SOLIDWORKS Tech Tips – The Javelin Blog https://www.javelin-tech.com/blog SOLIDWORKS Tech Tips and Tutorials Fri, 23 Feb 2024 15:03:23 +0000 en-CA hourly 1 https://www.javelin-tech.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/cropped-site-icon-1-32x32.png SOLIDWORKS Tech Tips – The Javelin Blog https://www.javelin-tech.com/blog 32 32 Export Planes in STEP Files https://www.javelin-tech.com/blog/2024/02/export-planes-in-step-files/ Thu, 22 Feb 2024 09:33:26 +0000 https://www.javelin-tech.com/blog/?p=60184 Sometimes, when creating a STEP file to send to a client or a vendor, there are certain elements that are necessary when exporting, such as reference planes. Learn how to export planes in this tech tip.

The post Export Planes in STEP Files appeared first on The Javelin Blog.

]]>
Have you ever wanted to export planes within your model to send to a client, but the planes do not appear? Are reference planes important to you when sending a model to a client or a vendor, but you cannot get them to stay when exporting to a STEP file?

Sometimes, when creating a STEP file to send to a client or a vendor, there are certain elements that are necessary when exporting, such as reference planes.

Reference planes are important, as they allow someone to make additional features on a different location other than the primary planes, or create a section view from those planes, to name a few.

When exporting a model to a STEP file, these reference planes do not get translated over as they are not a part of the primary geometry that is exported. Since reference geometry is not a part of either a solid or surface geometry, these planes are not carried over to the final model.

There is a way to avoid these reference planes being removed in a STEP file. That is, to convert them into a planar surface, which can be exported by a STEP file. These reference planes that become planar surfaces, and are exported, still have the full effect of having a reference plane in your model.

Create the Reference Plane[s]

To achieve this, you will first create your reference planes as normal on your model. In this example, the reference plane is on an angled corner.

Model within design area with a reference plane

Model within design area with a reference plane

Next, you will create a sketch on the newly created reference plane. To best simulate the plane, a rectangle is a good idea for shape.

Sketch on the reference plane on model

Sketch on the reference plane on model

While the sketch is still activated, the next step is to enable the Planar Surface feature. This can be done by either Insert>Surface>Planar or under Planar Surface on the Surfaces toolbar. Being that the current sketch is still active, the feature will already recognize the sketch in the Bounding Entities box.

Activating the planar surface feature for the sketch

Activating the planar surface feature for the sketch

Showing the planar surface on the reference plane with a change in transparency

Showing the planar surface on the reference plane with a change in transparency

From there, you will have your Planar Surface on the same plane and angle as the original Reference Plane. I have gone ahead and already changed the transparency of the Planar Surface so it does not block the entire model.

Export Plane

After this step is complete, you can now go ahead and save the model out as a STEP file.

To ensure that the Planar Surface did export correctly, you can open the STEP file that was just saved back in SOLIDWORKS, and see the results.

Final model exported as a step file showing the export planes as a surface

Final model exported as a step file showing the export planes as a surface

You are now ready to send these files off to your clients or vendors, and they can see the additional reference planes as intended!

If you run into any issues with this method, or your models, please reach out to our Client Success Team and we will be more than happy to assist!

The post Export Planes in STEP Files appeared first on The Javelin Blog.

]]>
Manually Updating SOLIDWORKS Toolbox https://www.javelin-tech.com/blog/2024/02/manually-updating-solidworks-toolbox-2/ Tue, 20 Feb 2024 19:29:54 +0000 https://www.javelin-tech.com/blog/?p=59701 Updating SOLIDWORKS toolbox helps you recover from the the default upgrade that writes over any customizations you've made in the Toolbox.

The post Manually Updating SOLIDWORKS Toolbox appeared first on The Javelin Blog.

]]>
When upgrading SOLIDWORKS to a new major version, the default upgrade will write over any customizations you’ve made in the Toolbox. To keep your customizations, manually updating SOLIDWORKS Toolbox is necessary.

Before beginning, BE SURE to save a copy of your existing Toolbox for backup purposes. The simplest way to do this is to compress the Toolbox into a zipped folder and save it in a safe location.

To upgrade the Toolbox, there are two methods. The first step of the upgrade is the same for both methods:

Step 1: Update SWBrowser.sldedb

  1. Navigate to the installation folder of SOLIDWORKS, which by default is located in C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS.
  2. Go into the Toolbox folder, then the Data Utilities folder.
  3. Right-click on UpdateBrowserDatabase and select to “Run as administrator”.
  4. This will bring up a dialog box called Update Toolbox Database. The Toolbox Database version has to match the version of SOLIDWORKS you are running.Updating SOLIDWORKS Toolbox
  5. Click the three dots at the end of the path line for “Database to Update”.
  6. Navigate to your customized Toolbox and go into the lang\english folder.
  7. Select the file called swbrowser and hit Open. It should be the only option since the file type is filtered to *.sldedb.
  8. Check that the Database Version is different (typically lower number) from the Update Version.
  9. Click Update.
  10. If this runs successfully, please move on to Step 2. If it does not, please see the Troubleshooting section below.

 

The second step is to update the content in the Toolbox so that the files themselves match the new major version of SOLIDWORKS. There are two ways to do this:

Step 2.1: Repair SOLIDWORKS installation – Automatic upgrade

  1. Go to Start > Control Panel > Programs and Features.
  2. Scroll down to SOLIDWORKS, right-click on the new major version, and select Change. If you only see Uninstall/Change as an option, then the SOLIDWORKS installation was through an administrative image. Please either speak with your SOLIDWORKS administrator and have them update the Toolbox for all users, or see Step 2.2.
  3. In the Installation Manager dialog box, select the option to Repair your installation.Updating SOLIDWORKS Toolbox
  4. When selecting the products to repair, you will only need to update SOLIDWORKS. Deselect the other options and leave SOLIDWORKS checked, then click Repair.
  5. Once this finishes, your Toolbox should be fully up to date! To test its functionality, launch SOLIDWORKS and go to Tools > Options > System Options > Hole Wizard/Toolbox and make sure the file path is pointing to your newly updated Toolbox.

 

If the repair was unsuccessful or you are unable to run the repair due to administrative privileges or an administrative image installation, then you can update the Toolbox content manually or see the Troubleshooting section below.

