New software for designing electronic components

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team May 24, 2001

SolidWorks and three of its partners have joined forces to create ElectronixWorks, a software suite for designing and analyzing electronic products' outer shells and internal component fittings

SolidWorks Corporation and three of its partners have joined forces to create ElectronixWorks, a software suite for designing and analyzing electronic products' outer shells and internal component fittings.

ElectronixWorks combines SolidWorks software as the platform, and SolidWorks Certified Gold products, including Zeal Solutions' CircuitWorks, NIKA's FloWorks, and Linius Technologies' EMbassyWorks.

ElectronixWorks answers the growing industry demand for rapidly developed, newer, and smaller products such as computer cabinets and electronics enclosures (for such items as network routers, fax machines, and copiers) by letting electronics manufacturers create realistic three-dimensional computer-aided designs (3D CAD) faster, more efficiently, and more affordably than with other CAD technologies.

The ElectronixWorks suite includes three different software packages integrated with SolidWorks software: * CircuitWorks, which enables users to easily import 2D designs of printed circuit boards generated in electronic CAD (ECAD) software into SolidWorks.

This enables users to convert these ECAD designs into 3D CAD; * FloWorks, which enables designers to conduct comprehensive air flow and heat transfer analysis to ensure the units they design don't overheat and fail; and * EMbassyWorks, which allows engineers and other users to create 3D solid models of detailed wire harness designs, so they can ensure no wires are too close to heat sources and that the wiring doesn't interfere with other areas of the unit.

ElectronixWorks is a natural solution to the pressures facing electronics manufacturers today - the demand for new, smaller products to be developed quickly and cost effectively.

Industries designing electrical enclosures, including those for telecommunications, computer and office equipment, power generation equipment, and medical equipment, will benefit from ElectronixWorks' high level of integration and functionality.

"ElectronixWorks lets our customers significantly reduce design time, eliminate expensive changes late in the design phase, cut prototyping costs, reduce costly errors, and improve their manufacturing processes," said Dennis Wentworth, president of Axis Technologies, a SolidWorks reseller.

"Typically these customers would have purchased non-associative software with different user interfaces, requiring extensive training and long implementation and learning curves.

ElectronixWorks solves these problems in an affordable package that offers a significant return on investment." ElectronixWorks enables design engineers to perform a variety of functions directly within the SolidWorks software environment, so they can easily create the 3D solid models they will use for their electronics packaging designs.

Using CircuitWorks, designers can quickly turn 2D files into 3D printed circuit boards.

SolidWorks lets designers create additional 3D model data, including sheet metal enclosures, assemblies, and drawings.

Designers can then use FloWorks to study and optimize the effects of heat transfer and ventilation.

EMbassyWorks then enables users to design wire harnesses that will transmit the power and data within the assembly.

"Electronics manufacturers today must be fiercely competitive to survive," said Brian Houle, manager of SolidWorks Gold Products program.

"They need every tool possible to streamline the design process so they can get products to market faster.

ElectronixWorks does this by blending three applications that facilitate 3D solid modeling for crucial stages in electronics enclosure design." ElectronixWorks is available from SolidWorks resellers worldwide.

Special introductory pricing starting at $12,995 is available for a limited time.

ElectronixWorks supports Windows(r) NT and Windows 2000.