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      <title>Electromagnetics</title>
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      <description>Electromagnetics</description>
      <lastBuildDate>Tue, 21 Jul 2026 12:00:11 GMT</lastBuildDate>
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      <title>
      <![CDATA[ How SOLIDWORKS Electromagnetic Simulation Tracks Footballs ]]>
      </title>
      <link>https://blog-contrib-prd.itvpc.solidworks.com/products/solidworks/how-solidworks-electromagnetic-simulation-tracks-footballs/</link>
      <guid>https://blogs.solidworks.com/guid/70341</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 14 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <description>
      <![CDATA[ How does electromagnetics affect The Beautiful Game? Virtual prototyping and electromagnetic simulation can optimize your products and the game. Learn how in this blog.
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      <![CDATA[ 
How does technology affect sports? A few decades ago, referees and umpires relied entirely on human eyesight to make critical decisions. Today, technology provides answers instantaneously. We’ve all seen games turned upside-down because referees can view plays from different angles with video. Now, sporting equipment is infused with technology as well.



The match balls at this year’s FIFA World Cup contain embedded sensors that transmit their exact position up to 500 times per second. Combined with stadium tracking systems and video angles, officials now know exactly when a ball crosses the goal line, how fast it travels, and when a player’s foot makes contact. Smart footballs are a real thing.&nbsp;But how do they work?









The Challenge of Designing Smart Footballs



Designers and engineers face major hurdles when placing delicate electronics inside a sports ball. They must design an antenna system that works reliably inside a spinning, deforming sphere. The World Cup match ball features polyurethane outer panels, adhesives, and an internal rubber bladder. All of these materials affect signal transmission. The resonant frequency of an embedded antenna can go off target, the radiation pattern can change, and the efficiency of the antenna itself can drop. And that’s just the start.







Tracking the Ball in a Crowded Stadium



The engineering challenge extends far beyond the ball itself. The antenna and sensors must maintain millimeter accuracy inside a stadium packed with tens of thousands of people, all with their own smart devices. A modern arena acts as a forest of electronic interference. Over a dozen antennas positioned around the field perimeter track the ball. These systems use time and distance of arrival to calculate the exact position of the ball. Engineers must evaluate coverage gaps, edge cases, and placement tradeoffs before they build any physical infrastructure.







Testing Designs with SOLIDWORKS Electromagnetic Simulation



Testing electromagnetic fields presents a unique challenge. Wireless signals are invisible. It’s easy to test a physical prototype: drop it, hit it, run air through or around it. But how do you test what you can’t see? How do you know where electromagnetic waves stop? That’s where&nbsp;Electromagnetics Engineer,&nbsp;the powerful cloud-connected electromagnetics simulation solution on the&nbsp;3DEXPERIENCE platform, comes in.



With this electromagnetics simulation tool, designers and engineers can simulate an antenna in isolation, then place it virtually inside a match ball. They can visualize the electromagnetic fields to see exactly how the antenna interacts with every layer of the ball. If the materials cause a frequency shift, designers and engineers can tune the antenna back to the target frequency.



They can also scale up the simulation to model signal propagation throughout the entire stadium. Electromagnetics Engineer users can place the virtual ball right on the goal line to see how the signal travels, reflects, and reaches each sensor receiver.&nbsp;&nbsp;This advanced virtual prototyping eliminates the need for expensive trial and error.







Design Advanced Products with Virtual Prototyping



As technology rapidly advances, designers and engineers must continually adapt to ensure their products function perfectly in real-world environments.  Whether you are tracking the electromagnetic frequencies at the biggest sporting event on the planet or trying to tune a personal smart device correctly, electromagnetics is becoming more important than ever. Virtual prototyping provides the certainty you need as your technology evolves. With Electromagnetics Engineer, you’re never left unsure of what’s happening on the pitch or inside your products.




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      <title>
      <![CDATA[ How SOLIDWORKS Simulation Drives the Physics of Football ]]>
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      <link>https://blog-contrib-prd.itvpc.solidworks.com/products/solidworks/how-solidworks-simulation-drives-the-physics-of-football/</link>
      <guid>https://blogs.solidworks.com/guid/69696</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 21 May 2026 12:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <description>
      <![CDATA[ How exactly do the physics behind football work? With SOLIDWORKS simulation tools, we learned the science behind the world’s favorite sport.
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      <![CDATA[ 
It’s a fact: the world loves football (or “soccer” in North America). There are over four billion football fans worldwide, and fans’ passion for the sport has led to some of the biggest and most well-attended international tournaments.



It’s a physical sport, both in the literal and metaphorical sense. The feats football players perform with their feet are awe-inspiring, and so is the science behind it.&nbsp;In fact, the history of the sport and the fervor of the fan community inspired us here at SOLIDWORKS.&nbsp;It’s one thing to watch football being played; it’s another thing to understand the physics that makes it work.