Step 2.2: Run SOLIDWORKS Toolbox updater – Manual upgrade

  1. Navigate to the installation folder of SOLIDWORKS, which by default is located in C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS.
  2. Scroll down to sldtoolboxupdater and double-click to run the application.SOLIDWORKS Toolbox
  3. Check the box that says Show completed updates so that you can monitor the update process.
    • If you are missing a Toolbox standard or want to add it fresh, select SOLIDWORKS/Toolbox installation media location. This will prompt you to navigate to the source or download files for the new major version of SOLIDWORKS, which usually is located under Documents\SOLIDWORKS Downloads. Navigate to this location, then select the Toolbox\updates folder and click OK.Updating SOLIDWORKS
  4. Click Process to begin the upgrade.
  5. A green progress bar will appear next to Index Toolbox Content while it runs through the updates. If the update is successful, this progress bar will become a green check mark icon.
  6. Your Toolbox should now be fully up to date! To test its functionality, launch SOLIDWORKS and go to Tools > Options > System Options > Hole Wizard/Toolbox and make sure the file path is pointing to your newly updated Toolbox.

Troubleshooting Updating SOLIDWORKS Toolbox

If you experience any issues while running Steps 1, 2.1, or 2.2, please test the solutions below:

  1. If you launch SOLIDWORKS and go to the Tools > Options > System Options > Hole Wizard /Toolbox and get an error message that says “Toolbox is not the expected version”, or you experience errors while updating the Toolbox Database from Step 1:

    • Make sure the UpdateBrowserDatabase is run as an administrator. Sometimes the application will seem like the update went through, but it will only be successful when run as an administrator.
    • If you have run as an administrator and it still didn’t update successfully, make sure you have Write access to the UpdateBrowserDatabase application. This can be checked by right-clicking on the file, going to Properties > Security, and seeing if your user account/group has Read and Write access. If it does not, please check with your IT team that adding these permissions will not be an issue.
  1. If the SOLIDWORKS repair fails from Step 2.1:
    • Try updating the Toolbox manually using Step 2.2. For further errors, see below.
  2. If while running the manual update from Step 2.2, a red X icon appears next to any of the update versions:

      • In the Toolbox\browser folder, delete or rename the ToolboxFiles.index file. Also, delete or rename the entire Toolbox\updates folder. Rerun the sldtoolboxupdater.
      • If this doesn’t resolve the issue, run the sldtoolboxupdater and select SOLIDWORKS/Toolbox installation media location. Navigate to the source or download files for the new major version of SOLIDWORKS, typically located under Documents\SOLIDWORKS Downloads. Select the Toolbox\updates folder and click OK.
        • Make sure the Toolbox *.tbox files in the SOLIDWORKS source/download files do not include any atypical characters, such as trademark symbols or other non-ASCII characters.
      • If this still is unsuccessful, please obtain a new copy of the source/download files for SOLIDWORKS, then follow the above test using the new media location in case the old source files were improper, and run the update again.

 

Should any of the troubleshooting steps be unsuccessful or you have other questions about updating your Toolbox, please share a copy of the following files with our support team for further investigation:

      • C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS\Toolbox\data utilities\UpdateBrowserDataErrors.txt
      • Toolbox\updates\UpdateLog.txt
      • Your original, backed-up Toolbox folder

Happy updating!

Click here to learn the Best Practice for Managing User Settings in a Shared Environment

SOLIDWORKS Sources: S-056686, S-056687, S-057028, S-069332

The post Manually Updating SOLIDWORKS Toolbox appeared first on The Javelin Blog.

]]>
Managing Annotation Visibility in SOLIDWORKS Drawings https://www.javelin-tech.com/blog/2024/02/managing-annotation-visibility-in-solidworks-drawings/ Wed, 14 Feb 2024 20:40:13 +0000 https://www.javelin-tech.com/blog/?p=60595 In our earlier article, we demonstrate how to hide and show dimensions: How to Hide SOLIDWORKS Drawing Dimensions and make them reappear (javelin-tech.com) Building upon that functionality, we now introduce a few new skills to help with managing annotation visibility: How to quickly identify where all the hidden annotations in a busy drawing are How…

The post Managing Annotation Visibility in SOLIDWORKS Drawings appeared first on The Javelin Blog.

]]>
In our earlier article, we demonstrate how to hide and show dimensions: How to Hide SOLIDWORKS Drawing Dimensions and make them reappear (javelin-tech.com)

Building upon that functionality, we now introduce a few new skills to help with managing annotation visibility:

  • How to quickly identify where all the hidden annotations in a busy drawing are
  • How to immediately locate new annotations that were imported from the model

Annotation Visibility

First, we need to make the hidden annotations flash! This is because the default color of hidden annotations is a very light grey, and it’s not always easy to spot those in a busy drawing. To overcome that, we want to assign a hotkey to do the same thing as View > Hide/Show > Annotations. So that’s Tools > Customize > Keyboard > Search for “annotations” > for View Annotations > Select a key. “B” is available, by default.

Let’s say we mapped it to B. Now spam (repeatedly press) the B key, and you will see all of the hidden annotations flashing in light grey. To achieve this using other methods than hotkey would be very difficult, because our attention would be required for repeated menu navigation and clicking. But with the spamming of the B key, we can keep our eyes on the drawing, to spot all the flashing annotations. In a busy drawing, with annotations everywhere, it’s easier to spot things that are flashing than things that are not, especially when they are light grey.

Now let’s say we added some new features in the model and want to import their dimensions into the drawing. So we Insert > Model Items. Here is more on that subject: SOLIDWORKS Model Items Tech Tip (javelin-tech.com)

But what if those newly-inserted dimensions are not readily apparent? Even after they are inserted, in a busy drawing it might not be obvious where they are. So, we use layers of different colors! See this article for how to set that up: Using Colour & Layers to make SOLIDWORKS Drawing detail stand out (javelin-tech.com)

We can use layer color to make the newly inserted dimensions stick out like a sore thumb. For example, make a layer called Red and assign it the color red. When doing Insert > Model Items you can choose which layer will receive the newly-added dimensions. So choose Red, and those new dimensions will arrive on layer Red, in red, and should be very easy to spot. Now that we have spotted them we can relocate them to the correct view, position them correctly, and reassign them to the desired layer.

Remember to update your template after adding frequently-used layers to the document.

The post Managing Annotation Visibility in SOLIDWORKS Drawings appeared first on The Javelin Blog.

