SolidWorks 2018 Dassault Systèmes' latest version of its 3-D design and engineering software can be used from initial design drawings all the way to automating CNC manufacturing operations of a final product. It includes features for mold makers.
What's new? License flexibility, which allows users to log in from any computer and synchronize their customizations and settings. The user interface now allows freehand pen strokes and gestures to be automatically converted into well-defined shapes, such as circles or squares, on a touch screen. It also supports a wider range of file formats, including ACIS, STEP and IGES.
Benefits Automatic optimization of a design's shape based on such criteria as function or weight. Integrated tools can analyze and correct mold models, ensuring sufficient draft to allow parts to eject properly and optimizing possible parting lines.
Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corp., Waltham, Mass., 781-810-5011, www.solidworks.com
