The interface works in both a Plug-in and a Pseudo-Reader mode.
The existence of the Plug-in is recognized by SOLIDWORKS based on registry entries. After opening a document in SOLIDWORKS, if the Ansys (version specific) menu is not displayed in the SOLIDWORKS menu bar, check if Ansys (version specific) is listed in the list box of the Add-in Manager dialog box ().
| If listed: but not checked, check the box in front of it and click . |
| If not listed: run the Product & CAD Configuration Manager with SOLIDWORKS selected for configuration (Start->Workbench->Utilities->Product & CAD Configuration Manager). Select the Ansys /Workbench product and then the SOLIDWORKS interface. Click the Next button and then Configure Selected Plug-Ins. The output window should indicate success. (This requires administrative privileges on the machine.) If it fails or trouble persists, re-install the SOLIDWORKS plug-in component or contact your technical support service representative. |
See Product & CAD Configuration Manager for usage information.
For detailed installation information about the Product & CAD Configuration Manager, see:
Support
At the time of release, detailed version support information for the Windows platform is accessible via Geometry Interface Support.
For information about post-release CAD system compatibility with Ansys Workbench, see the Platform Support section of the Ansys Website.
Document import supported by interface: Part (*.sldprt) and Assembly (*.sldasm)
Table 25: Import Preference Support for SOLIDWORKS Geometry Interface
| Import Solids | Yes | ||
| Import Surfaces | Yes | ||
| Import Lines | Yes - 3D spline curves, helix, curve in file, composite curve, ref curve, and imported curve | ||
| Parameter Processing and prefix/suffix key | Yes - In addition to dimension names, global variables are also processed for parameter. The same filter logic is used to determine which parameters are imported. Parameters that are driven are NOT imported. | ||
| Attribute Processing and prefix | Yes - From programmatically created attributes. Motion loads are imported using the preference and the corresponding third party attribute prefix. | ||
| Yes - including Colors (keyword Color) | |||
| Named Selection Processing and prefix | Yes - From AnsysNamed Selection Manager and programmatically created attributes | ||
| Yes - including Colors (keyword Color) | |||
| Material Processing | Yes | ||
| Analysis Type |
| ||
| Associativity | Yes - Some data is stored in the SOLIDWORKS model file and must be saved AFTER attach to maintain persistence. The Reader Save File option will need to be turned ON if imported in "reader" mode or you will need to save the file in an active SOLIDWORKS session otherwise. The associative mechanism consumes a good part of the attach/update time when importing models from SOLIDWORKS. If associativity is not necessary turning this option off will typically speed up the import/refresh time substantially, especially on larger models. The use of named selections can also be used as a persistence mechanism and does not require the associativity option be turned on. | ||
| Coordinate Systems | Yes - Part and assembly local coordinate systems | ||
| Work Points | Yes - Part and assembly local work points | ||
| Reader Save File | Yes | ||
| Instancing | No | ||
| Smart Update | No | ||
| Enclosure and Symmetry Processing | No | ||
| Mixed import Resolution | Yes - For parts that include both Solid and Surface bodies AND the Import Solid and Import Surface preferences are set to Yes. The Solid and Line option and the Solid, Surface and Line option are not supported. | ||
| Decompose Disjoint Geometry | No |
Notations
The SOLIDWORKS geometry interface also fully supports the Selective Update feature.
Ansys Workbench automatically locks the length unit in the part or assembly to meters, which is the unit used internally by SOLIDWORKS. No adjustment of length unit is necessary or possible. The Ansys Mechanical application user can change the unit system for display of the Ansys Mechanical application data.
Parts that are hidden or suppressed in SOLIDWORKS are skipped automatically by the geometry interface.
If more than one document is open in SOLIDWORKS, the top-most document, which is the active document, will be processed by the interface.
Lightweight components (marked with a feather icon in the feature tree) of a SOLIDWORKS assembly must be set to resolved prior to attaching into the Ansys Mechanical application.
For parameters that include a unit the Workbench associative geometry interface will import just the numeric value and not the unit. When parameters are pushed back to SOLIDWORKS, it will replace the number and preserve the unit string. For example: MY_Param = 12mm in SW will import 12. If the value is changed to 10 in WB and updated the equation should be updated to MY_Param = 10mm.
Caveats and Known Issues
There is a limitation imposed by SOLIDWORKS in relation to geometry and the API processing. If a sketch is revolved 180 degrees, the faces generated on either portion of the revolution are identified as the same. However if the revolution angle is changed, they now become different faces. One retains the original identification and the second a new one. This creates an associativity break if the angle of revolution is modified to or from 180 degrees. If this situation arises you will need to reapply loads and/or boundary conditions.
Databases in which loads and/or boundary conditions are attached to surface body part entities are subject to a loss of associativity if created and saved prior to release 12.0. Once the loads are reattached, associativity should be maintained.
Unsaved SOLIDWORKS geometry files are not supported for import.
Plug-In Availability Considerations — A scenario can occur where Attach/Refresh Geometry from active SOLIDWORKS session works correctly, however Attach/Refresh Geometry without SOLIDWORKS running fails with "Geometry Interface Not Found."
This can occur if you run the Product & CAD Configuration Manager as Administrator, and select Configuration Actions apply to: Current User.
The architecture of the CAD's Add-In manager will however display the Ansys plug-in for All Users of the machine, even if the "All Users" configuration has not been performed to enable the plug-in to run for all users. If this is done, the current user configuration of Ansys Workbench is not made aware of the SOLIDWORKS file types, and the interface is not found.
Workaround: Run the Product & CAD Configuration Manager as Administrator, select "All Users", and configure the SOLIDWORKS plug-in.
Limitations
Global Parameters — Global parameters that contain only numeric data in the equation field are processed. Equations which include units are skipped. Global Variables, defined at the part level, do not come through when an assembly file containing the part is imported.
Troubleshooting
See the SOLIDWORKS Errors Related to CAD Integration section in CAD Integration Troubleshooting for detailed information.