SOLIDWORKS® Model-Based Definition (MBD) is a model-based application that reduces costs thanks to unambiguous, integrated 3D annotations. Unlike 2D drawings, SOLIDWORKS MBD defines, organises, and publishes annotations directly into the 3D data. This helps automate downstream manufacturing processes such as tolerance analysis, machining, and inspections.

SOLIDWORKS MBD helps manufacturers annotate and organise 3D data, including datums, dimensions, tolerances, surface finishes, notes, and Bill of Materials (BOM) tables. SOLIDWORKS MBD also publishes the data to widely accepted formats such as eDrawings®, STEP 242, and 3D PDF.

STEP 242 is a neutral format specialised in communicating software-readable 3D annotations integrated with models to automate downstream manufacturing processes.

Building on SOLIDWORKS Standard, SOLIDWORKS MBD Standard offers a host of new capabilities.

“One of the things that attracted us to SOLIDWORKS is the ability to customise the software with additional functions.”

– David Cauchi – Race Engineer Car 1, Triple Eight Race Engineering – the design team behind Holden Red Bull Racing Australia.

Speed up time-to-market with tolerance-based automatic programming of tolerance analysis, tolerance optimisation, Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM), Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM), and other production applications.

For 3D annotations, SOLIDWORKS MBD:

• Annotates models with datums, datum targets, basic dimensions, toleranced dimensions, polar dimensions, geometric tolerances, surface finishes, weld symbols, draft symbols, balloons, BOMs, notes, coordinate systems, reference geometries, intersection geometries, continuous features, compound features, and other Product Manufacturing Information (PMI)
• Defines feature-based annotations (DimXpert) for parts and assemblies
• Copies DimXpert from a source configuration to other configurations to save time and maintain consistencies
• Provides a predefined library of manufacturing features to align the definitions with manufacturing practices such as pockets, slots, notches, cones, counterbore holes, countersink holes, patterns, chamfers, and fillets
• Recognises manufacturing features automatically on native or imported solid bodies
• Automates the annotation definition by the model type, tolerance type, pattern dimensioning, reference features, and scope
• Analyses, shows, and hides tolerance status to monitor the definition progress and catch potential oversights
• Reuses DimXpert annotations from parts to assemblies
• Pairs tolerances automatically from a source model to a mating model according to the fixed or floating fasteners formulas
• Flags the Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) violations automatically against the ASME Y14.5-2009 standards or ISO 1101-2012 standards
• Imports 3D annotations from non-SOLIDWORKS formats such as Creo®, NX, CATIA®, and STEP 242
• Defines software-readable general profile tolerances in notes or tables
• Customises tolerance tables in accordance to the ISO 2768-2012 standard
• Customises annotation text display scales
• Provides MBD workflow-friendly part and assembly templates

SMART MANUFACTURING

What’s New in SOLIDWORKS 2018

SOLIDWORKS 2018 provides four new solutions to help you simplify interactions between product development teams and ultimately improve your business. Accelerate product innovation and grow your business with these new processes:

DESIGN TO MANUFACTURE
Complete solution to bring your ideas to market

For years, companies have survived despite having a separation between their design and manufacturing departments, both by organisation, and by the tools they use. SOLIDWORKS Design-to-Manufacturing Process Solution provides everything you need to bring your ideas to market. Design to final assembly work can now happen concurrently in one seamlessly integrated and managed system.
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DISTRIBUTED DATA MANAGEMENT
The right data, at the right time, for the right people

Electronic data within organisation needs to be easy to access regardless of the format – from documents and spreadsheets to metadata, processes data, and data from enterprise resource planning. SOLIDWORKS Distributed Data Management (DDM) Process Solution can organise all this data so it is easy to access across many disciplines and departments. It also makes it easy to capture non-electronic data and complex electronic data such as 3D shapes.
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DESIGNER TO ANALYST
Analysis tools for every step of design

Great designs are the result of inspiration, perspiration, and hours of hard work. SOLIDWORKS Designer to Analyst Process Solution helps you speed up the complete design cycle. Your engineering and design teams can work together concurrently evolving product designs while validating any changes, and reusing previous analysis information.
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ELECTRICAL AND IOT
Connect your smart devices to your customers

Every day products are becoming more complex. As web and app functionalities are added to everything from cars to sunglasses, many companies are looking for intelligent tools that work together so they can design and build the “smart” products today’s markets demand. Recognising this, one of the easiest and fastest ways to achieve a more efficient process when designing connected devices is to use one single, unified environment.

The arrival of smart manufacturing

Smart Manufacturing is a term used to describe a connected and seamless flow of intellectual property to all teams involved, from design to manufacturing. The creation of IP involves knowledge-capture early in the design process with intelligence from varied skill sets, such as design, costing, quality, manufacturing, marketing, supply chain.

In Smart Manufacturing, information is available when it’s needed, where it’s needed, and in the form in which it is most useful. Manufacturing intelligence is built up front to actively integrate the three major components in the development process: design, manufacturing and innovation.
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“Smart Manufacturing is more than ‘integrated’ manufacturing. It also means taking advantage of the rich content contained in the 3D CAD model.”

– Gian Paolo Bassi, CEO of SOLIDWORKS