The 2025 release of Solid Edge introduces the cloud-enabled Solid Edge X, which will see new AI-enabled tools alongside simplified IT admin, personalised UX and greater options for collaboration.
Siemens Digital Industries Software says that the AI-powered functionality will be available in 2025 and will offer real-time assistance to users and help minimise disruptions to engineering workflows.
With cloud-enabled built-in data management, based on Siemens Teamcenter software and infrastructure, users can collaborate across engineering and manufacturing disciplines wherever and whenever it is needed.
“The release of Solid Edge X delivers on Siemens’ strategic goal to bring our industry-leading software to customers as a service. This release delivers toolsets that are open, accessible and as scalable as our customers demand,” said John Miller, SVP mainstream engineering, Siemens Digital Industries Software.
“Solid Edge delivers transformative technologies that bring together the innate collaborative capabilities of the cloud combined with cutting-edge AI-based tools, allowing our customers to innovate at the accelerated pace that today’s manufacturing industry mandates.”
More certain is what’s new in on premises Solid Edge 2025, which immediately offers a range of enhancements to increase modelling speed, improved etch and bend features for sheet metal design, and simplified Model Based Definition (MBD) creation.
A new hybrid annotation capability in Solid Edge 2025 allows engineers to insert dimensions and feature control frames into designs with an efficient, all-in-one workflow that supports Model Based Definition and provides the tools to quickly and accurately detail 3D models. New Feature control frames and updated Surface Texture symbols help users adhere to ever-changing standards, while automatic dimensioning helps to maintain consistency and should reduce errors.
Users are now able to greater tailor their Solid Edge experience with a personalised design environment. With features like redesigned vertical command bars and enhanced context toolbars, the UX can be streamlined to suit workflows and offer greater flexibility.
Solid Edge 2025 also offers a new Discovery Center – a centralised hub where users can access a wide range of resources, learning materials and free trials, accessible from directly within the product.
Solid Edge’s sheet metal capabilities continue to improve, with greater support for complex geometries, offering improved bend calculation, making it easier to create accurate sheet metal parts. Bend deduction and bend allowance allow control of material conditions related to manufacturing and tooling.
New etch features now support bends and curved faces, automatically placing etches on all relevant faces, while enhanced bend support shows detailed properties and calculation methods.
Solid Edge now includes tools that support integrated collaboration with the Teamcenter Share app, included as part of the Siemens Xcelerator as a Service offering. Teamcenter Share allows users to collaborate on assemblies and track tasks within Solid Edge, and create, edit and delete projects as needed. Data can be shared as needed using the service – which now supports datasets up to 500Gb.
Overall Teamcenter integration has been improved, with Siemens reporting that managed data now opens up to 50 per cent faster, with accelerated download speeds to enable users to get to work more quickly with complex datasets.
Also enhanced for this update is the ability to define and manage material definitions using the Integrated Material Management capability from Teamcenter. This should let customers define managed material definitions, enabling the control of that critical data for accuracy, consistency, traceability and security – leading to optimised material usage, waste reduction and more sustainable designs.
Solid Edge 2025 now integrates with Capital Electra X software, a new cloud-native electrical design tool from Siemens that allows designers and engineers to create electrical schematics quickly and efficiently.
Solid Edge CAM Pro software brings enhancements to part programming and machining performance with new smart assistance that automatically recommends the best operations, streamlining toolpath creation and easing the programming process while advanced quick roughing and the zig zag milling features simplify offset roughing and face milling. Automatic hole machining also simplifies selecting prismatic features like slots, steps and holes.
Improved integration with Simcenter FLOEFD for Solid Edge allows direct imports of complex CAD models for analysis, saving time in the simulation setup process. Simplified fluid flow and heat transfer analysis make it easy to evaluate product performance under various conditions. Siemens says that mesh generation for convergent, faceted and STL geometries is now even faster, while new templates and tools, make setting up complex simulations easier and more streamlined.
Interoperability between Solid Edge and NX software allows engineers to reuse data and work with the software that best meets their needs. Transferring section views, advanced PMI, kinematic data and more between Solid Edge and NX is a smoother process, while new enhancements support the import and export of International Foundation Class (IFC) file types, a standard in the construction and building industry.
