWORKS Visualize

• Produce photo-realistic renderings with the Stellar Physically Correct renderer, providing Deep Learning AI Denoiser for optimal rendering performance.

• Define colors in more ways with the Color Picker and the color swatch palettes.

• In Preview render mode, see the display improvements of Physically Based Rendering (PBR) materials and more.

Benefits

+ Experience better real-life rendering in Preview render mode, as well as improved rendering performance and easier ways to define colors.

In Our Experience…

As with every major update for SOLIDWORKS, 2023 provides sizeable developments in terms of global connectivity and feature enhancement, but there is also a wide range of useability upgrades that most users will be able to take advantage of.

The question you now must ask yourself is: am I still using the right version of SOLIDWORKS for me and my team? Talk to a TECHNIA expert today to find out how you could improve your SOLIDWORKS experience.