SolidWorks 2013 has arrived

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Sw2013launch
Every fall, a new version of SolidWorks is unveiled. We’re always really excited about all of the new functionality that goes into every release, and you’ve probably heard that over 90% of enhancements are driven by customer requests. That’s true for 2013 as well, but this year might be a little more exciting than usual.

SolidWorks 2013 includes some really cool new capabilities that customers have been requesting for a while. For example, there are some new  geometry tools that will help you create models faster and easier. These include:

  • Conic Sketch – This gives you full control over shapes for smooth transitions between existing geometries.
  • Intersect Feature – You can quickly add or remove geometry without sketching.
  • Varying Dimension Patterns – Helps you save time creating patterns, increases design flexibility, and reduces the number of features needed for models.
  • Section View Assist – Speeds the creation of production drawings for faster and more consistent section views.

There are also some new tools to help you optimize the performance of a SolidWorks installation and maximize design team productivity. These include:

  • CAD Administrator Dashboard – This helps simplify management and troubleshooting of multiple SolidWorks users within a company from a single aggregated view.
  • Simulation Sub-Modeling and Incremental Meshing – You can more accurately perform precise simulation analysis for specific areas of large and complex models, and do it faster and more efficiently.
  • Network Rendering for PhotoView 360 – This helps you save time with faster rendering of photorealistic images by networking multiple computers to share the computational load.

There are also some new tools that help you work and collaborate with other people on your design team, vendors, and other supply chain partners. These include updates for improved connectivity, enhanced viewing capabilities, and expanded sharing of designs and data, such as:

  • Previous Release Interoperability – Starting with SolidWorks 2013, you can collaborate with customers, suppliers, and internal teams with the ability to open SolidWorks files directly with SolidWorks 2012 (SP5). Users can work more efficiently and improve collaboration and file exchange, reducing delays and easing the transition to the latest release.
  • SolidWorks Enterprise Product Data Management Workflow – Route documents and contact users more efficiently to reduce delays and accelerate time-to-market.
  • DraftSight/SolidWorks Enterprise PDM Integration – Access DWG files within SolidWorks EPM from the DraftSight user interface, and leverage 2D into the design process.
  • eDrawings — You can measure, select and markup  designs from anywhere using a mobile device

You can learn more about SolidWorks 2013 on our website (no registration required), so go check it out. And if you’re interested in attending a live seminar on SolidWorks 2013, visit: https://www.solidworks.com/launch/find-a-seminar.htm

Matthew West

SolidWorks alumnus. I like plate reverb, Rat pedals, Thai curry, New Weird fiction, my kids, Vespas, Jazzmasters, my wife & Raiders of the Lost Ark. Not necessarily in that order.