]]>
Understanding SOLIDWORKS Feature Scope https://www.javelin-tech.com/blog/2024/02/understanding-solidworks-feature-scope/ Mon, 12 Feb 2024 14:56:08 +0000 https://www.javelin-tech.com/blog/?p=59962 The SOLIDWORKS Feature Scope tool within many features in SOLIDWORKS, will allow you to specify which body or bodies are being selected for the desired feature.

The post Understanding SOLIDWORKS Feature Scope appeared first on The Javelin Blog.

]]>
When creating a model, there are many features that we use regularly to help us achieve the model we intend to create. Many of our feature-based commands within SOLIDWORKS have additional options in the feature PropertyManager that allow us to further define the scope of that feature. Let’s take a few moments to focus on the SOLIDWORKS Feature Scope options available for some of our feature-based commands.

The Feature Scope tool within many features in SOLIDWORKS, will allow you to specify which body or bodies are being selected for the desired feature. This is beneficial when you only want specific areas of the multi-body part or assembly to be affected by these changes.

Where to find the SOLIDWORKS Feature Scope

The Feature Scope area will appear in the Property Manager of the specific feature you are looking to complete, shown below with a cut-extrude for this example.

The SOLIDWORKS Feature Scope is circled in red within a Cut extrude Property Manager

The SOLIDWORKS Feature Scope is circled in red within a Cut extrude Property Manager

When you expand this area, there are a few main options that you will see, and depending on what you select, will activate additional options. The main two options you will see are All and Selected [Bodies or Components], depending on if you are within a multibody part or assembly, respectively.

By selecting the option All [Bodies or Components], the modification made will be affected by all the bodies or components within the model each time the feature regenerates. If a new body or component is added to the model that intersects the feature, the new body/component is regenerated to include the feature.

The next option listed is Selected [Bodies or Components]. By enabling this option, SOLIDWORKS will then provide some additional options for you to select, depending on whether you are within a multi-body part or assembly.

Feature Scope in a SOLIDWORKS Multibody Part

Within a multibody part, the next option that is enabled when selecting Selected Bodies would be the Auto-select checkbox, as well as an area to indicate the solid bodies that would be affected. If Auto-select is enabled, it will select and process all the relevant intersecting parts, and only regenerate those bodies, versus the entire model. If you deselect the auto-select checkbox, then you will select the bodies that are to be affected in the graphics area of the part. These bodies will be highlighted and shown in the Solid Bodies to Affect box.

Highlighted body in green in the graphics area is the specific body enabled for feature scope

Highlighted body in green in the graphics area is the specific body enabled for feature scope

Feature Scope in a SOLIDWORKS Assembly

For an assembly file, you will see the same options as the multi-body part, along with an additional selection, Propagate feature to parts.

This option is available to select when either All or Selected components are enabled. With the Propagate feature to parts option enabled, you will see the same feature being included in your individual part file as well as the overall assembly. If you do not wish for the modification to be made to the individual part files, such as ones in other assemblies or to be used elsewhere, then de-selecting this option is the best way to go.

An additional note when selecting Selected Components in the assembly, is if you add a new component to your assembly, and want the feature to affect the new component, right-click on the feature and select ‘Edit Feature’. You can then add in the additional component to be affected. If you add in the new component, the feature will not automatically affect this component.

 

Selected components is selected, indicating the components in blue in the graphics area

Selected components is selected, indicating the components in blue in the graphics area

The Feature Scope options allow you to gain more control over your model and help create a very efficient workflow for adding features to multiple entities.

Learn more about the SOLIDWORKS Feature Scope

Attend a live online SOLIDWORKS Advanced Part Modeling training course from Javelin to learn more about using the feature scope along with other advanced features

The post Understanding SOLIDWORKS Feature Scope appeared first on The Javelin Blog.

]]>
SOLIDWORKS Toolbars to Boost Your Productivity https://www.javelin-tech.com/blog/2024/01/solidworks-toolbars-to-boost-your-productivity/ Wed, 31 Jan 2024 14:53:44 +0000 https://www.javelin-tech.com/blog/?p=60237 SOLIDWORKS Toolbars make navigating the interface easier and can bring features and functions that are typically truncated directly to your mouse.

The post SOLIDWORKS Toolbars to Boost Your Productivity appeared first on The Javelin Blog.

]]>
SOLIDWORKS Toolbars make navigating the interface easier and can bring features and functions that are typically truncated directly to your mouse. Several toolbars can help save more than a few clicks too, since they can mitigate a lot of frustration that newer users may experience.

SOLIDWORKS Toolbars

Here are some toolbars that can help you out, whether you’re just getting started with SOLIDWORKS or are a power user at your company:

2D to 3D Toolbar

If you’ve recently switched from 2D CAD software to the world of 3D, this toolbar can help ease that transition. It allows you to better leverage your existing DWG/DXF drawings so that once they’re imported into the same sketch, they can be quickly moved to the proper sketch plane, have the geometry aligned, and then converted to an extrusion to bring it into 3D. It also has tools like repair sketch in case there are small gaps in the file you’ve imported. Using this SOLIDWORKS toolbar can greatly speed up the creation of 3D files from your legacy data.

SOLIDWORKS Toolbars - 2D to 3D

The 2D to 3D Toolbar

Align Toolbar

The Align toolbar helps clean up and improve the legibility of drawings. The functions here allow for staggering, grouping, alignment, and rearranging of selected dimensions within the drawing environment. Rather than having to manually rearrange dimensions to get the proper spacing, just box-select the dimensions and use the auto-arrange feature to get there in one click. The align tools can then further assist in the arrangement of annotations within the drawing.

SOLIDWORKS Toolbars - Align

The Align Toolbar

Quick Snap Toolbar

If you are new to the concept of relations in sketches or just want to speed up the way that you add them, quick snaps make your first or next selection of a sketch entity adhere to certain guidelines. This could mean snapping to midpoints, remaining parallel or perpendicular to a selected entity, or snapping to a specified length or angle. Automatically add relations as you work, reducing the time it takes to fully define sketches.

SOLIDWORKS Toolbars -Quick Snap

The Quick Snap Toolbar

Selection Filters Toolbar

Selection filters are one of the most common toolbars for users to have available to them, as they can simplify the process of making selections and help communicate to SOLIDWORKS what items in a sketch or feature you’re really trying to reference. For even quicker application of a filter to common entities, there are even a few default keyboard shortcuts. Select x for faces, v for vertices, and e for edges.

