1 Welcome to SOLIDWORKS 2018........................................................................14
Top Enhancements......................................................................................................................14
For More Information....................................................................................................................16
2 User Interface .....................................................................................................17
Auto-Rotate View on Sketch Edit.................................................................................................17
Folders in the FeatureManager Design Tree...............................................................................18
Measure Tool Enhancements.......................................................................................................19
Mouse Gestures Enhancements ............................................................................................20
Scaling of Entities on High Resolution Monitors...........................................................................21
Show File Names and Descriptions in Design Library ................................................................21
Task Pane Changes.....................................................................................................................22
Touch-based Interactions .......................................................................................................23
Magnified Selection.................................................................................................................23
Touch Mode.............................................................................................................................23
Custom Numeric Keypad........................................................................................................24
Welcome Dialog Box ...............................................................................................................24
Home Tab................................................................................................................................24
Recent Tab..............................................................................................................................26
Learn Tab................................................................................................................................27
Alerts Tab................................................................................................................................27
3 SOLIDWORKS Fundamentals.............................................................................29
Adobe Illustrator Creative Cloud Files..........................................................................................29
Application Programming Interface..............................................................................................29
Default Templates for New Documents........................................................................................30
Include or Exclude Suppressed Components in Pack and Go ....................................................31
Rebuild Tools................................................................................................................................31
Select Over Geometry..................................................................................................................32
Support for 3D Printing Models Containing Surface Bodies and Graphics Bodies......................33
4 Installation............................................................................................................34
Installing SOLIDWORKS CAM ....................................................................................................34
5 Administration......................................................................................................35
Controlling Dismissed Messages ................................................................................................35
Logging into SOLIDWORKS ........................................................................................................36
Synchronizing Settings and Options Across Multiple Machines..............................................37
Show Document Open Times.......................................................................................................38
Specifying a Template for General Tables...................................................................................38
Task Scheduler Supports Additional File Formats ......................................................................38
6 Assemblies...........................................................................................................40
Asset Publisher and Magnetic Mates Enhancements..................................................................40
Changing the Transparency of an Assembly or Multibody Part...................................................41
Check Entity Enhancements........................................................................................................41
Mates............................................................................................................................................42
Perpendicular Mates...............................................................................................................42
Temporarily Hiding Faces when Selecting Mates...................................................................42
Misaligned Mates..........................................................................................................................43
Allowing Misaligned Concentric Mates....................................................................................43
Assemblies System Option for Misaligned Mates...................................................................44
Document Properties - Mates..................................................................................................44
Motion Study Menu Enhancements.............................................................................................45
Pattern Enhancements.................................................................................................................45
Including Material and Visual Properties in a Mirrored Part ...................................................45
Linear Pattern Enhancements.................................................................................................46
Performance Evaluation Enhancements......................................................................................48
Assembly Open Progress Indicator.........................................................................................48
Assembly Visualization Enhancements ..................................................................................49
Performance Evaluation Tool Enhancements.........................................................................49
Smart Explode Lines....................................................................................................................51
Creating and Dissolving Smart Explode Lines........................................................................51
Smart Explode Lines PropertyManager..................................................................................53
SpeedPak ....................................................................................................................................55
Setting a Rebuild on Save Mark on SpeedPak Configurations...............................................55
Updating SpeedPak Configurations Automatically..................................................................55
Treehouse Enhancements...........................................................................................................56
Display Files in a List View......................................................................................................56
Hiding Suppressed Documents...............................................................................................57
Print Options............................................................................................................................58
User Interface..........................................................................................................................58
7 SOLIDWORKS CAM............................................................................................59
Documentation.............................................................................................................................59
Rebranding...................................................................................................................................59
Setting Subroutines for Parts........................................................................................................59
Setting the Toolpath Output Folder..............................................................................................60
Technology Database...................................................................................................................61
User Interface Improvements.......................................................................................................61
CommandManager..................................................................................................................61
Display Colors.........................................................................................................................61
Save Operation Plan...............................................................................................................61
8 CircuitWorks.........................................................................................................62
Building Model as a Part in CircuitWorks.....................................................................................62
Usability Improvements................................................................................................................63
Controlling CircuitWorks User Options from an Administrator Location Using Windows User
Permissions........................................................................................................................63
Editing Reference Designators of Multiple Components.........................................................63
Setting Up Administrator Rights..............................................................................................64
