What new Features would you like to see in Solidworks?

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john12

john12

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I have a couple that I can think of, off the top of my head (or maybe these exist but I'm just not using it properly):

1. Automatic centrepoint for rectangular faces. Currently when you hover over the edge of a circular face you get the little centremark pop up and can then use that as a relation. It would be great if you could also do this with rectangular and square faces. I seem to spend half my life drawing centrelines across these square faces and then picking up the midpoint!

2. The ability to do basic linear patterns from within the Extrude/Cut tools. So, if you have a beam with three cut-outs in it, currently you have to make three separate cut features, or make one and then pattern it. It would be great if you could do this directly from the Cut Extrude/Extrude Boss/Base feature.

Anyone got any others?
 
Backwards compatibility. BACKWARDS COMPATIBILITY!!!! *breath*

Oh, also, not crashing would be real nice.
 
Hah, so the crashing thing isn't just me! Especially when doing bloody Fillets!

Backwards compatibility... I'm not sure that would work due to new Features in newer versions, although I'm sure they could write some way of simplifying the Feature Tree!
Anyway, I've heard that in SW2019 they've completely rewritten a lot of a code, so maybe it's coming in a future release (but they like you to have to upgrade all the time!)
 
john12 said:
1. Automatic centrepoint for rectangular faces. Currently when you hover over the edge of a circular face you get the little centremark pop up and can then use that as a relation. It would be great if you could also do this with rectangular and square faces. I seem to spend half my life drawing centrelines across these square faces and then picking up the midpoint!
Click to expand...

You can connect to straight line centers. From the left there is a panel when you select a point of one line and the body of another becomes several methods of snapping. Binding to the center, matching, parallelism, coliniarity and so on. With this menu, you can easily snap lines to the center of other lines.

john12 said:
2. The ability to do basic linear patterns from within the Extrude/Cut tools. So, if you have a beam with three cut-outs in it, currently you have to make three separate cut features, or make one and then pattern it. It would be great if you could do this directly from the Cut Extrude/Extrude Boss/Base feature.
Click to expand...

You can create them with an array of components.
 
Yeah, I was thinking more about snapping to the centre of rectangular faces without drawing extra lines. I know you can pick up the actual point with the snap lines, but it doesn't usually add a relation in the same way as the circular centrepoint does (maybe I have it set up wrong).

Could you tell me a little more about Array? Is that an actual Feature, or do you just mean by using a multiple Features?
 
The New features would like to see in Solidworks are:
1. NEW 3D TEXTURE TOOL
  • Convert patterns from an image file into 3D geometry automatically

  • Output mesh geometry directly for downstream manufacturing processes

  • New slicer feature provides workflows to develop solid geometry from mesh models
2. IMPROVED EDITING WITH LARGE ASSEMBLY TOOLS
  • Large Design Review (LDR) mode now supports a number of editing actions

  • Access and edit mates, add and remove components, and change configurations

  • While seeing excellent system performance, leverage magnetic mates and reference geometry for a quick layout of large facilities and plants
3. ENHANCED GRAPHICAL PERFORMANCE
  • SOLIDWORKS 2019 takes advantage of the latest graphics card technology for GPU processing of a graphical display

  • Manipulate large assemblies without experiencing delays or compromising visual quality.

  • Similar technology powers the new AI Denoiser in SOLIDWORKS Visualize
4. MODEL-BASED DEFINITION (MBD) FOR SHEET METAL PARTS
  • SOLIDWORKS MBD outputs now capture sheet metal bend notes, flat patterns, and bend tables (requires SOLIDWORKS MBD)

  • Assembly-level PMI is now available for all SOLIDWORKS users, and PMI for parts and assemblies can be imported into SOLIDWORKS Composer

  • Also allows secure password-protected 3D PDF creation with control over printing, copying and
5. IMPROVED TOPOLOGY STUDY CONSTRAINTS FOR GENERATIVE DESIGN
  • Perform generative part design considering strength, stiffness, and now frequency constraints

  • Design optimal geometry to meet product performance goals, with more input options

  • Leverage mesh modeling tools in SOLID- WORKS to prepare generative designs for additive manufacturing processes
6. ENHANCED EDRAWINGS OUTPUT FORMATS
  • eDrawings Viewer now includes measure, markup, comment capability

  • Improved performance, including support for GPU processing

  • eDrawings Pro enables direct export to 3D HTML, as well as formats to support AR/VR devices
7. DIRECT 3D MARKUP TOOLS
  • Add markup and notes directly to your 3D model

  • Support for pen and touch interfaces for quick and natural design commenting

  • Markup views are saved with the file and are accessible to all members of your design community
8. NEW CHAMFER AND FILLET CREATION OPTIONS
  • Create partial chamfers and fillets along a portion of an edge

  • Control fillet and chamfer creation with handy graphical controls

  • Also in a part model, avoid errors by performing interference detection on multi-body parts
 
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I am so excited about new chamfer and fillet creation options. Solidworks so often encounter issues while making fillets, especially when it comes to filleting on irregular lines.
I used to lose a lot of time until I make it as I imagined, but never fully understood how it really works.
 
Yes! Fillets are my biggest problem area in Solidworks. They seem to cause crashing issues (when they're complex). I'd probably be much better off learning surfacing better and using less Fillets but I never seem to have enough time!
 
This blog should keep us all up to date with future services and ideas from the company:-

https://blogs.solidworks.com/tech/

I think the proactive nature of the company is what is keeping it ahead of the competition.
 
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