SOLIDWORKS Toolbars - Selection Filter

The Selection Filter Toolbar

 

Lifecycle and Collaboration Toolbar

The lifecycle and collaboration toolbar for those connected to 3DEXPERIENCE allows for one-click locks, unlocks, saves, and shares to either your Swym community or to 3D Drive thanks to the new Share and Markup capabilities in SOLIDWORKS. Once you select the share and markup button, you can generate a shareable link that can be shared with anyone or email collaborators you’d like to restrict access to. All of this is now available with any new license of SOLIDWORKS purchased.

SOLIDWORKS Toolbars - Lifecycle and Collaboration

The Lifecycle and Collaboration Toolbar

If you have access and want to learn how to activate, or just want to learn more, check out our starter guide.

The post SOLIDWORKS Toolbars to Boost Your Productivity appeared first on The Javelin Blog.

]]>
Double-clicking SOLIDWORKS files are printing instead of opening? https://www.javelin-tech.com/blog/2024/01/double-clicking-solidworks-files-are-printing-instead-of-opening/ Mon, 22 Jan 2024 14:50:59 +0000 https://www.javelin-tech.com/blog/?p=61350 When you double-click on a SOLIDWORKS file, is it printing on a nearby or recently used printer instead of opening in SOLIDWORKS? This is most likely an issue with your SOLIDWORKS file associations.

The post Double-clicking SOLIDWORKS files are printing instead of opening? appeared first on The Javelin Blog.

]]>
When you double-click on a SOLIDWORKS file, is it printing on a nearby or recently used printer instead of opening in SOLIDWORKS? This is most likely an issue with your SOLIDWORKS file associations.

One way you can tell that the associations for SOLIDWORKS files are broken or missing is that the right-click menu in Windows Explorer is missing a SOLIDWORKS section. When you right-click on a Part, Drawing, or Assembly file, there is no option to “Open with SOLIDWORKS” or even a “SOLIDWORKS” option.

Missing SOLIDWORKS menu

Missing SOLIDWORKS menu

Fix 1: Restore SOLIDWORKS File Associations in SOLIDWORKS Settings

 

1. Right-click and run SOLIDWORKS as Administrator

Run as administrator

Run as administrator

2. Open the Settings in SOLIDWORKS. Go to the General Tab and click “Restore File Associations

 

In SOLIDWORKS 2019 and Older, the “Restore File Associations” button is located under “File Explorer” tab.

Restore File Association in SOLIDWORKS 2019 and Older

Restore File Association in SOLIDWORKS 2019 and Older

 

In SOLIDWORKS 2020 and Newer, the Restore File Association is located under the General tab.

Restore File Associations in SOLIDWORKS 2020 and Newer

Restore File Associations in SOLIDWORKS 2020 and Newer

 

3. If after following these steps double-clicking still prints, proceed to Fix 2 below.

 


Fix 2: Change Default Apps in Windows

 

1. Open “Default Apps” in Windows.

Default Apps

Default Apps

2. At the top of the screen, you should see a text box labeled “Enter a file type or link type”.

Set a file type

Set a file type

3. In this box you’ll need to type each of these file types and associate them to the SOLIDWORKS Launcher

.sldprt .sldasm .slddrw

4. Once you’ve reassociated those three file types, try to double-click a SOLIDWORKS file and it should open properly now.

NOTE: If you have multiple versions of SOLIDWORKS, it may prompt you for a version to open it in.

Fix 2 (Alternate Method): Change Default App to Open SOLIDWORKS Files

1. After you have followed the steps of Fix 1, you can use Fix 2 instead of the above one to achieve the same result

2. Right-click on a SOLIDWORKS Part File and select “Open With”

Open With

Open With

3. In the Open With Dialog, select the SOLIDWORKS Launcher and check the box for “Always use this app to open .SLDPRT files” (Windows 10) OR simply select “Always” (Windows 11)

Windows 10 Windows 11

4. Repeat this process for the .SLDASM and .SLDDRW files to reassociate these files with SOLIDWORKS.

5. Once you’ve reassociated those three file types, try to double-click a SOLIDWORKS file and it should open properly now.

Note: If you have multiple versions of SOLIDWORKS, it may prompt you for a version to open it in.

The post Double-clicking SOLIDWORKS files are printing instead of opening? appeared first on The Javelin Blog.

]]>
Just purchased NEW SOLIDWORKS Licenses? Don’t forget to Reactivate your License Manager https://www.javelin-tech.com/blog/2024/01/just-purchased-new-solidworks-licenses-dont-forget-to-reactivate-your-license-manager/ Thu, 18 Jan 2024 13:28:09 +0000 https://www.javelin-tech.com/blog/?p=61091 In this article you will learn how to re-activate SOLIDWORKS SolidNetWork License Manager so that users can make use of a new SOLIDWORKS license.

The post Just purchased NEW SOLIDWORKS Licenses? Don’t forget to Reactivate your License Manager appeared first on The Javelin Blog.

]]>
If you have an existing SOLIDWORKS Network License and you purchase additional network licenses of SOLIDWORKS, or other network licenses of SOLIDWORKS products, such as Simulation, PDM, Inspection, Visualize, MBD, Composer … etc, then those new SOLIDWORKS licenses will simply be added to your existing SOLIDWORKS serial number (unless you have specifically requested that they not be).

Activate new SOLIDWORKS Licenses

Once SOLIDWORKS has processed the order and you have heard back that new licenses are ready to use, you will need to re-activate SolidNetWork License Manager so that users can make use of the new licenses. Starting with SolidNetwork License Manager 2021 the process for reactivation was made simpler by the addition of a dedicated button for reactivation. We have included the steps for both versions here.

Reactivating the SolidNetWork License Manager – 2021 and newer

STEP 1:  On the license server, launch the SolidNetWork License Manager Server and click Reactivate

SOLIDWORKS SolidNetWork License Manager

SOLIDWORKS SolidNetWork License Manager

STEP 2: Make sure that serial number selected is “All” and click “Reactivate.”  Once this step is completed continue on at “Modify License”

Reactivate Licenses

Reactivate Licenses

Reactivating the SolidNetWork License Manager – 2020 and prior

STEP 1:  On the license server, launch the SolidNetWork License Manager Server and click Modify.

