Quick Start

General workflow overview for SimSolid.

SimSolid provides integration to the SolidWorks, Fusion 360 and Onshape CAD systems as well as direct file access to all popular CAD formats.

  1. Access CAD geometry in one of the following ways:
    CAD format Process
    SolidWorks/Fusion 360 From within SolidWorks, press the Open in SimSolid button to launch SimSolid. The active design model and associated material properties will be imported. For more information, see the Use SimSolid with SolidWorks topic.
    Onshape
    1. Select the Cloud browser button in the main toolbar.
    2. First time users will need to select the Settings button to set Onshape login credentials.
    3. Select the refresh Cloud button to access and browse your CAD documents.
    4. Select a document and either a Part or Assembly studio to load it into SimSolid.
    For more information, see the Access Models in Onshape topic.
    Other CAD files
    1. Select the Import from File button on the main toolbar.
    2. In the dialog, select the CAD type from the selection filter.
    3. Click Open.
  2. Specify assembly connections and part material properties.
    Connections

    SimSolid will prompt you to automatically create connections using a proximity method. Select a global tolerance for part gap and penetration tolerances. Default values are proposed based on the overall model bounding box. These may or may not be acceptable based on the relative scale of your model. Accept or adjust the tolerance defaults and select OK to continue.

    Material properties
    Select the Assembly workbench in the Project Tree then select Apply Material from the Assembly workbench toolbar. In the dialog, select a material then apply it to either all parts or a selected set of parts. When finished select OK to continue.
    Note: For SolidWorks, Onshape and Fusion 360, any part material properties in the CAD system will be automatically imported and applied.
  3. Create a new analysis study.
    1. Select an analysis type button (structural, modal, dynamic, thermal).
      A new analysis branch will appear in the Project Tree.
    2. Create constraints and loads: constraints to prevent rigid body motion and loads to define load environment.
  4. Run analysis and view results.
    1. On the Analysis Workbench toolbar, select (Solve).
      Analysis progress will be reported in the status bar in the bottom on the application window. All analyses use a proprietary multi-pass adaptive process to control solution accuracy. Once complete, a results icon will appear in the project tree workbench and the (Results plot) icon will activate.
    2. Select the (Results plot) icon to view results.