We thought about the past, present and future of football. How has the game changed over the centuries (really, millennia) it’s existed? When a soccer player bends it like Beckham, how do the physics behind that kick work? And as data capture and metrics become increasingly important across all sports, how will new electromagnetic components on and off the field affect the game?







Understanding the Physics of Football with SOLIDWORKS



All of these questions and more can be answered with simulation. SOLIDWORKS has a&nbsp;powerful simulation portfolio&nbsp;that covers a range of simulation types. With tools built for engineers and designers and advanced, analyst-ready solutions, the SOLIDWORKS Simulation portfolio can answer the questions physics poses.



We used structural, fluid, and electromagnetic simulations to answer our questions about football. Those answers lead to a better understanding of product design, best engineering practices, and much more. When you understand exactly how a product behaves under real-world conditions, you can optimize its performance without wasting time or resources. And when you understand it using arguably the world’s most popular sport as an example, you can reach your goals (get it?).



In this blog series, we explore how simulation can help you understand football and beyond.







Structural Simulation: Testing and Evolving Gear for Peak Performance



Structural simulation uses finite element analysis (FEA) to predict how a physical structure will respond to external loads. It answers the following questions: Will this product bend, break, or vibrate too much? And if so, what changes can be made to the product design or materials to optimize its performance?



But what about a product that is meant to be kicked? In the first international football tournament back in 1930, footballs were made out of leather. This non-waterproof material could turn into a hazard on the field due to added water weight during rainy games. Combined with the weight and heft of older football cleats, it&#8217;s no wonder materials and designs for footballs have changed so much in the past century.



With&nbsp;SOLIDWORKS Simulation Premium&nbsp;and&nbsp;SOLIDWORKS Simulation Analyst&nbsp;on the cloud, we compared the performance of an old leather ball and a new 2026 match ball. By applying virtual forces that mimicked a powerful kick, we could see exactly how the materials held up and how their evolution led to a better ball.







Flow Simulation: Unraveling the Secrets of Football Aerodynamics



It occurred to us that today’s professional football players are, in fact, masters of physics. By kicking a ball a certain way, with a certain part of their foot, with a certain speed and a certain velocity, they can bend and curve kicks in the air. The physics behind this move comes down to fluid dynamics and the Magnus Effect. This physical phenomenon occurs when a spinning object curves away from its straight flight path as it moves through a fluid, such as air.



Fluid or flow simulation uses computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to test these effects virtually. With&nbsp;SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation, we tested a ball’s flight path and visualized the exact science behind its trajectory, spin, and overall aerodynamics.



By testing different panel shapes, seam depths and surface textures, engineering physics experts can help football-playing physics experts out by designing balls that can be properly controlled and do what the footballer wants them to do. This virtual testing reduces the need for physical prototypes and helps manufacturers create products that perform consistently in all weather conditions.







Electromagnetic Simulation: Making the Invisible Visible



The future of all sports, including football, is infused with technology. Making crucial calls in professional sports requires split-second decision-making that can affect the outcome of a match. Now, with embedded sensors, antennas, and other electronic equipment, game data no longer relies solely on a referee&#8217;s eyes. Modern football now incorporates smart tracking technology directly into balls, player wearables, and stadiums.



But today, everyone has a smart device, from their phones to their watches to their glasses. How do you test and ensure the right data is tracked in a stadium with over 60,000 cheering fans?



Enter&nbsp;Electromagnetics Engineer, powered by CST Studio Suite. We used this powerful electromagnetic simulation tool to analyze antenna performance inside a match ball to ensure the signal remained strong and clear. While electromagnetic signals may be invisible to the naked eye, virtual testing software makes it easy to gather data about what happens to a ball when it gets kicked into, or just misses, a goal.







Beyond the Field: Simulation’s Impact on Product Development



The physics of football was a fun and engaging subject to apply SOLIDWORKS simulation tools. The same simulation technologies that optimize a spinning ball or smart tracking chip translate directly to other demanding industries.



Boat manufacturers&nbsp;use flow simulation to reinvent boat building.&nbsp;Medical device designers&nbsp;use structural simulation to ensure implants can withstand body movements.&nbsp;Aerospace companies&nbsp;test antenna performance and placement to guarantee reliable communication in flight. The broad capabilities of these simulation solutions help organizations across the globe reduce costs, speed up development and produce higher-quality products.



Do you use simulation in your design process? Are you interested in learning how? Stay tuned for deeper dives into how SOLIDWORKS simulation solutions transform football (or soccer, again, for our North American friends) and how they can transform your product development process as well.&nbsp;Visit our website&nbsp;to learn more about world-class simulation and world-class football.



Next up, we’ll delve into the history of football and how structural simulation can empirically show the reasons why changing product materials can help you reach your goals.












