Siemens has released Solid Edge 2023, with new functionality to streamline product design and allow seamless cloud-connected collaboration between teams and systems with new interoperability enhancements.
The update, now available as Xcelerator Cloud and Software-as-a-Service, aims at allowing users to do more with fewer clicks by enhancing simulation capabilities for mesh models.
By eliminating errors during inspections, and lowering users’ IT overhead, the new update looks at helping users to save money and time in manufacturing.
Having access to the cloud, users should be able to store data securely and share it with the team anytime, anywhere and on any device.
For this release, Siemens has worked to leverage Augmented Reality capabilities to allow users to look at their products and designs in the context of the real world.
Collaboration tool Xcelerator Share should also be included in the subscription, and, Siemens said, users will have access to other add-on capabilities with new Value-Based Licensing.
The new flexible licensing options should be available through a Solid Edge SaaS subscription and were introduced to give users instant access to integrated add-on products including Generative Design Pro, Point Cloud Visualisation, Electrical Routing, PCB Collaboration, Advanced PMI, Simulation and Solid Edge XpresRoute.
Users should be able to easily mix and match add-on products thanks to a flexible token system.
Solid Edge 2023 new user interface should include intuitive command bars and toolbars, updated personalisation options, and improved modelling workflows.
Siemens said that the improvements to Ordered Part and Sheet Metal modelling workflows, which bring Synchronous tools to Ordered users, will further increase productivity while speeding up onboarding for first-time users.
Enhancements to interoperability aim to unlock the power of design data while future-proofing the users’ work.
Thanks to the Xcelerator portfolio, users should be able to transfer Solid Edge data to and from other products such as NX Mechatronics Concept Designer and Process Simulate, with ease.
The new update should also allow inserting SolidWorks, JT, STEP, and Parasolid files (being them part or assembly) directly into Solid Edge assemblies, without translation.
Siemens has also worked on enhancing Model Based Definition, in order to provide users with the tools to detail 3D models faster and easier than ever before.
The new Solid Edge Advanced PMI add-on should deliver high-quality consistent dimensioning for downstream PMI applications.
Another new addition to the new release is Solid Edge Inspector tool, developed to save time and money in manufacturing by eliminating errors in inspections.
Solid Edge Inspector should automatically generate high-quality inspection data and reports users can trust while enabling seamless communication in the downstream manufacturing process.
Solid Edge 2023 should now allow for simulation on convergent models (created using generative design or obtained from 3D scans) without the need for conversion to b-rep. Body Mesh functionality should have been expanded to include assembly and sheet metal simulation, which aims to reduce meshing errors and accelerates the speed of simulation studies.
The new Multi-Axis Roughing for 5-Axis Machining, available in Solid Edge CAM Pro, was developed to provide users with more efficient material removal and save them time.
Additionally, a new Rotary Machining Add-on for 4-Axis machining and new Wire EDM functionality looks to improve their ability to create shapes, even those that would otherwise be impossible or too expensive.
The Smart Machine Kits library should provide easy access to standardised, professionally built machine simulation kits.
Finally, enhancements to UI and usability should allow users to assign Rich Text Metadata to illustrations and parts that display dynamically, create custom transitions with pre-defined timing for camera movement, part reveals, part movement, part hide, and define Multiple Master Pages and display visual thumbnails alongside the document.
