Make The Switch
Thinking About Switching your CAD?
Considering a move to Solid Edge? Discover how to boost productivity and reduce costs with more efficient CAD and product development tools.
Sticking with your current 3D CAD software out of convenience could be costing you time, money, and resources, explore how Solid Edge can offer a better way forward.
Why switch to Solid Edge?
Switching 3D CAD platforms can feel like a daunting task, but sticking with a system that no longer meets your needs can end up costing far more in time, money, and efficiency. If you’ve been thinking about making a change or feel limited by your current workflow, here are some compelling reasons why moving to Solid Edge could be the right decision.
Improved design documentation
Easily exchange information between engineers, suppliers and manufacturers with a robust set of 2D and 3D drawing tools. Designers can create drawings directly using 2D workflows derived from 3D models or with a hybrid approach. With model-based definition (MBD) capabilities, the 3D models include PMI and other digital data using universal 3D PDFs. Users can access and view interactive representations of the manufacturing data.
Faster assembly performance
Solid Edge empowers designers to work efficiently without the frustration of rework or slow loading times. Its high-performance engine enables seamless real-time interaction with even the largest assemblies. Users can view, edit, and manipulate complex models without lag, ensuring a smooth and productive workflow. Immersive View Styles bring designs to life by placing them in realistic environments that respond dynamically to movement. With Solid Edge, productivity meets visual clarity for a truly immersive design experience.
Better sheet metal design
Don’t compromise when it comes to sheet metal – Solid Edge provides sheet metal specific design features to allow you to easily add drawing details and automate calculations of material relief. Develop models from 2D sketches with fewer steps and make changes at every stage of the sheet metal design process, while maintaining design intent.
Accessible industrial design
Solid Edge makes industrial design accessible by integrating intuitive tools directly into the mechanical design workflow. With powerful subdivision modeling, engineers can easily create smooth, stylized surfaces. The interface is user-friendly, making it suitable for both beginners and experienced CAD users. Complex aesthetic designs can be developed quickly without sacrificing control or precision. This empowers teams to blend function and form seamlessly in product development.
AI-powered software that understands you
Solid Edge intelligently learns your workflows to help you streamline the design process with a predictive user interface, powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning. Solid Edge predicts what operations you are likely to want to perform based on previous user behavior, improving your downstream productivity.
Interoperability for data across CAD systems
Over half of CAD users say imported data is a top design challenge, but Solid Edge simplifies the process. It enables seamless use of files from other CAD systems without the need for rework. Enhanced CAD Direct, Data Translation, and Migration tools support more formats than ever. Whether you’re reusing legacy data or collaborating with suppliers, integration is smooth and efficient. Solid Edge treats third-party files like native data, removing common barriers in design workflows.
File sharing and collaboration from any device
Teamcenter Share lets you instantly and securely collaborate with teammates, partners, and clients. Included with Solid Edge XaaS subscriptions and select online purchases, it enhances cloud-based teamwork. Enjoy smooth integration, extended storage, and broad file support. Share designs, give feedback, and track progress from any device, anywhere. With Teamcenter Share, projects move faster and communication stays clear.
Flexible licensing options
A modular, scalable CAD application, Solid Edge is available through monthly or annual subscription plans that connect you to the cloud and provide the opportunity to subscribe to software and services based on your needs. With Solid Edge X, you can lower IT overhead, manage costs, and easily scale your business. Plus, enjoy flexible access to a robust library of advanced add-on capabilities with value-based licensing token packs.
Ready to make the switch?
Get in touch to request a demo and discuss your requirements!
Your questions, answered
Find answers to commonly asked questions about switching to Solid Edge!
Solid Edge is a multi-faceted software portfolio and includes a wide range of applications and features that make it the preferred choice for professionals across industries and companies of all sizes.
However, this can make it complex for first-time users, regardless of their prior CAD knowledge.
We offer a variety of self-guided tutorials to help you get up to speed with Solid Edge, including the Solid Edge GUI (Graphical User Interface) and basics of 2D/3D modeling, and more. New users can learn the basics in a little as 1 hour!
For users making the switch from SOLIDWORKS, the Command Finder in Solid Edge allows users to enter a familiar SOLIDWORKS command and it will return the equivalent command in Solid Edge.
Most CAD companies use the “File Open” method for working with non-CAD data. Solid Edge can open up data from a lot of different systems, including SOLIDWORKS, STRC, ProE, Inventor, CATIA, and AutoCAD. There are drawbacks to this method, however, which is why we recommend using the SOLIDWORKS Data Migration Tool.
Benefits of using the SOLIDWORKS Data Migration Tool include:
- Drawing Migration: If you look at the drawing of an assembly, you can see all the views, balloons and bill of materials migrated into Solid Edge.
- Subassemblies & Assembled Relationships: The “Assembly Relationship Manager” is a summary of all the assembly relationships within a particular assembly. Within the Manager, you can modify each one of the relationships—all of which came straight from the SOLIDWORKS files. If you select parts from the “Pathfinder,” you’ll notice that all of the parts have relationships within the assembly.