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      <![CDATA[ Design Beyond the Status Quo with Intelligent ECAD Software ]]>
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      <link>https://blog-contrib-prd.itvpc.solidworks.com/products/solidworks/design-beyond-the-status-quo-with-intelligent-ecad-software/</link>
      <guid>https://blogs.solidworks.com/guid/21214</guid>
      <pubDate>Fri, 05 Dec 2025 13:00:42 GMT</pubDate>
      <description>
      <![CDATA[ Are your electrical design tools helping you—or holding you back? Traditional ECAD…
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      <![CDATA[ Are your electrical design tools helping you—or holding you back?For years, electrical design tools have been stuck in the past. Traditional, unintelligent tools have been the go-to for many teams, but let’s be honest—they’re not cutting it anymore. These outdated tools create inefficiencies, slow down workflows, and leave too much room for human error.Think about it: how many hours have you spent manually updating wire numbers or double-checking documentation? How often have you struggled to get needed feedback from your mechanical team design counterparts because your tools are not integrated? These are the hidden costs of sticking with the status quo, and they’re holding your team—and your business—back.Eventually, there comes a point where the historical reliance on these non-integrated and unintelligent electrical design tools can no longer be justified. That point may be coming a lot sooner than you think. Traditional, unintegrated tools carry a host of hidden costs that ultimately hurt your bottom line and your engineers’ productivity. Your teams are better than the status quo, and they need tools that match their skill level and enable them to design to their fullest potential. Unfortunately, many traditional ECAD tools set the ceiling too low.With frustrating workflows, excessive mouse clicks required to complete simple tasks, hours of manual documentation auditing, and impeded collaboration, non-parametric ECAD tools often do more harm than good. Yet, organizations often maintain outdated systems simply because they perceive the ease of sticking with the status quo. Still, at some point, you might have to ask yourself: Why impose limitations on your ability to design to your fullest potential?Here’s the good news: there’s a better way. Enter intelligent electrical design tools.Intelligent ECAD tools bring you beyond the status quo and into the next era of electrical design. To keep up with the demands of today’s engineering field, you and your team need to be equipped with modern, intelligent, and integrated tools. Cutting-edge design requires cutting-edge technology and real-time integration between mechanical and electrical design environments. Intelligent ECAD tools—like SOLIDWORKS Electrical—empower engineers to innovate without the boundaries imposed by stagnant, unintelligent tools.Unlike traditional tools, intelligent ECAD software is designed to streamline your workflow, minimize errors, and facilitate seamless collaboration. These tools automate tedious tasks, such as documentation updates and BOM generation, giving you back valuable time to focus on innovation. Plus, they integrate with mechanical design environments, ensuring that your entire team is always on the same page.Imagine being able to:
        Automatically update wire numbers and documentation in seconds.
        Reuse circuit designs without worrying about manual edits.
        Collaborate effortlessly with your mechanical team in real time.
That’s the power of intelligent electrical design tools. They don’t just make your job easier—they make your entire process smarter, faster, and more efficient.Don’t settle for “good enough.” If you’re ready to move beyond the status quo, discover how intelligent tools can take your electrical design process to the next level, past the limitations of traditional ECAD tools, and into the next era of electrical design. ]]>
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      <![CDATA[ Music is Magic: Creating a Custom Chair ]]>
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      <link>https://blog-contrib-prd.itvpc.solidworks.com/products/solidworks/music-is-magic-creating-a-custom-chair/</link>
      <guid>https://blogs.solidworks.com/guid/22638</guid>
      <pubDate>Mon, 14 Oct 2024 12:00:40 GMT</pubDate>
      <description>
      <![CDATA[ The SOLIDWORKS Magic Wheelchair build team is back at it again, designing…
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      <![CDATA[ The SOLIDWORKS Magic Wheelchair build team has built to-scale replicas of real things before. When Savannah’s family requested the judges’ chair from The Voice, a popular singing competition, Albert Hernandez took to SOLIDWORKS 3D CAD with Cloud Services to get the design started.He began by examining photos of the real chair from the TV show, which is rather large and spins when a button is hit. For Savannah’s safety, we decided to remove the spin mechanism, but Albert still wanted to make it as true to the show as possible while making it right for Savannah.To do this, he changed the aspect ratio of the chair. This way it would fit around Savannah’s wheelchair and be appropriate for her height and size.Albert designed the costume’s model as one solid piece. Knowing the chair would be manufactured out of foam, he sliced the chair into 2-inch pieces so teammate Sal Lama could machine the pieces on his CNC machine.He also designed spots for magnets. Magic Wheelchair build teams have to get creative with how their epic costumes will fit together around the child’s wheelchair, and the SOLIDWORKS team has had great success with magnets. Learning from previous builds, Albert designed extra magnet spots so the team could pick and choose the best places for connection when the costume was actually put together.For 3D-printed pieces, Albert had to make sure everything was 6-7 cubic inches large so they could fit on