Ability to Recognize SOLIDWORKS Features in CircuitWorks....................................................64
Exporting SOLIDWORKS Features Using the CircuitWorks Export Wizard...........................65
Editing Hole Features in the CircuitWorks Export Wizard.......................................................65
9 SOLIDWORKS Composer...................................................................................67
SOLIDWORKS Composer............................................................................................................67
Label Orientation and Label Position for Measurements........................................................67
Support of Favorite Context....................................................................................................67
Support of Pro/E Creo 3.0.......................................................................................................67
Padding for Measurements.....................................................................................................68
Write Outlines..........................................................................................................................68
SOLIDWORKS Composer Sync...................................................................................................68
Support of Favorite Context....................................................................................................68
Support of Pro/E Creo 3.0.......................................................................................................68
Write Outlines..........................................................................................................................68
SOLIDWORKS Composer Player................................................................................................69
Label Orientation and Label Position for Measurements........................................................69
Padding for Measurements.....................................................................................................69
10 SOLIDWORKS Costing.....................................................................................70
Calculating the Cost of Custom Operations for Selected Materials.............................................70
Costing Template Enhancements................................................................................................71
Machining and Sheet Metal Template Enhancements............................................................71
Limited-Access Multibody and Assembly Templates..............................................................71
Evaluating the Cost of Assembly Operations...............................................................................72
Organizing and Saving Costing Data Locally...............................................................................73
11 DimXpert............................................................................................................74
3D PMI Compare for DimXpert Annotations Is Enhanced...........................................................74
Automatic Generation of DimXpert Annotations for Fastener Assemblies...................................74
Customizable General Tolerances for DimXpert..........................................................................76
Customizing the General Tolerance File.................................................................................76
Inserting a General Tolerance Table.......................................................................................77
Displaying Component-level DimXpert Annotations in Assemblies.............................................77
General Profile Tolerance.............................................................................................................78
Inserting a General Profile Tolerance in a Note......................................................................78
Editing a Geometric Profile Tolerance.....................................................................................79
Patterned Datums.........................................................................................................................79
12 Detailing and Drawings......................................................................................83
Annotations...................................................................................................................................83
Auto Hatching in Section Views..............................................................................................83
Custom Property Improvement...............................................................................................83
Movable Datum Target............................................................................................................83
New Draft Symbols..................................................................................................................86
New Geometric Tolerance Options.........................................................................................86
Dimensions...................................................................................................................................87
Hole Callouts Supported in Advanced Hole Tool....................................................................87
Trailing Zeroes.........................................................................................................................88
Drawing Views..............................................................................................................................91
Applying Layers and Colors to Hatches..................................................................................91
Blocks in Break Views.............................................................................................................92
Broken-Out Section Views......................................................................................................92
Inserting a 3D View in a Drawing............................................................................................94
Output...........................................................................................................................................95
Bookmarks in PDF Output.......................................................................................................95
Tables...........................................................................................................................................95
All Uppercase Characters.......................................................................................................95
Revision Table Driven By SOLIDWORKS PDM......................................................................95
13 eDrawings..........................................................................................................96
3D Views......................................................................................................................................96
Decals in eDrawings Files............................................................................................................96
Setting Options and Passwords for eDrawings Files...................................................................96
STEP Files in eDrawings Files.....................................................................................................97
Attaching STEP Files to eDrawings Files................................................................................97
Opening STEP Files in eDrawings..........................................................................................97
User Interface Enhancements......................................................................................................99
Zooming In and Out....................................................................................................................100
14 SOLIDWORKS Electrical.................................................................................101
Connection Point Display...........................................................................................................101
Distributed Mode .......................................................................................................................101
Global Project Drawing Styles ...................................................................................................102
Global Wire Mark Display ..........................................................................................................102
Multi-level Terminals ..................................................................................................................102
Natural Sort Option for Marks ....................................................................................................103
Other Enhancements for SOLIDWORKS Electrical...................................................................103
Project Level Attribute Styles .....................................................................................................104
SOLIDWORKS Electrical and SOLIDWORKS Routing Integration ...........................................104
Symbol Editor.............................................................................................................................104
Terminal Strips ..........................................................................................................................105
Unused Wires ............................................................................................................................105
User Data for Manufacturer Parts...............................................................................................105
Wire Numbering Group...............................................................................................................105
15 SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation......................................................................106
Color Bar....................................................................................................................................106
Component Explorer...................................................................................................................107
Free Surface...............................................................................................................................107
Full Template..............................................................................................................................107
Noise Prediction.........................................................................................................................107
