First off you might be wondering what is 3DEXPERIENCE Works? 3DEXPERIENCE Works is a portfolio of solutions that enable SOLIDWORKS users to connect their data to the cloud-based 3DEXPERIENCE platform to leverage its collaboration and data management capabilities. We refer to these solutions as roles. The portfolio includes both cloud-connected roles that you install on your desktop, such as 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS and fully-browser based roles that run on the platform such as 3D Creator for parametric modeling and 3D Sculptor for subdivision (SubD) modeling.
All of the roles in the 3DEXPERIENCE Works portfolio are created with SOLIDWORKS users in mind. These roles were developed to help them get the most value out of their data and expand their toolsets with specialized solutions for design, simulation, manufacturing, product lifecycle management (PLM) and more.
Here are some of the top reasons you should invest.
- Get the Most Value Out of Your SOLIDWORKS 3D CAD Data
Your investment begins with SOLIDWORKS, and we believe that to get the most value out of your data you must connect your data to the 3DEXPERIENCE platform where you can store, access, share, and collaborate on data conveniently and securely on the cloud. The platform connects people, processes, and data together in a cloud-based environment that is accessible from anywhere, at any time and on any device.
We have two SOLIDWORKS cloud-connected roles that enable you to connect your data the platform: with the aforementioned 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS and SOLIDWORKS with Cloud Services.
Which one is right for you? Both solutions connect your data to the platform, giving you data storage, collaboration, and data management capabilities. For those who want to tap into the platform but want to continue using your existing SOLIDWORKS desktop installation, Cloud Services is the way to go. Or if you are looking for a single solution that combines the SOLIDWORKS CAD capabilities that you know and love with browser-based collaboration and data management, you can choose 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS.
We’ve made connecting your data more accessible than ever by making Cloud Services available with newly purchased licenses of SOLIDWORKS Desktop CAD, enabling you to connect your data to the 3DEXPERIENCE platform.
- Share with ANYONE with Share and Markup Capabilities
One of my favorite capabilities is Share and Markup, which is included with Cloud Services. Whether you need to share 3D models with external suppliers, collaborators, or customers, you can get real-time feedback from ANYONE by simply sharing a link directly from SOLIDWORKS. There is no installation required as it all works from a browser. You can share securely without having to send a physical file. Best of all, you do not have to leave SOLIDWORKS.
- Streamline Your Workflows with the Browser-based Roles and Artificial Intelligence (AI)
You most definitely want to check out our fully browser-based roles: 3D Creator, 3D Sculptor, 3D SheetMetal Creator, 3D Structure Creator, 3D Mold Creator, and Manufacturing Definition Creator. They each have unique purposes and include powerful apps, such as 3D Creator’s xDesign, 3D Sculptor’s xShape and Manufacturing Definition Creator’s xDrawing to help you get specific jobs done. With Manufacturing Definition Creator for example, you can create both model-based definitions and 2D drawings to meet the demands of your manufacturers.
Many of the browser-based roles also feature the Design Assistant, which uses built-in machine learning algorithms that offer design assistance based on your workflows. These AI-powered tools are designed to automate time-consuming and repetitive tasks, such as selecting edges or working with mates, to ultimately help you stay productive and free up time for creativity and the design tasks that need more attention.
The Design Assistant Selection Helper, for example, is a great tool for working with complex shapes and geometry in 3D Sculptor. It saves time from having to make manual selections by offering suggestions on what you should select next, based on the work completed so far. It’s also a nice companion for picking edges, fillets, or chamfers, as it will identify other edges that are similar or symmetrical, are of a comparable length, or are located nearby, and predicts what other edges you are likely to select. If you add another manual selection, the prediction is refined. If you agree with the prediction, one click gives permission, and the Selection Helper automatically picks all suggested edges. You always have the final say either way. Other AI features include the Design Assistant for Sketching, Design Assistant Mate Helper, and the Design Assistant Smart Mate.
- Innovate and Collaborate from Anywhere Together
Getting everyone on the same page can be a huge task during product development, but not when your data is conveniently located in one place on the cloud. The roles in the 3DEXPERIENCE Works portfolio provide tools for structured collaboration, such as design reviews and unstructured collaboration like brainstorming. This creates a single source of truth that connects all stakeholders throughout your product development process. This level of connectivity makes it easy to iterate and innovate across teams, but also provides the structure to ensure projects are meeting or even beating deadlines.
The Lean Team Player role offers a really cool way to collaborate with your team using a digital whiteboard to brainstorm, mark up content, add comments, and sticky notes in a collaborative digital environment. Just imagine four people standing in front of a whiteboard collaborating, but now this happens virtually. You can host a virtual meeting and do all the above and create action items that you can manage and track.
- Keep Your Data in Order
Whether it was a file cabinet or network folder, designers and engineers have always needed a place to store and access data. With your SOLIDWORKS data connected to the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, you get online storage that’s purpose-built to handle CAD relationships and collaboration. You simply save your data to the cloud right from SOLIDWORKS. When working with others, you can lock designs to ensure no one overwrites your work, easily manage revisions, and create detailed markups with redline, measurements, and annotations. There’s always a single source of truth.
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