the print beds. He had to redesign the 3D-printed pieces a few times; as all engineers know, while parts may look good in CAD, in real life, there can be complications. When some of the 3D-printed pieces, like the U-shape around the chair and the racing stripes, didn’t fit correctly, the team had to decide if they would fix it manually or redo the CAD and reprint. “Most of the time, it’s easier to change the CAD and reprint the part,” said Albert. And, so they did.Once all the foam was properly cut, the team got to work stacking them on top of each other in the correct orientation. How were those foam pieces kept together? With glue and skewers—easy stuff. The costume then had to be hand-shaped into the organic lines from the original chair; David Law and Annie Cheung took the lead on shaping the foam. After that, they cut the costume into three pieces so it could be assembled around Savannah’s wheelchair, and then it was time for hand coating and painting.When asked which piece of the chair costume Albert liked the most, he said the footrest. “When we went to the dry fit, Savannah’s feet were hanging in the air,” he said. “We thought we measured correctly so the base could be the footrest, but we were off by a couple of inches.” In order for Savannah to be comfortable and not have the pressure on her legs, Albert designed the footrest. To personalize the costume a bit more—Savannah’s name was on the back of the chair, like  The Voice judge—Albert added Savannah’s initials to the front of the footrest and made her name shine.A piece of the costume Albert was also proud of was the electronics box. “It’s the first one we put in that fit,” he laughed. The chair’s frame is much smaller than previous builds, so there was nowhere to hide an electronics box like previous costumes; the box had to fit well. This time, he accounted for the electronics box and tucked it into the front of the frame. The box is designed to hold two PCBs and has places for a power supply and wires. The top of the box is magnetically attached, and the whole box is velcroed onto the base.Overall, Albert thought the design came out really well. Looking at the final costume and how it shone in the Salem Haunted Happenings Parade, it’s hard to disagree.Stay tuned to learn more about how the rest of the costume came together—the central podium, the electronics that brought the costume to life, and much more.Help support Magic Wheelchair and amazing kiddos like Savannah!SOLIDWORKS worked hard to make Savannah the most incredible costume ever and help the non-profit Magic Wheelchair achieve its goal of providing kids in wheelchairs with epic costumes and experiences. SOLIDWORKS and the 3DEXPERIENCE Lab are funding Savannah’s costume build in its entirety, but we invite our readers to support Magic Wheelchair in Savannah’s name! If you visit her classy.org page, you can donate directly to Magic Wheelchair and help support them and all the lives they touch with their great work.Read about our previous Magic Wheelchair builds here. ]]>
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      <title>
      <![CDATA[ What’s New in SOLIDWORKS – Design and Modeling R2024x FD02 ]]>
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      <link>https://blog-contrib-prd.itvpc.solidworks.com/products/solidworks/whats-new-in-solidworks-design-and-modeling-r2024x-fd02/</link>
      <guid>https://blogs.solidworks.com/guid/23129</guid>
      <pubDate>Wed, 08 May 2024 12:00:31 GMT</pubDate>
      <description>
      <![CDATA[ New SOLIDWORKS CAD enhancements are available now! The SOLIDWORKS April update includes…
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      <![CDATA[ New SOLIDWORKS CAD enhancements are available now! Did you know you no longer have to wait for an annual release to start using the latest features of SOLIDWORKS, including CAD, collaboration and data management enhancements? That’s right. The latest update of SOLIDWORKS (R2024x functional delivery 02) just dropped in April, and the enhancements are available now!These enhancements apply to 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS, SOLIDWORKS with Cloud Services, and SOLIDWORKS 3D CAD with Collaborative Designer for SOLIDWORKS.The latest update includes selection accelerators for chamfers to speed up selecting edges, the ability to delete items from below the Rollback bar in the FeatureManager Design Tree, electrical and mechanical design and collaboration enhancements and much more.Selection Toolbar for Chamfers – boost efficiency and save time when selecting edges.You all are going to love this one as there is a new Selection toolbar within the Chamfer command that enables you to automate selections for edges with Selection Accelerators. For instance, you can turn on the command to have it only pick outer or inner edges or edges outside of a face, or inner edges on extrusions. As you hover over the icons in the toolbar it will show you all the ways you can select edges, saving you time from manually selecting say thirty edges for example.This is similar to the capability that already exists when working with fillets. You’ll find it will speed up and simplify your design process, allowing more room for you to design and innovate.This one is my personal favorite, by the way, and I bet the next one on the list is going to be a favorite for you all as well.Leverage new Selection Accelerators in the Chamfer command to rapidly select edges.Delete Items Below Rollback Bar – save time and eliminate mouse clicks.Yes, just as the subhead states, you can now delete items below the Rollback Bar from the FeatureManager Design Tree! You know longer have to roll the bar forward as you can simply scroll down and delete the features you no longer need.Delete items that have been suppressed below the Rollback Bar in the FeatureManager Design Tree.Turkish Language Support – enable more intuitive and efficient workflows for Turkish speaking users.This latest update also adds support for the Turkish language enriching