Plot Callouts...............................................................................................................................107
Sector Periodicity........................................................................................................................108
16 SOLIDWORKS 3D Interconnect......................................................................109
Additional File Formats Supported .......................................................................................109
STEP, IGES, and ACIS Files................................................................................................109
Additional Information Supported for Reading from Third-Party Native CAD Files ..............109
Assembly Cut Features.........................................................................................................110
Custom Properties.................................................................................................................110
Material Properties................................................................................................................110
Unconsumed Sketches and Curves......................................................................................110
17 SOLIDWORKS Inspection...............................................................................111
SOLIDWORKS Inspection Add-in..............................................................................................111
SOLIDWORKS Part and Assembly Support.........................................................................111
SOLIDWORKS PDM Integration...........................................................................................113
SOLIDWORKS Inspection Standalone......................................................................................113
2D File Support......................................................................................................................113
3D File Support......................................................................................................................114
Balloon Sequences...............................................................................................................115
CMM Data Management Import............................................................................................115
Create and Place Sub-Balloons............................................................................................115
Customizable Balloon Numbering.........................................................................................116
Customizable Tolerance Type...............................................................................................117
Explode Note.........................................................................................................................117
Export to CAMS XML and Verisurf........................................................................................117
Export to QualityXpert Improvements...................................................................................117
ExtractionXpert......................................................................................................................117
Full Specification...................................................................................................................118
Ignore Basic Dimensions.......................................................................................................118
Improved Optical Character Recognition..............................................................................118
Improved User Interface........................................................................................................118
Merge Characteristics...........................................................................................................118
Net-Inspect Options...............................................................................................................119
Predefining Balloon Appearances.........................................................................................119
Publish Reports with Document Snapshots..........................................................................119
Revision Management...........................................................................................................120
Sampling................................................................................................................................120
Smart Extract.........................................................................................................................120
SOLIDWORKS PDM Integration...........................................................................................121
Undo and Redo.....................................................................................................................122
18 SOLIDWORKS MBD........................................................................................123
3D PDF Templates.....................................................................................................................123
3D PMI Compare Versions.........................................................................................................125
3D Views Slideshow...................................................................................................................126
Bill of Materials...........................................................................................................................126
Configuration-specific Properties in 3D PDF..............................................................................127
Inserting Configuration-specific Properties in a Text Field....................................................127
Inserting Configuration-specific Properties in a Table...........................................................127
Import PMI..................................................................................................................................127
Insert a Note in a 3D PDF Field..................................................................................................127
MBD Templates..........................................................................................................................128
19 Model Display..................................................................................................129
Offloaded Rendering .............................................................................................................129
Using Single Offloaded Rendering........................................................................................129
Using Scheduled Offloaded Rendering.................................................................................130
20 Parts and Features..........................................................................................131
Advanced Hole...........................................................................................................................131
Defining Hole Elements with Baseline Dimensions...............................................................131
Customizing Advanced Hole Callouts ..................................................................................132
Block Editing of Linked Custom Properties in Derived Parts .....................................................133
Cosmetic Threads Improvements .............................................................................................133
Creating a Bounding Box ......................................................................................................133
Defeature Tool Improvements....................................................................................................134
Extracting Geometry from a Corrupted Solid Body ..............................................................135
Feature Freeze Bar Works with All Folders ...............................................................................135
Hole Wizard Options to Match Size or Preserve Settings .........................................................136
Mesh BREP Bodies ...................................................................................................................137
Workflows for Working with Mesh BREP Bodies .................................................................139
Options for Importing Mesh Files .........................................................................................140
Converting Solid, Surface or Graphics Bodies to Mesh .......................................................141
Selection Filters for Mesh Bodies..........................................................................................142
Creating a Surface From Mesh Feature ...............................................................................143
Selecting Facets Using Paint Select.....................................................................................146
List of Features Supporting Mesh BREP Bodies ..................................................................147
Enhancements to Importing Mesh Files as Graphics Bodies................................................150
More Control Over Custom Properties ......................................................................................150
21 SOLIDWORKS PCB........................................................................................151
Adding Hardware........................................................................................................................151
CST Integration .........................................................................................................................151
IPC Compliant Footprint Wizard.................................................................................................151
ODBC Library Data.....................................................................................................................151
Positioning Embedded Components..........................................................................................152
Symbol Wizard...........................................................................................................................152
22 SOLIDWORKS PDM........................................................................................153
Automated Drawing PDF Creation in SOLIDWORKS PDM Standard ..................................153
Configuring the Convert Task (For SOLIDWORKS PDM Standard only).............................154