Modify License

Modify License

STEP 2:  Select the option to “Activate/Reactivate your product license(s)” and click “Next>”.

Activate/Reactivate your product license(s)

Activate/Reactivate your product license(s)

STEP 3:  Don’t make any changes on the “Server Information” screen.

Server Information

Server Information

STEP 4:  On the “Activate Your SOLIDWORKS Product” screen, either click “Select All” so that all serial numbers are highlighted, or hold down “Ctrl” and select each serial number that has had additional licenses added to it. Click Next to activate automatically over the internet, or if you do not have an internet connection on the server, you can activate manually.

Activate Your SOLIDWORKS Product

Activate Your SOLIDWORKS Product

Once the activation is completed, the new additional licenses should be listed under the “Currently activated products” screen.

Currently activated SOLIDWORKS products

Currently activated SOLIDWORKS products

NOTE: If you notice that some licenses are missing, contact your SOLIDWORKS Value Added Reseller.

Upon completion of reactivating the SolidNetWork License Manager, if you are looking to update the SOLIDWORKS components to include new add-ins or features, see the How to change your SOLIDWORKS Installation article.

The post Just purchased NEW SOLIDWORKS Licenses? Don’t forget to Reactivate your License Manager appeared first on The Javelin Blog.

]]>
Creating Multiple Bolt Connectors in SOLIDWORKS Simulation https://www.javelin-tech.com/blog/2024/01/multiple-bolt-connectors-in-solidworks-simulation-video/ Fri, 12 Jan 2024 12:11:10 +0000 https://www.javelin-tech.com/blog/?p=5858 SOLIDWORKS Simulation Bolt Connectors are a great way to simplify your FEA studies for faster run times. Rather than having physical bolt geometry to mesh and interact with surrounding parts, a Simulation Bolt Connector adds a simplified beam element to represent the bolt shank and rigid or distributed bars to the surrounding faces. Situations arise…

The post Creating Multiple Bolt Connectors in SOLIDWORKS Simulation appeared first on The Javelin Blog.

]]>
SOLIDWORKS Simulation Bolt Connectors are a great way to simplify your FEA studies for faster run times. Rather than having physical bolt geometry to mesh and interact with surrounding parts, a Simulation Bolt Connector adds a simplified beam element to represent the bolt shank and rigid or distributed bars to the surrounding faces. Situations arise where you may have many holes in your model that require bolts.  This article will explain different methods of creating multiple bolt connectors in SOLIDWORKS Simulation.

Adding Bolt Connectors One at a Time

When a Bolt connector is created and accepted, a single feature is added to the Simulation tree under the Connectors category. Adding more connectors one by one will create additional features.

Bolt Connectors

SOLIDWORKS Bolt Connector

Bolt Connectors

SOLIDWORKS Bolt Connector Features

Keep Visible in Bolt Connectors PropertyManager

To speed up the process you can enable the ‘Keep Visible’ icon in the Bolt Connector PropertyManager. This keeps the PropertyManager open with the same values after clicking Accept so you can quickly add more connectors.  This will create all Bolt Connector features within the same session under a Bolt Group. This keeps things cleaner when you have multiple bolt sizes or locations.

Bolt Connectors

SOLIDWORKS PropertyManager Keep Visible

Bolt Connectors

SOLIDWORKS Simulation Bolt Group

PRODUCTIVITY TIP: Use the right mouse button while in the PropertyManager to jump between selection boxes and to Accept

Additional Bolt Groups can be created by adding folders to the Connectors feature. Existing bolts can be dragged in and out of folders.

Bolt Connectors

SOLIDWORKS Bolt Connector New Group

Convert Toolbox Features to Bolt Connectors

If you have a Simulation Professional or Simulation Premium license and use Toolbox fasteners in your assemblies, these can be automatically converted to Simulation Bolt Connectors. Right-click on the Connectors folder and choose ‘Toolbox Fasteners to Bolts’. This generates Simulation Bolt connectors by picking up the sizes of the Toolbox components. The Toolbox components are automatically excluded from the Simulation study and placed in a folder.

Automatic Conversion of Toolbox Fasteners to Bolts – 2024 – SOLIDWORKS Help

Bolt Connectors

SOLIDWORKS Toolbox Fasteners to Bolts

Bolt Connectors

SOLIDWORKS Auto-Converted Toolbox Fasteners

Assembly Hole Series Feature to Propagate Simulation Bolt Connectors

And lastly, if you want the ability to add one Simulation Bolt Connector and have all other holes populated, the Hole Series assembly feature can be used. The Hole Series assembly feature applies to multiple components within the assembly. This is required as a Bolt Connector needs to reference at least two components. A simple Hole Wizard feature within the part level does not provide enough information.

Bolt Connectors

SOLIDWORKS Hole Series

Details on using the Hole Series feature can be found in our blog articles How to use the SOLIDWORKS Hole Series Wizard and Save time by using a SOLIDWORKS Hole Series in your assemblies!

Applying a Bolt Connector to any of the Hole Series instances will provide a prompt to propagate bolts to all holes. This conveniently groups them all in the same Bolt Group.

Bolt Connectors

SOLIDWORKS Bolt Connectors on Hole Series Holes

Bolt Connectors

SOLIDWORKS Hole Series Simulation Bolt Connectors

The post Creating Multiple Bolt Connectors in SOLIDWORKS Simulation appeared first on The Javelin Blog.

]]>
SOLIDWORKS Template File Locations https://www.javelin-tech.com/blog/2024/01/solidworks-template-file-locations/ Wed, 10 Jan 2024 14:17:31 +0000 https://www.javelin-tech.com/blog/?p=60803 SOLIDWORKS templates are a key feature that allow for predefined setups and this article will expand on SOLIDWORKS template file locations.

The post SOLIDWORKS Template File Locations appeared first on The Javelin Blog.

]]>
One of the best things about SOLIDWORKS is the reduced repeatability of workflows in different areas of the software. This allows users to spend more time designing rather than tracing over the same steps over and over again.

SOLIDWORKS templates are a key aspect of SOLIDWORKS that allow for predefined setups. A template is required to create any part, assembly, or drawing and can be customized to avoid having to set up a new template each time a design is started. A template can include different settings and parameters such as units, precision, standards, custom properties, predefined features, and more. Aside from being set up properly, templates need to be located appropriately as well. This article will look at the template locations, how to ensure templates are stored properly, and the default folder paths for all SOLIDWORKS file locations.