language compatibility.Additional language options include Turkish language support.Select Simulation Add-ins During Installation – get access to analysis tools faster.Streamline the integration of SOLIDWORKS Simulation and SOLIDWORKS Motion into SOLIDWORKS Connected by selecting these add-ins during installation, bypassing manual activation steps.This will enhance productivity by automatically installing add-ins, which simplifies license management and ensures immediate access to simulation and motion analysis tools.Add SOLIDWORKS Simulation and SOLIDWORKS Motion add-ins more quickly.MCAD/ECAD Integration – easily access electrical tools and collaborate more quickly.There are several enhancements that expand accessibility and collaboration for mechanical and electrical design.For starters, we’ve extended the use of the CircuitWorks add-in for SOLIDWORKS to those with Standard licenses, which was already available for Professional and Premium licenses. This will enable electrical and mechanical engineers to collaborate on printed circuit boards (PCBs) that fit and function in SOLIDWORKS assemblies.Those with Standard licenses will now have unrestricted access to CircuitWorks, enabling more flexible circuit board design workflows.We’ve also improved on collaboration between MCAD and ECAD design by giving electrical engineers the ability to make a modification on a circuit board model and send it back to the mechanical engineer so they can update it.In addition, CircuitWorks now processes copper trace data from ECAD to SOLIDWORKS, resulting in an accurate materials stack-up in the printed circuit board. The layers consist of thin copper pathways or traces and holes plated in copper, called vias, on the PCB that act like wires to connect all the components on the top and bottom of the board, which will provide a much more accurate representation of the printed circuit board and how it’s built and how it’s made.You can access all the copper geometry right in SOLIDWORKS, enabling proper mass, thermal, structural, shock, and electromagnetic analyses.Unsolved Prefix Displays for Suppressed Mates – understand mate status more quickly.In the FeatureManager Design Tree, you can quickly see mate status and identify which mates have been suppressed manually by the user, and which mates have been suppressed automatically because the components could not be found or because components have been fixed.This will provide more insight about mate status, speeding up assembly design and help you diagnose problems sooner.Understand mate status more easily with the ability to identify why a mate has been suppressed in the FeatureManager Design Tree.Origin Control for New Subassemblies – speed up assembly design by eliminating the need for manual workarounds.You can now specify the origin for a subassembly. Options include selecting the origin of the parent, the first selected component, or a point or vertex.Select an origin when creating a subassembly.Maximize Design Clarity for IFC Exports – provide a clearer representation of IFC exports.Exported IFC models will now be more accurately represented. For example, exported files will display planar faces instead of multiple coplanar facets, and instead of multiple coplanar facets you’ll get a more accurate representation of a cylinder.This will improve the downstream use of SOLIDWORKS data and eliminate interpretation errors through improved visual display when importing SOLIDWORKS models using IFC.Get a more accurate representation for IFC exports.3D Sketching with Quick Spline Control – manipulate splines faster and improve routing editing.You now have more control on splines as you can activate the Sketcher Triad Control by double-clicking on a spline to manipulate it faster.Create highly stylized designs with organic shapes more quickly with the ability to double click on splines and manipulate them.Select Small Components with Ease In LDR Mode – get a closer look at small components to make selections and add mates.While working in Large Design Review (LDR) mode, you can more easily make selections on small or obscured components in a complex assembly with the Component Preview capability to focus in on a specific area.Stay focused on your design and eliminate unnecessary mouse manipulations and frustrating selection errors when mating components.This feature is currently available in Regular assembly mode, and if you recall LDR mode enables you to open large assemblies faster as it opens just the geometry without all the parametric information.Get a closer look at small components with the ability to designate it in a larger view in LDR mode.To learn about the collaboration and data management enhancements now available in 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS, SOLIDWORKS with Cloud Services, and SOLIDWORKS 3D CAD with Collaborative Designer for SOLIDWORKS see this blog: What’s New in SOLIDWORKS – Collaboration and Data Management R2024x FD02 or watch the video below. ]]>
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      <![CDATA[ in-tech GmbH Eliminates Prototypes and Cuts Delivery Times by 66 Percent with SOLIDWORKS ]]>
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      <link>https://blog-contrib-prd.itvpc.solidworks.com/products/solidworks/in-tech-gmbh-eliminates-prototypes-and-cuts-delivery-times-by-66-percent-with-solidworks/</link>
      <guid>https://blogs.solidworks.com/guid/26469</guid>
      <pubDate>Fri, 02 Jul 2021 12:00:16 GMT</pubDate>
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      <![CDATA[ in-tech GmbH leverages SOLIDWORKS to provide higher quality products, reduce prototypes, and…
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      <![CDATA[ in-tech GmbH develops innovative electronic systems that support automation and connectivity for the automotive, industrial, and transportation sectors. The company employs around 1,500 engineers, software developers, and technicians in eight countries.The company’s products include electronic systems that make testing of automotive systems more efficient, accurate, and reliable. Its orangeSwitch, for example, enables automated switching between tests of electronic control units (ECUs).
