“The company operated without an official CAD system until 2011. While that effort certainly advanced the early-generation concepts, it was difficult and time consuming to work that way, especially as the design team grew. We needed a CAD system to support visualization and simulation in lieu of heavy prototyping, and …

"Using SolidWorks, we’ve improved our design cycle quite a bit by eliminating much of the trial-and-error tasks and rework from our process.”

“If we didn’t have SOLIDWORKS Plastics, we wouldn’t have as much confidence in the manufacturability of a design. It helps us avoid going back and forth with the moldmaker after the fact, which saves time and reduces costs.”

“Weight is a critical design issue. While a mechanical engineer is interested in structural stresses and the positioning of the drivetrain, a naval architect focuses on hydrodynamics—balancing weight for stability and maneuverability—which affects how electrical engineers position solar cells, batteries, circuits, and motors. We all have to work together, and …

"Even though we had found Inventor to be capable, the demos showed us that we had been working with blinders on. During the demos, we realized that Inventor was roughly two years behind SolidWorks CAD software in terms of capabilities. We simply felt that we could do more with SolidWorks."

"We’ve found ESS to be a good value because it enables rapid response to any software issues and the ability to influence future software development based on our specific needs."

“As a small startup company, we have limited resources on which to draw and need to pursue the most cost-effective means for achieving our goals. The ability to use SOLIDWORKS Professional software and our 3D printer for rapid prototyping, and to drive design iterations, saved us thousands of euros in …

“Using solidworks simulation, we know our designs are structurally sound, which results in fewer recalled or returned parts in the field."

“Using SOLIDWORKS, students can focus more on the design and engineering and less on the tool. UNH Precision Racing comprises several subteams frame, suspension, electronics, controls, and aerodynamics and SOLIDWORKS software better facilitates interdisciplinary collaboration and communication. The team wouldn’t be able to build the quality of cars they’ve produced …

"In 2008, before we standardized on SOLIDWORKS, we designed and manufactured an average of two machines each year. Right now, with SOLIDWORKS, we’re producing 60 machines annually. The impact of transitioning to the integrated SOLIDWORKS 3D platform on our business and product development processes has been huge."

“The level of automation that we have been able to achieve via SQL integrations with SOLIDWORKS Electrical has allowed us to save significant amounts of time. Our designers report drawing speed increases ranging from 25 to 50 percent, and a detailed look at our projects over a five-year period revealed …

“SolidWorks gives us the confidence—the comfort factor—that we have addressed and resolved any issues prior to installation."

“When designing new prototype bogie mechanisms we can now easily check for clearance issues or other design problems before producing parts, which is more cost-effective and helps to accelerate the entire process. Also, with the large rail bend sections that many of our jobs require, the use of SolidWorks has …

“We need to analyze the structural performance of different types of components, from rails to car frames. With SolidWorks simulation tools, we can assess where we can remove material or where we need to beef a part up. Optimizing the strength-to-weight of cable car systems is important for reducing both …

“Most of our business is based on custom development of mill relining systems. Each grinding mill is different and requires a custom, one-off design. However, we believed that 3D would ultimately let us utilize a range of standard components, configurations, and subassemblies, and that eventually we would be able to …