Effective electrical design using SOLIDWORKS

Mechanical engineers often find it difficult to develop embedded electrical systems, individual electrical components and other similar products. 

This difficulty isn't solely a result of the complications that arise from the field of electrical design itself, but the need to create multiple physical prototypes and constantly revise the design after garnering feedback from stakeholders and other parties. However, there is another option available in SOLIDWORKS Electrical solutions.

Like other SOLIDWORKS products, the Electrical range of design tools reduces the time needed to create components and products while also offering the same simulation and visualisation options that users of SOLIDWORKS have become accustomed to.

CAD and electrical design

Electrical solutions make up an important part of the SOLIDWORKS portfolio, and they're an excellent choice for mechanical engineers seeking out a capable CAD solution. As with the other SOLIDWORKS offerings, mechanical engineers will find it easy to take a product from an initial drawing through to a complex 3D model. Then, it's even possible to showcase to stakeholders any moving components and demonstrate how particular electrical systems work through visualisation functions.

Given the tendency for electrical components to undergo significant heat duress, the simulation functionality is equally useful. Mechanical engineers can test individual components and materials to find a solution that will meet the needs of a particular environment. 

Below, we'll take a look at the three SOLIDWORKS Electrical solutions available as well as the distinct advantages of each.

SOLIDWORKS Electrical

Each of the following tools can help mechanical engineers accelerate the development of electrical systems for electrical products or other purposes entirely. What's more, this is all within an interface that's easy to use across a range of possible design scenarios.

SOLIDWORKS electrical schematic standard

This is a tool that's designed to make it easy for mechanical engineers to develop embedded electrical systems, whether for machines or other applications. There's an integrated library of well over 500,000 manufactured parts that mechanical engineers can use when developing a new system, enabling them to save a significant amount of time. What's more, users can also duplicate sections of common circuitry to speed up the creation time.

Importantly, teams of mechanical engineers can work on a project concurrently as a way of reducing development time. There are also single-line and multi-line schematic tools available.

This tool is designed for the standalone user – those professionals who don't need to work in a collaborative environment. What's more, it's worth noting that this standard version lacks certain higher level design functionality found in the professional versions listed below.

SOLIDWORKS Electrical Professional

A step up from SOLIDWORKS Electrical, this package combines schematic design capabilities with 3D capabilities. It's a combination of electrical schematic professional and electrical 3D in a single bundle. There are both single-line and multi-line schematic tools available, along with a similar library of thousands of parts. Design teams can also work together to ensure there's no room for error on a project and eliminate time-consuming revisions further down the line.

In what is sure to be a boon for mechanical engineers, all 2D and 3D work is synchronised as mecahnical engineers work (in real time).

SOLIDWORKS Electrical 3D

When it comes time to integrate an electrical schematic design from SOLIDWORKS Electrical to a 3D model, this is the best solution. Mechanical engineers can place 3D versions of electrical parts into models, run wires in 3D and connect electrical equipment.

The field of electrical design isn't exclusive when it comes to utilising the benefits of new and ever more capable CAD software. As we've explained in the past, everything from commercial space travel through to weekend cosplay creation can benefit from the innumerable features and tool sets available in the software.