“We’ve been able provide our customers with a higher-quality product while simultaneously growing sales and profit margins—a win for us and a win for our customers.”
-Julian Renz, Lead EngineerThis functionality facilitates switching between tests from one real-time virtual simulation of an ECU-controlled system to another without manual intervention, which allows for testing during off-hours while supporting all common testing-automation frameworks.Because the original orangeSwitch was developed as a custom product for each customer’s particular need, its production became inefficient. The original version included a plastic enclosure and a breadboard that had to be prototyped. Also, each unit had to be soldered and wired by hand. This tedious manual assembly process was prone to error, and difficult to troubleshoot and repair.To save time and money, enhance quality and appearance, and increase customer satisfaction, Lead Engineer Julian Renz explains, “we decided to completely redesign the orangeSwitch as a standard product with a modular design requiring little customization, for which we needed better-integrated, automated design tools.”After in-tech obtained SOLIDWORKS® 3D mechanical design software, the orangeSwitch redesign team added SOLIDWORKS Electrical design software, and later SOLIDWORKS PCB electronic design software to create the electrical systems, schematics, and printed circuit board (PCB) required for the redesign. “They [the software] are easy to use, integrated with SOLIDWORKS mechanical design, and provide the capabilities that we needed,” says Renz.Integrating Electromechanical modular designBecause SOLIDWORKS mechanical, electrical, and electronic design tools are integrated, in-tech completed the design without a prototype, and with only one revision. The product circuit board was created with SOLIDWORKS PCB, the electrical schematics and cable harnessing with SOLIDWORKS Electrical, and the mechanical housing with SOLIDWORKS CAD.“In particular, we valued the comprehensive design rules and online design routing check (DRC)in SOLIDWORKS PCB and the simplified yet informative schematics diagrams created in SOLIDWORKS Electrical software,” Renz recounts. Now only configuration of the cable harness is necessary for customer-specific customization.Reduce delivery lead times and increase profit marginsMinimal customization on each orangeSwitch enabled in-tech to achieve its primary goal of reducing delivery time. Before the redesign, it took six to eight weeks to deliver each customized switch. Now in-tech can deliver a switch in two weeks.The orangeSwitch redesign and subsequent market launch created a better product, increased sales, and improved profit margins. “Using SOLIDWORKS electromechanical solutions to redesign the orangeSwitch improved the overall look and performance of the product, which helps us make a more professional impression,” explains Renz.Renz concludes, “We’ve been able provide our customers with a higher-quality product while simultaneously growing sales and profit margins—a win for us and a win for our customers.”Learn how you can reduce delivery times and increase your profit margins by implementing SOLIDWORKS electromechanical solutions by reading the full case study here. ]]>
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      <![CDATA[ Webinar: Unified Fluids and Electrical Design ]]>
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      <link>https://blog-contrib-prd.itvpc.solidworks.com/products/solidworks/webinar-unified-fluids-and-electrical-design/</link>
      <guid>https://blogs.solidworks.com/guid/54363</guid>
      <pubDate>Fri, 16 Apr 2021 12:00:37 GMT</pubDate>
      <description>
      <![CDATA[ Sign up for next week’s webinar, “Unified Fluid and Electrical Design with…
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      <![CDATA[ It is not obvious to many SOLIDWORKS Electrical users that besides 2D Schematics, Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&#038;ID) can also be included to document piping and associated parts of a physical process flow.Uses for P&#038;ID include documenting schemes for sequences for startup, controlled shutdown of equipment, requirements for safety and regulation, maintenance and general operational understanding of your system.Next week’s webinar entitled “Unified Fluid and Electrical Design with SOLIDWORKS Electrical – A Customer’s Perspective” discusses why an integrated environment is superior to using dissimilar tools. We will provide an overview of SOLIDWORKS Fluids and P&#038;ID design and discuss how mechanical, fluids and electrical engineers can easily collaborate in real time. We will also cover automatic generation of complete project reports, BOMs, Wire lists and Pipe schedules as well as how to catch errors using interference detection with Design Rule Checks.We also have on hand a guest speaker, Chris Kregoski of WoodWest Controls, a longtime SOLIDWORKS Electrical user. Chris started WoodWest Controls in 2014 after spending 9 years installing avionics in aircraft. He has won several international avionics wiring competitions and brought these skills to the automation industry serving Fortune 1000 companies.Chris gives us an in-depth look at one of his recent projects that incorporates both electrical schematics multi-line diagrams with P&#038;ID. He will show the process he went through and the benefits of having tools to easily modify and maintain documents to share with others involved in the project.Register today and join us on Tuesday, April 20th 1:00 – 2:00 PM EDT https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1797582078502401807 ]]>
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      <![CDATA[ SOLIDWORKS 2021 Design Enhancements “Live” and in Action ]]>