Novice window when creating a new SW document

Where are default SOLIDWORKS template file locations?

The default SOLIDWORKS template file location is dependent on the version of SOLIDWORKS installed. If a user has multiple versions of SOLIDWORKS installed, there can be different template folders. By default, templates are stored in:

 C:\ProgramData\SOLIDWORKS\SOLIDWORKS 20xx\templates

With ’20xx’ being the version year(s) installed.

The very first time a user tries to create a new file in SOLIDWORKS, the user may be prompted to select the initial settings for the default templates (if the template file location is empty). For units, users can choose from MKS (meter, kilogram, second), CGS (centimeter, gram, second), MMGS (millimeter, gram, second), or IPS (inch, pound, second). The standards available in SOLIDWORKS include ANSI, ISO, DIN, JIS, BSI, GOST, and GB.

SOLIDWORKS template file locations

Default template selection windows

Can SOLIDWORKS templates be moved from the default folder location?

SOLIDWORKS Templates can be stored anywhere if they are referenced properly. When references have been set up correctly in System Options > File Locations, templates will appear for selection upon creating a new SOLIDWORKS document. The order in which file paths appear in File Locations is the same order that folder tabs are listed in the New SOLIDWORKS Document window.

Template file locations and how they appear in the template selection window

Where should templates be stored?

Users have the flexibility to decide where it makes the most sense to store templates. In a single-user environment, storing templates in the default folder location may work best when managing template files. Within a collaborative environment, multiple users may need to access standardized templates stored in PDM or on a network drive. SOLIDWORKS accommodates for this by allowing users to point to any file location that can be accessed by the computer SOLIDWORKS is installed on. For templates stored in PDM, data management functionality such as revision control applies to these documents.

What are ALL the default File Locations

If for any reason a file location is missing or needs to be set to default, the list below is a full outline of all default file locations. To make changes to the file path(s), change the “Show folders for” field to the desired file location and select Add, Delete, Move Up, or Move Down. Alternatively, users can select Edit All to view or modify all file locations from a table.

Modifying file locations

File Type Default Location
Document Templates 1 C:\ProgramData\SOLIDWORKS\SOLIDWORKS version\templates
Document Templates 2 C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS\lang\english\Tutorial
Referenced Documents C:\ProgramData\SolidWorks\SOLIDWORKS 2022\design library\routing
Bend Table Template C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS\lang\english
BOM Templates C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS\lang\english
Color Swatches C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS\lang\english\colorswatches
Costing Report Template Folder C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS\lang\english
Costing templates C:\ProgramData\SOLIDWORKS\SOLIDWORKS version\lang\english\Costing templates
Custom Property Files C:\ProgramData\SOLIDWORKS\SOLIDWORKS version\lang\english
Design Library 1 C:\ProgramData\SOLIDWORKS\SOLIDWORKS version\Design Library
Design Library 2 C:\ProgramData\SOLIDWORKS\SOLIDWORKS version\design library
Dimension/Annotation Favorites C:\Users\user\Documents
DimXpert Callout Format File C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS\lang\english
DimXpert General Tolerance File C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS\lang\english
Drawing Scale Standards C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS\lang\english
General Tables Template C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS\lang\english
Hatch Pattern File C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS\lang\english
Hole Callout Format File C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS\lang\english
Hole Table Templates C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS\lang\english
Material Databases 1 C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS\lang\english\sldmaterials
Material Databases 2 C:\ProgramData\SOLIDWORKS\SOLIDWORKS version\Custom Materials
Material Databases 3 C:\ProgramData\SOLIDWORKS\SOLIDWORKS version\Sustainability
Punch Table Templates C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS\lang\english
Revision Table Templates C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS\lang\english
Search Paths C:\SOLIDWORKS Data
Sheet Formats C:\ProgramData\SOLIDWORKS\SOLIDWORKS version\lang\english\sheetformat
Sheet Metal Bend Line Note File C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS\lang\english
Sheet Metal Bend Tables C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS\lang\english\Sheetmetal Bend Tables
Sheet Metal Gauge Table C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS\lang\english\sheet metal gauge tables
Sustainability Report Template Folder C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS\lang\english
Symbol Library Folder C:\ProgramData\SOLIDWORKS\SOLIDWORKS version\lang\english
Thread Profiles C:\ProgramData\SOLIDWORKS\SOLIDWORKS version\thread profiles
Title Block Table Template C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS\lang\english
Weld Table Template C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS\lang\english
Weldment Cut List Templates C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS\lang\english
Weldment Profiles C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS\lang\english\weldment profiles
Weldment Property File C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS\lang\english\Weldments
3D PDF Themes C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS\data\themes
Structure System – Connection Elements C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS\data\Structure System – Connection Elements
Inspection Project Template Folder C:\ProgramData\SOLIDWORKS\SOLIDWORKS Inspection 2022 AddIn\Templates
Inspection Report Template Folder C:\ProgramData\SOLIDWORKS\SOLIDWORKS Inspection 2022 AddIn\Templates

 

The post SOLIDWORKS Template File Locations appeared first on The Javelin Blog.

]]>
SOLIDWORKS 2024 Hardware Recommendations https://www.javelin-tech.com/blog/2024/01/solidworks-2024-hardware-recommendations/ Tue, 09 Jan 2024 14:21:44 +0000 https://www.javelin-tech.com/blog/?p=60891 TriMech has compiled this recommended SOLIDWORKS 2024 hardware guide to aid you in the process of upgrading or purchasing new hardware for SOLIDWORKS.

The post SOLIDWORKS 2024 Hardware Recommendations appeared first on The Javelin Blog.

]]>
Co-author: Emmanuel Kim, Technical Manager, Applications, TriMech

You have made a serious investment purchasing SOLIDWORKS 2024 that will ultimately help your engineers, designers, and drafters to be more productive. While navigating through the challenging process of choosing their new CAD system, clients often overlook SOLIDWORKS 2024 system requirements and the importance of having the appropriate hardware to support their new purchase.

To help minimize your frustrations and maximize your capabilities, TriMech has compiled this recommended SOLIDWORKS 2024 hardware guide to aid you in the process of upgrading or purchasing new hardware. SOLIDWORKS provides a general list of minimum requirements and recommendations on their website. We suggest using the following recommendations in tandem with those requirements.