Converting a SOLIDWORKS Drawing File to PDF...............................................................154
Data Card Editor Undo .........................................................................................................155
Design Branching and Merging ............................................................................................155
Branching Settings................................................................................................................156
Merging Settings....................................................................................................................163
Detailed Warning Messages .................................................................................................170
Enhanced Assignment of Explicit Folder Permission.................................................................171
Enhanced File Version Upgrade Tool........................................................................................171
File Version Upgrade Summary............................................................................................171
Monitoring the Upgrade Process ..........................................................................................172
Notifying Users About the Upgrade Process.........................................................................172
Enhanced Permission Control....................................................................................................173
Quality Enhancements in SOLIDWORKS PDM.........................................................................173
Revision Table Integration ....................................................................................................173
Configuring Revision Table Integration.................................................................................174
Configuring the Revision Table Node....................................................................................174
Defining Variable Mapping....................................................................................................175
Revision Table Dialog Box....................................................................................................175
Setting Dynamic Variable Values in Copy Tree.........................................................................177
SOLIDWORKS Inspection Integration........................................................................................177
SOLIDWORKS PDM Application Programming Interface..........................................................178
SOLIDWORKS PDM Support for Non-SOLIDWORKS CAD File References ......................179
23 SOLIDWORKS Plastics...................................................................................180
Clamp Force in Machine Opening Direction...............................................................................180
Density Result at End of PACK Analysis....................................................................................180
Exclude Area from Clamp Force Calculation.............................................................................181
Export Deformed Geometry........................................................................................................181
Mesh Enhancements .................................................................................................................181
Shrinkage Percentage in Warp Measure...................................................................................182
Temperature Criteria for Short Shots.........................................................................................183
24 Routing.............................................................................................................184
Flattening Enhancements...........................................................................................................184
General Routing Enhancements................................................................................................185
Routing Library Manager Enhancements...................................................................................185
SOLIDWORKS Electrical and Routing User Interface Integration........................................185
General Routing Library Manager Enhancements................................................................185
25 Sheet Metal......................................................................................................187
Creating Normal Cuts ...........................................................................................................187
Tab and Slot ..........................................................................................................................188
Creating a Tab and Slot........................................................................................................189
Three Bend Corner Reliefs ...................................................................................................191
Corner Relief Display............................................................................................................191
Creating Suitcase Corner Reliefs..........................................................................................192
26 SOLIDWORKS Simulation...............................................................................194
Topology Study .....................................................................................................................194
Material Mass Plot.................................................................................................................196
Topology Optimization of a Plate..........................................................................................198
Allow for Dismissal of Warning Messages ............................................................................201
Create Results Plot from Imported Data ...............................................................................201
Displacement Control for Nonlinear Contact ........................................................................202
Email Notification for Completed Analysis ............................................................................202
Factor of Safety Plot for Nonlinear Static Studies .................................................................202
Import Simulation Study Features into Assemblies ..............................................................202
Improved Pin Connector .......................................................................................................203
Mesh Refinement for Stress Singularities .............................................................................203
Sensor for Simulation Mass Properties ................................................................................204
27 Sketching.........................................................................................................205
Controlling the Tangency Direction............................................................................................205
Creating Mirrored Entities in 3D Sketch.....................................................................................206
Enabling and Disabling Automatic Solve and Undo for Sketches..............................................206
Instance Limit Removed for Circular Sketch Patterns ...............................................................207
Mirroring Entities Using Reference Planes and Planar Faces...................................................207
Pen, Touch, and Gesture-based Sketching ..........................................................................208
Smart Dimension on the Context Toolbar..................................................................................208
Controlling Dimensions with the Context Toolbar.................................................................209
28 SOLIDWORKS Toolbox ..................................................................................210
Hexalobular Hardware................................................................................................................210
Importing and Exporting Hole Wizard Data................................................................................211
29 SOLIDWORKS Utilities....................................................................................212
SOLIDWORKS Design Checker.................................................................................................212
30 SOLIDWORKS Visualize.................................................................................213
3DConnexion Spacemouse Support..........................................................................................213
Area Light Enhancements..........................................................................................................215
Cloud Library Enhancements.....................................................................................................215
Decal Improvements...................................................................................................................215
Help Menu Improvements..........................................................................................................217
Import all SOLIDWORKS Cameras, Custom Views, and Lights ...............................................217
Interactivity Performance Improvements....................................................................................219
Remove Camera Post-Processing from Backplates..................................................................221
Spherical and Stereoscopic Cameras for VR.............................................................................221
Spherical Lens.......................................................................................................................222
Stereoscopy...........................................................................................................................223
Application Examples............................................................................................................224
Updated User Interface..............................................................................................................225
31 Weldments.......................................................................................................228
Customizing Description for Bounding Box Properties .........................................................228
Linking a Cut List Folder to a Cut List Property ....................................................................228