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      <link>https://blog-contrib-prd.itvpc.solidworks.com/products/solidworks/solidworks-2021-design-enhancements-live-and-in-action/</link>
      <guid>https://blogs.solidworks.com/guid/27091</guid>
      <pubDate>Wed, 04 Nov 2020 13:00:34 GMT</pubDate>
      <description>
      <![CDATA[ See many of the performance enhancements and expanded functionalities that you have…
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      <![CDATA[ SOLIDWORKS 2021 became available for download in October. This release includes performance enhancements and expanded functionalities that improve workflows for design, documentation, data management, validation, and manufacturing.Below is a video preview of many of the top design enhancements in 2021. Simply click the link to see your favorite enhancements in action.Detailing Mode for DrawingsDetailing Mode is the fastest way to open and detail drawings. It is especially effective when working with drawings of large assemblies or when dealing with large multi-sheet drawings. In SOLIDWORKS 2021, many enhancements have been in the areas of detailing and view creation.Assembly PerformanceSOLIDWORKS 2021 delivers improvements to assemblies in both performance and function. Check out the new capabilities and improved functionality.Assembly Productivity ToolsAs you spend time working on assemblies in SOLIDWORKS 2021, you will find more streamlined tools to help you assemble, pattern, and analyze your assemblies.Improved User ExperienceWith every release of SOLIDWORKS, we strive to improve your design experience. Check out these new capabilities, which originate directly from your enhancement requests.Drawing PerformanceSee a side by side comparison of SOLIDWORKS 2020 compared to SOLIDWORKS 2021—it is a validation of the work we are doing regarding increased performance.PartsSOLIDWORKS 2021 introduces many enhancements to extend the already robust capabilities when working with parts including sheet metal, 3MF support, and new capabilities for weldments.3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKSAs a CAD designer, you’ve always required the most powerful workstations on the market. But with more of us working remotely than ever before, you may need a more flexible environment. Your investment in SOLIDWORKS lays the foundation to work from the cloud by leveraging 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS.3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS is the SOLIDWORKS desktop software you know, plus the 3DEXPERIENCE cloud capabilities that help keep you productive and connected regardless of location. And the platform keeps all your data in synch automatically.Wait! There’s MorePlease check out these other great videos as well, covering other significant enhancements made in SOLIDWORKS 2021!Model-Based DefinitionSOLIDWORKS ElectricalSOLIDWORKS ManageSOLIDWORKS Flow SimulationSOLIDWORKS PlasticsSOLIDWORKS SimulationeDrawingsRoutingSOLIDWORKS VisualizeSOLIDWORKS ComposerSOLIDWORKS PDMSOLIDWORKS CAMTo learn more or ask questions or get a demo of SOLIDWORKS 2021, contact your local reseller. Also, check out What’s New in SOLIDWORKS 2021, including videos and descriptions, at https://www.solidworks.com/product/whats-new. ]]>
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      <![CDATA[ The Value of a “Body Double” During the Coronavirus Pandemic ]]>
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      <link>https://blog-contrib-prd.itvpc.solidworks.com/products/solidworks/the-value-of-a-body-double-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic/</link>
      <guid>https://blogs.solidworks.com/guid/27766</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 28 Apr 2020 12:00:37 GMT</pubDate>
      <description>
      <![CDATA[ Double Robotics communication tools are more vital than ever as social distancing…
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      <![CDATA[ Communication tools are more vital than ever as social distancing and isolation help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.Marc DeVidts and David Cann of Double Robotics invented their telepresence videoconferencing robot to provide companies, schools, and even surgeons a seamless ability to act as the operator’s “body double,” thereby enabling a deeper connection to their colleagues, fellow students, and patients by giving them a physical presence when they can’t be there in person.Little did they know how critical their invention would become during the worldwide Coronavirus pandemic in 2020.Now the self-driving, two-wheeled robot operated via an iPad is helping doctors and nurses deliver medical care and connecting loved ones with family members in isolation or quarantine. Hospitals and nursing homes are increasingly using the Double 3 robot to provide patient visits without fear of spreading the coronavirus. The company has been seeing a surge in orders as coronavirus fears ramp up across the country.Double Robotics is building units as fast as they can. A pretty grand chapter in a story that begins like those of many start-ups. Engineering CuriosityFrom a very early age, DeVidts was always taking things apart, such as TVs, VCRs, and computers, which drove his mother crazy, though she supported him (as long as he didn’t kill himself). However, there was no shop class in his college-prep high school, let alone a STEM program for a kid with a high aptitude for engineering.Fortunately, at age 17, he happened upon BattleBots, the TV show that promotes building cool robots and competing against other people’s cool robots, all while advocating the engineering behind it all. He knew that he had found his life’s path. To fund his passion, he began to earn money to build robots and compete on BattleBots, where he got to know and learn from the hundreds of helpful engineers in the robot community.DeVidts was inspired to up his game by learning from these super-smart engineers—some from NASA—at BattleBots competitions. Building robots for an event involves more than design and