SOLIDWORKS Electrical 3D
SOLIDWORKS Electrical 3D is a solution that enables you to seamlessly integrate your electrical schematic designs directly into your SOLIDWORKS 3D product model. This powerful tool is for engineers looking to bridge the gap between 2D electrical designs and 3D mechanical CAD, allowing for comprehensive electrical system development within a unified environment.
What is SOLIDWORKS Electrical 3D?
SOLIDWORKS Electrical 3D serves as the essential link between the 2D schematic design space and the 3D product model. As an add-in that installs within the SOLIDWORKS 3D CAD environment, it provides bidirectional, real-time data integration between SOLIDWORKS Electrical Schematic Professional and SOLIDWORKS 3D CAD. This integration offers the ability to determine optimal wire, cable, and harness lengths, and automatically synchronize design and documentation across both electrical and mechanical projects.
SOLIDWORKS Electrical 3D Use Cases
SOLIDWORKS Electrical 3D is designed to bridge the gap between 2D electrical schematics and 3D mechanical designs, enabling seamless integration and collaboration. Common use cases and integration points into your engineering workflow include:
Integrated Electrical and Mechanical Design
Seamlessly integrate electrical schematic design data into your SOLIDWORKS 3D product model.
Harness Design and Layout
Place connectors, clips, backshells, and protection (tubing, tape, coverings) directly in the 3D assembly.
Control Panels and Enclosures
Place electrical components in 3D panels or enclosures and validate fit, clearance, and thermal spacing.
Product Variants and Configuration
Manage different product options (e.g., multiple harness configurations) within the same assembly.
Real-time Design Synchronization
Maintain bidirectional, real-time data integration between 2D schematics and 3D models, ensuring all documentation is synchronized and up-to-date.
Automated Documentation for Manufacturing
Generate detailed assembly drawings, flattened manufacturing drawings, and form boards directly from the 3D model, streamlining production.
Cable Management
Route complex wire bundles in tight spaces.
Change Management
Update wire lengths, BOMs, and harness drawings when a component or harness is moved.
SOLIDWORKS Electrical 3D Features & Benefits
SOLIDWORKS Electrical 3D helps designers and engineers accelerate product development, improve accuracy, and foster better collaboration by uniting 2D schematic and layout designs with 3D CAD product models.
SOLIDWORKS Electrical 3D Key Features
Provides the essential link between 2D schematic design and the 3D product model.
Facilitates seamless communication between electrical and mechanical design teams through shared libraries, standardized documentation, and real-time design synchronization.
Automatically routes wires, cables, and harnesses in 3D, determining optimal lengths and paths, and eliminating the need for costly physical prototyping.
Supports multi-user and cross-disciplinary projects with a synchronized design environment that bridges electrical and mechanical teams.
Updates in the schematic or 3D model reflect automatically, keeping everything synchronized, which cuts down on manual documentation work and error-prone revisions.
Automatically determines optimal wire, cable, and harness lengths, and synchronizes design data for accurate Bills of Materials.
Reduces the need for costly physical prototyping by allowing for precise placement, routing, and interference checking in a virtual environment.
SOLIDWORKS Electrical 3D Licensing & Packages
SOLIDWORKS Electrical 3D is offered as a SOLIDWORKS add-in that integrates with SOLIDWORKS Electrical Schematic to add electrical routing, harness design, and component placement capabilities directly within your existing SOLIDWORKS environment. For detailed information about electrical schematic design capabilities that integrate with SOLIDWORKS Electrical 3D, visit our SOLIDWORKS Electrical Schematic page.
SOLIDWORKS Electrical 3D FAQs
What is SOLIDWORKS Electrical 3D?
SOLIDWORKS Electrical 3D is an add-in to SOLIDWORKS CAD that enables you to integrate SOLIDWORKS Electrical Schematic designs into your 3D product model, allowing for 3D cabinet layouts and wire, cable, and harness routing.
Do I need a SOLIDWORKS license to use SOLIDWORKS Electrical 3D?
Yes, you will need a license of SOLIDWORKS CAD to use SOLIDWORKS Electrical 3D.
How does SOLIDWORKS Electrical 3D improve collaboration?
It provides a synchronized design environment that bridges electrical and mechanical teams, allowing for real-time collaboration and data updates across both 2D schematics and 3D models.
What are the key benefits of using SOLIDWORKS Electrical 3D?
Key benefits include faster time to market, easier collaboration between electrical and mechanical teams, and a smoother design process through bidirectional data synchronization.
Can SOLIDWORKS Electrical 3D help with wire and cable routing?
Yes, it includes advanced SOLIDWORKS routing technology for automated multi-wire, cable, and harness routing in the 3D CAD model, simplifying the process and ensuring optimal lengths and paths.
Is SOLIDWORKS Electrical 3D difficult to learn and set up?
MLC CAD Systems recommends letting our application experts assist with set up and training. Our custom implementation services include installation, configuration of templates, administrator training and end-user training.
Can I only purchase SOLIDWORKS Electrical 3D?
No, SOLIDWORKS Electrical 3D must be used in conjunction with a SOLIDWORKS CAD license and a SOLIDWORKS Schematic Professional license.