Common SOLIDWORKS Hardware Misconceptions

“Build your own custom SOLIDWORKS 2024 system to save money!”

Though building and configuring your own SOLIDWORKS CAD system (workstation) can be fun, TriMech strongly recommends purchasing a pre-configured system from a reputable hardware manufacturer. These workstations have been tested, optimized, and certified to run professional applications like SOLIDWORKS. Your businesses time is better used designing and building great designs with SOLIDWORKS, not troubleshooting compatibility issues with your hardware components.

“Higher numbers are always better”

Do not simply look at raw numbers and specifications when comparing components. Many components will tout similar model numbers and specifications but perform very differently. Consult an IT professional or TriMech technical consultant for additional assistance when assessing hardware components.

“SOLIDWORKS performance is the same every release”

Besides the dozens of new features and enhancements, SOLIDWORKS also takes more and more advantage of hardware technology in each new release. Consider upgrading your SOLIDWORKS to the newest and best version to benefit from these hardware based performance enhancements.

TriMech Recommended SOLIDWORKS 2024 Hardware Configurations

Below, the TriMech technical team has compiled a general hardware recommendations. These recommendations are made based on the purchase of a NEW computer.

For special pricing and promotions for US clients from Dell, visit our hardware page »

Essential
SOLIDWORKS
Hardware
Advanced
SOLIDWORKS
Hardware
Elite
SOLIDWORKS
Hardware
Ultimate
SOLIDWORKS
Hardware
User Needs Light design changes on moderately complex assembly designs. Build moderately complex parts, detailed drawings, sophisticated schematics diagrams, and first pass photo-rendering. For complex SW parts, large assemblies, sophisticated multi-page drawings. Run first-pass finite element analysis (FEA), kinematic studies and photo render complex scenes faster. Build complex surfaces, sheet metal, and plastic parts, intricate large assemblies and more sophisticated multi-page detailed drawings. Build complex surfaces, sheet metal, and plastic parts, intricate large assemblies and more sophisticated multi-page detailed drawings.
Processor (1) Current Generation Intel Core i7 or AMD Ryzen or better. Current Generation Intel Core i7 or AMD Ryzen / Ryzen Pro or better. Fastest Intel Core i9, Xeon, or AMD Ryzen Pro; consider multiple processors in parallel Fastest Intel Core i9, Xeon, or AMD Ryzen Pro; consider multiple processors in parallel
RAM 32GBs or more 32GBs or more 64GB or more 96GB or more
Hard Drive (2) 512GBs+
NVMe PCIe SSD Drive
512GBs+
NVMe PCIe SSD and / or RAID storage solutions.
512GBs+
NVMe PCIe SSD and / or RAID storage solutions.
1TB+
NVMe PCIe SSD and / or RAID storage solutions.
Video
Card (3)
NVIDIA RTX A2000;
AMD Radeon Pro W6300
NVIDIA RTX A4000;
AMD Radeon Pro W6400
NVIDIA RTX A5000;
AMD Radeon Pro W6600
NVIDIA RTX A6000;
AMD Radeon Pro W6800
Operating System Windows 10 Pro (64-bit) Windows 10 Pro (64-bit) Windows 10 Pro (64-bit) Windows 10 Pro (64-bit)
Additional Software Microsoft Office 2021 or newer Microsoft Office 2021 or newer Microsoft Office 2021 or newer Microsoft Office 2021 or newer
Suggested
Desktop
Models
Dell Precision 3460;
HP Z2, Z4;
Lenovo ThinkStation P3
Dell Precision 3660;
HP Z2, Z4, Z6;
LenovoThinkStation P5
Dell Precision 5820;
HP Z6, Z8;
Lenovo ThinkStation P7
Dell Precision 7920;
HP Z8 FURY;
Lenovo ThinkStation P7, PX
Suggested
Laptop
Models
Dell Precision 3581;
HP ZBook Firefly/Fury 15;
Lenovo ThinkPad P14s
Dell Precision 5680;
HP ZBook Firefly/Fury/ Studio, 15, 16;
Lenovo ThinkPad P16s
Dell Precision 7680;
HP ZBook Firefly/Fury/ Studio, 16, 17;
Lenovo ThinkPad P16, P1
Dell Precision 7780;
HP ZBook Firefly/Fury/ Studio, 16, 17;
Lenovo ThinkPad P16, P1

 

  1. Multi-processing can greatly aid rendering and analysis computations.
  2. Requires hard disk space to install application and ample free space for files and swap space (virtual memory).
  3. Consult SOLIDWORKS Hardware Certification page for exact model numbers.

Core Systems Considerations

Processor (CPU)

  • The processor can be the single most influential component to your systems overall performance. Generally speaking, the faster the processor, the faster SOLIDWORKS will perform, but here are some other options to consider.
  • When purchasing a new computer, TriMech would not recommend anything below a current generation Intel Core i7 or a current generation AMD Ryzen processor.
  • Newer series CPUs may show similar clock speeds and cores to previous series CPUs. However, improvements to the overall architecture can yield overall improved performance beyond what raw specifications may indicate.
  • The multiple processors, cores, and hyper-threading that come in today’s processors are not widely utilized within the core SOLIDWORKS modeling application. For general modeling, aim for higher clock speeds over number of cores.
  • Though multi-processing is not heavily utilized within the core SOLIDWORKS modeling program, they can be helpful to run multiple applications simultaneously on your computer.
  • SOLIDWORKS add-ins like SOLIDWORKS Simulation, and SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation do utilize multi-processing capabilities extensively. Prioritize number of cores over clock speed for Simulation workstations.

System Memory (RAM)

System memory is another important component for overall system performance. The amount of RAM directly correlates to the number and size of programs that can run at any given moment on your system. The more RAM you have, the more and larger the programs you can run at peak performance. Not enough system memory results in poor system performance.

  • SOLIDWORKS recommends at least 16 GBs of RAM.
  • TriMech recommends at least 32 GBs of RAM, at least 64 GBs if you are conducting regular FEA and CFD simulations.
  • Additional RAM will not improve performance if sufficient memory space is available. If physical memory resources are exhausted, virtual memory may be used causing poor performance.

Graphics Card

The graphics card is one of the most commonly overlooked component when configuring a SOLIDWORKS workstation. Your graphics  card affects how smoothly the images on screen rotate, zoom, pan, and refresh. Graphics cards can also enable visualization features to display images more realistically.