- Rearrange Drawing Views: You can drag any view around within a drawing, and all the views will stay aligned, as they should.
- Hole Features: With the SOLIDWORKS Data Migration Tool, all hole features will migrate specifically as holes. This means that any hole can then be selected and changed in Solid Edge.
- Material & Property Migration: Materials and custom properties also migrate from SOLIDWORKS to Solid Edge. Because of this, there’s no reason to change any sketches if you want to make an edit—you can simply drag faces of parts or enter a value.
- Fully Associated Files: Because part and drawing files are fully associated, any drawing files will update whenever you make edits to the corresponding part file. There’s no need to go back and double up on work.
The short answer: YES; many companies are making the switch to Solid Edge. Here are a few real-world examples:
- Chantiers de ‘Atlantique: this industry-leading shipmaker uses Solid Edge to refine complex and detailed design concepts. They previously had multiple computer-aided design (CAD) packages and enterprise resource planning (ERP) software solutions to harness the overall complexity of designing and constructing an immensely large cruise ship, such as the Wonder of the Seas. To optimize the creation of the cabins, they switched from SOLIDWORKS® to integrated Solid Edge software, which is used by their in-house design teams, engineers and marine experts.
- DesignPlan: This multi-national urban lighting business switched to Solid Edge after 25 years of experience with other CAD solutions. With the help of Solid Edge synchronous technology, they’re able to design customized products with speed and efficiency, without sacrificing product quality.
- B&P Littleford: The biggest challenge for B&P Littleford was delivering designs on time. It has projects for different types of machinery so design drawings have to be released in a clean, concise manner without having to make excessive engineering change orders (ECOs). They need to avoid correcting designs because they went too fast and made mistakes while being innovative. That’s always the challenge: speeding up the process and becoming more efficient while still maintaining some creativity and innovation. The company switched to Solid Edge from SOLIDWORKS and hasn’t looked back.
According to Matt Lombard, a well-known CAD blogger and online influencer, Solid Edge has something for everyone, especially SOLIDWORKS users looking for an alternative. Read the full article here.
Siemens operates solely on the Parasolid kernel for all of our CAD products, including Solid Edge—a first in industry from a single provider. This enables us to provide varied capabilities, at different price points, in a cost-effective, scalable package. Both Solid Edge SOLIDWORKS operate on the Parasolid kernel which is essentially the operating system for any 3D CAD software platform. Whenever you draw a line or make a calculation, it is Parasolid that does the heavy lifting for you.
And because Siemens owns, develops and openly shares Parasolid, we’re able to provide unmatched protection for your company’s data and technology investments, while ensuring easy data migration from other CAD products that operate on Parasolid.
Learn more: The Hidden Cost of Swapping CAD Kernels by Schnitger Corporation
Solid Edge delivers unmatched performance for large, complex assemblies. While you may have become accustomed to frequent crashes and 20+ minute load times to open an assembly using your current CAD system, Solid Edge handles assembly operations faster than other professional CAD solutions on the market today.
As designs become more complex, the number of parts in an assembly often grows. Solid Edge helps you quickly and easily create and manage even the largest assemblies, without lags or crashes. Create exact representations of all components—including tubes, pipes, wires, weldments, and sheet metal—in a complete digital mockup that allows for more accurate design and analysis. Solid Edge helps you quickly detect and fix clash and interference issues, generate assembly instructions, and conduct customer reviews—reducing the need for costly prototypes.
Solid Edge provides users with a complete portfolio of affordable, easy-to-use software tools that addresses all aspects of the product development process–3D design, simulation, manufacturing, data management, and more. Solid Edge combines the speed and simplicity of direct modeling with the flexibility and control of parametric design – made possible with synchronous technology.
Software adoption is a key ingredient for success in any organization. When employing new CAD users, you want the best for your business. A common driver for customers switching from other CAD software is the difference compared to Solid Edge. Solid Edge is used by thousands of colleges and universities, and businesses worldwide who have existing experience with Solid Edge products.
With Siemens Xcelerator Academy, new users can master Solid Edge and other key elements of the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio to become leading experts in Siemens software. Training and learning opportunities include live training, online certification programs, guided learning programs, and dynamic learning maps.
Solid Edge is updated every year as part of an annual update, with a focus on delivering new features and enhancements that our customers value most. But unlike many other CAD tools, Solid Edge ensures that your legacy data is protected.
An integral part of the comprehensive Siemens Xcelerator portfolio of software and services, Solid Edge is a great entry point for small- and medium-sized manufacturers with flexible options to access different Siemens products as your business grows.
More information about what’s new in the latest version of Solid Edge is available here.
Solid Edge has been certified to run on a variety of operating systems. A detailed list of system requirements is available here.
A complete product development software portfolio
Solid Edge is a portfolio of affordable, easy-to-use software tools for all aspects of product development – mechanical and electrical design, simulation, manufacturing, technical publications, data management, and more.
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