engineering skills; builders must learn project management as well as event and logistics planning. Plus, most participants must raise funds and attract sponsors to buy the expensive components needed to realize their designs.Fuel the FireWhen Hurricane Katrina shut down the college DeVidts was attending, he had time to reflect on what he was not learning at school. He needed to fuel his passion, so he refocused with a job in software programming in Miami while continuing to connect with new people at BattleBots competitions.When he connected with someone from a medical device company that needed a software guy to bridge the gap between hardware and software, he found an environment where he could learn. Among other skills, he learned 3D printing and CNC machining, and was challenged to build with freedom.DeVidts happened to meet David Cann in Miami at a BattleBots event. They learned they had great synergy: DeVidts with hardware (electrical/embedded systems engineering) and Cann with software (design and iOS development). They co-founded a start-up Double Robotics with the mission of developing robots with a seamless user experience.Discovering the NeedInitially, their goal was to create the next big thing in the toy industry. They found, however, when doing contract work with remote customers and setting up manufacturing overseas that they needed a better communication tool than what was available with Skype and FaceTime. Telepresence robots existed, but they cost $17,000—far more than a two-person startup with no funding could afford, so they set out to make a better and more affordable communication tool.They amplified their engineering skills by using the iPad as the brains of the robot and designing the prototype in SOLIDWORKS®, which helped accelerate the design process. They drove their prototype around outside an Apple conference “to get some attention.” Eventually, they ended up getting phone calls from Fortune 500 companies wanting their invention.Product to MarketDouble Robotics began shipping in May 2013. The company continually improves and innovates its mechanical design elements and electronics to meet its customers’ needs and to stay ahead of the competition.The most recent robot iteration, Double 3, comes with a built-in tablet screen and has enough sensors that users can just point and click where they want to go within the robot’s field of vision. The Double 3 will glide on over, avoiding objects and edges along the way.To achieve their design goals and meet project schedules, the mechanical and electronic design teams regularly collaborate on design intent and critical design changes to ensure the correct form and fit of the electronics systems and mechanical housing. “SOLIDWORKS was our first choice for software look to rapidly iterate on our designs,” says DeVidts.Most product design workflows separate or segment electronics and mechanical design software, making this type of ECAD-MCAD collaboration challenging. Double Robotics implemented SOLIDWORKS PCB to create an intelligent, seamless, collaborative environment that eliminates the communication gap between electronics and mechanical teams and significantly improves its ECAD-MCAD workflow while saving time and money.“We are really excited to have SOLIDWORKS PCB where we can collaborate with SOLIDWORKS mechanical bringing the electrical engineers into the equation.” DeVidts continues: “That collaboration between the mechanical and electrical amplifies what you’re able to do….”A Solution for the TimesWhat started as a toy company became a telepresence videoconferencing robot company that now, among other things, helps families and doctors connect with those severely ailing from the novel coronavirus who would otherwise not be able to talk to or see their family.“We’re excited about the future of SOLIDWORKS and the path that they’re taking to bring the whole experience together into one piece of software,” concludes DeVidts. ]]>
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      <![CDATA[ ECAD Solutions Town Hall Mini-Series ]]>
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      <link>https://blog-contrib-prd.itvpc.solidworks.com/products/solidworks/ecad-solutions-town-hall-mini-series/</link>
      <guid>https://blogs.solidworks.com/guid/27785</guid>
      <pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2020 12:00:19 GMT</pubDate>
      <description>
      <![CDATA[ Learn how you can unite your electrical and mechanical design teams with…
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      <![CDATA[ Completing a project safely and with zero errors is always the goal of product designers. How we reach that goal, however, can sometimes prove to be difficult. That’s where SOLIDWORKS ECAD Solutions come into play.The collaboration and communication features of our ECAD tools are an important aspect when trying to efficiently and effectively work with the rest of our team.The SOLIDWORKS ECAD Solutions Technical Team is conducting a town hall-style, webinar mini-series that combines the use of SOLIDWORKS Electrical, SOLIDWORKS PCB, SOLIDWORKS PDM, the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform, SOLIDWORKS Simulation, and even SOLIDWORKS Visualize.Be sure to join us on Cinco de Mayo, May 5th, as we coordinate and demonstrate a successful workflow while utilizing these tools over the course of two consecutive webinars. We will be taking a deeper dive into the software to show you where you can gain value and make you and your team’s collaborative experience even better. In addition, we will have several subject matter experts on hand to  answer your questions and show potential solutions live during the webinar.Join us for our SOLIDWORKS ECAD Town Hall Mini-Series:
Session 1 – Project Creation and Initial Workflow
Tuesday May 5th at 1:00 PM ETD
Session 2 – Design, Analysis, and Finalizing Documentation
Tuesday May 19th at 1:00 PM ETDTo register for both sessions, click here.  ]]>
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