  • It is highly recommended to purchase a workstation class graphics card to run SOLIDWORKS optimally. Consumer class graphics cards are optimized to play the newest video games, but not to run professional applications like 3D CAD and are the most common source of SOLIDWORKS instability.
  • The SOLIDWORKS Hardware Certification page provides a comprehensive list of supported graphics cards and certified drivers. Some features, like RealView graphical rendering requires a supported card.
  • SOLIDWORKS only supports OpenGL hardware acceleration. Additionally, SOLIDWORKS 2019 and newer leverages OpenGL 4.5 for improved performance with the Enhanced Graphics Performance option enabled.
  • SOLIDWORKS Visualize utilizes different GPU architectures for rendering in hybrid and GPU modes. Refer to SOLIDWORKS Visualize requirements for more information.

Hard Drives

Other than acting as storage space for applications and files, the hard drive can play a vital role in your system’s overall performance.

  • For optimal performance, SOLIDWORKS recommends a high-speed Solid State Drive (SSD). Though older SATA based SSDs will yield a significant improvement over disk based storage, TriMech would recommends newer higher bandwidth NVMe/PCIe over SATA based SSDs.
  • When selecting a drive capacity, allow for a sufficient amount of free space on the drive for virtual memory and scratch space. Drives, especially disk based non-SSDs, run optimally when sufficient “empty” hard drive space is provided.
  • Only Windows-based storage is supported. NAS or SAN storage is not officially tested or supported by SOLIDWORKS.

Javelin SOLIDWORKS Service Advertisement

Want to run SOLIDWORKS on the Cloud?

Javelin's Amazon Web Service (AWS) Certified Experts provide cloud infrastructure and application migration solutions to small and medium sized businesses. Including helping customers setup a cloud based SOLIDWORKS workstation.

Supporting Software Considerations

Operating System

SOLIDWORKS 2024 is only supported under the Windows operating systems.

  • Windows 11 is supported with SW 2022 SP2 and newer.
  • SOLIDWORKS 2020 was the last version that supported Windows 7 SP1, (64bit).
  • eDrawings 2024 is supported under the macOS 12.0 (Monterey) or higher operating systems.
  • Refer to the SOLIDWORKS system requirements page for additional information.

SOLIDWORKS Network License (SNL) Server

Many clients prefer their licenses to be internally networked opposed to activated as standalone licenses. Operating system and hardware requirements for license servers are slightly different than their clients.

  • The 2024 SOLIDWORKS Network License (SNL) Server is only supported under the Windows 10, Windows 11, Windows Server 2016, 2019 and 2022.
  • SOLIDWORKS offers support for certain Virtual Environments. Please review the list of approved virtualized environments on the SOLIDWORKS system requirements page.
  • For Network Licensing, the default setup requires TCP ports 25734 and 25735 to be open through your firewall for license access.

Partner Software

There are related software packages that work with SOLIDWORKS. Certain older versions of these software packages are not supported by these companies in later revisions of SOLIDWORKS. Check with your reseller or the manufacturer of the software for compatibility and support.

  • SOLIDWORKS 2024 supports the use of Microsoft Office 2016 or newer. Word and Excel are needed in order to generate Design Tables, analytical reports, and Excel based BOMs.
  • SOLIDWORKS recommends a trusted antivirus product updated to the latest version. Consider adding exemptions for SOLIDWORKS file types in the antivirus software to improve performance with Open/Save/Save As operations.

SOLIDWORKS PDM 2024 System Requirements

SOLIDWORKS PDM uses SOLIDWORKS SolidNetwork Licensing (SNL). Review the SOLIDWORKS Network License Server requirements in addition to these requirements.

  • For best performance, TriMech highly recommends a dedicated server environment. Other configurations, such as servers with the addition of domain controllers, have been found to introduce variables that should be avoided whenever possible.
  • SOLIDWORKS PDM 2024 Database and Archive servers are only supported in the Windows Server 2019 and 2022 operating system environments.
  • SOLIDWORKS recommends at least 8GB of RAM or more for Archive and Database servers. Consult your TriMech SOLIDWORKS PDM Implementation Professional for recommended memory amounts based on your usage and server configuration.
  • The processor should be a relatively current Intel or AMD processor. Consult your TriMech SOLIDWORKS PDM Implementation Professional for recommended specifications based on your usage and server configuration.
  • SOLIDWORKS PDM Web 2 service requires the Microsoft Internal Information Service (IIS).
  • SOLIDWORKS has recently offered support under certain Virtual Environments. Please review the list of approved virtualized environments on the SOLIDWORKS system requirements page.

eDrawings Requirements

eDrawings 2024 is only supported on Windows 10, Windows 11, macOS 12.0 or newer.

SOLIDWORKS Visualize Requirements

SOLIDWORKS Visualize is a photo rendering and animation application that can utilize both the CPU and GPU for rendering tasks (hybrid mode). Along with the general SOLIDWORKS 2024 hardware recommendations, here are some additional considerations if you plan on using SOLIDWORKS Visualize.

  • For hybrid and GPU based renderings, SOLIDWORKS Visualize leverages NVIDIA iRay support with CUDA 11 or newer based graphics cards
  • SOLIDWORKS Visualize 2022 and newer supports ProRender GPUs found on Radeon and FirePro series graphics cards for hybrid mode.
  • SOLIDWORKS Visualize needs at least 2GBs of GPU memory to enable hybrid rendering modes and at least 4GBs to enable the Denoiser feature. 4GBs or more is recommended.
  • If budget and motherboard allows, consider dual or quad NVIDIA graphics cards to operate rendering and graphics processes in parallel.
  • Check this SOLIDWORKS Visualize Benchmark page for system performance results and additional system configurations recommendations for your SOLIDWORKS Visualize rendering clients.

SOLIDWORKS Network Recommendations

SOLIDWORKS is tested only with Microsoft’s Windows Networking and Active Directory network environments. Novell networks and non-Windows based network storage devices are not tested, supported or recommended.

  • TCP/IP network service is required when using SOLIDWORKS PDM.
  • Client Workstations require a minimum connection speed of 100Mbps for reliable SOLIDWORKS PDM Server Access. WAN environments have special considerations for bandwidth and latency. Consult your TriMech SOLIDWORKS PDM Implementer for additional information.

The post SOLIDWORKS 2024 Hardware Recommendations appeared first on The Javelin Blog.

]]>