Test your parts before you manufacture them.
SOLIDWORKS Simulation is the finite element analysis (FEA) module built directly into your CAD environment. Validate strength, vibration, thermal behavior, and fatigue before the first machined part.
SOLIDWORKS Simulation, on-premise and in the cloud.
Same analysis engine, two environments. You choose based on your infrastructure, your teams, and your collaboration needs.
On your workstation · On-premise
- ›Maximum performance on complex assemblies
- ›Full control over your sensitive data, kept in-house
- ›Native integration with your existing SOLIDWORKS license
- ›Ideal for established engineering teams
In the cloud · 3DEXPERIENCE
- ›Real-time collaboration between distributed teams
- ›No high-performance hardware required locally
- ›Automatic updates and backups
- ›Instant scalability for peak workloads
Six good reasons to validate before you produce.
Avoid costly mistakes
Validate your parts in simulation before manufacturing. Catch defects at design time, not in production.
Decide on data
Base your trade-offs on measured results (stresses, deformations, frequencies), no longer on intuition.
Optimize material and cost
Lighten your parts without compromising strength. Reduce material, machining time, and footprint.
Anticipate fatigue
Simulate service life under cyclic loading. Ensure reliability before going to market.
Iterate fast
Test multiple scenarios in parallel. Compare variants and pick the best in hours, not weeks.
Win over your clients
Show visual and quantitative results. Strengthen your technical credibility as early as the proposal stage.
The 3DEXPERIENCE role that matches your analyses.
Each role unlocks a specific analysis domain. You activate only the ones you need, individually or by team.
Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know before getting started with numerical simulation in SOLIDWORKS.
SOLIDWORKS Simulation is a finite element analysis (FEA) tool that lets you virtually test your parts and assemblies before manufacturing: mechanical strength, deformation under load, vibration, fatigue, thermal transfers. In practice, it avoids costly iterations on physical prototypes by digitally validating your design, material, and thickness decisions.
No. SOLIDWORKS Simulation is designed for design engineers, not just for analysis specialists. Guided wizards let you launch an analysis in a few clicks. That said, interpreting the results requires training: Kotona Vision offers dedicated 1- to 3-day sessions depending on the target level.
It depends on model complexity and the type of analysis. A simple static analysis on a single part takes a few minutes on a standard PC. A complex analysis on an assembly of several hundred components can take several hours. For heavy computations, we recommend a dedicated workstation or the cloud computing integrated with 3DEXPERIENCE.
Yes, that’s the main advantage. Simulation runs directly inside the SOLIDWORKS interface on your existing 3D models, no double entry, no export-import. Design changes automatically flow through to the analysis. That’s what makes the tool pay off even for teams that don’t simulate full-time.
The typical ROI is measured along three axes: fewer physical prototypes (30 to 60% savings depending on the industry), faster time-to-market (4 to 8 weeks saved over a full development cycle), and material optimization (5 to 20% savings on sized parts). For Canadian manufacturers, the investment usually pays for itself in 6 to 12 months.
An introductory training session is included in the Kotona Vision onboarding when you deploy the tool. To go further, we offer certified Simulation training: 2 days for fundamentals (linear static), 3 days for the Professional module (thermal, fatigue), 5 days for Premium (nonlinear, CFD). Sessions can be held on-site or remote.
Ready to validate your parts before you manufacture them?
Let’s spend 30 minutes scoping your Simulation needs: on-premise license, 3DEXPERIENCE access, training and support. No commitment.