The advantages of designing in 3D are now very well documented and all seasoned Solid Edge users will have a good understanding the benefits these tools bring – Improved communication and visualisation, reduction in design errors, elimination of costly prototypes, faster and fewer design changes, reuse of intelligent information, accelerated downstream processes and much more. Having said all this there are still times when the ability to deal with and make use of 2D information is still very important. One scenario could be that we have new users transitioning from a legacy 2D system wishing to maintain existing 2D data in Solid Edge and then make use of built in tools to transition that 2D data into full 3D Solid Models. Another scenario could be where we have experienced 3D users looking to use 2D to assist in the 3D design process. This 2D data could come from suppliers, customers or even engineers in-house who are using the free 2D tools that Solid Edge provides. These methods of working are called hybrid 2D/3D and Solid Edge has market leading capabilities in this area. This Solid Edge video tutorial will focus on how 2D data can be imported and used.

Solid Edge has the capability to mix both 2D and 3D geometry. As such it can apply the power of a true hybrid approach or workflow by solving 3D problems with 2D geometry and also using 2D geometry to drive the shape and position of 3D parts. The ‘Zero D’ capabilities within Solid Edge provide the ability to map out the complete structure of a new design before any parts or assemblies have been created. This workflow makes it extremely quick to define the bill of materials and extract reports.
Also when working in a team environment on a large project this approach allows you to distribute the overall layout of the assembly to different users by assigning appropriate 2D geometry to specific components and sub assemblies. Once the structure is ready a simple publish function will automatically generate all the model files complete with any 2D sketches where applicable, thus allowing the design to move forwards at an accelerated pace. This Solid Edge video tutorial will focus on the Zero D and virtual assembly BOM’s in Solid Edge.

When generating assemblies and more specifically assembly constraints, there are various ways in which we can work. One of the most common and efficient commands we can use is called FlashFit. This is an extremely dynamic and easy to use command for creating assembly relationships that will speed up the complete workflow. However there are many aspect of FlahFit that are not utilised or understood. In addition to this the Assemble command works very well in conjunction with FlashFit as it allows a much more flexible approach when building an assembly, this is due to the action > object methodology it uses that enables you to build assembly relationships up in any order you desire. This Solid Edge video tutorial will explore the often overlooked capabilities of FlashFit and Assemble and show how they can help you in your day to day tasks.

The Explode Render Animate (ERA) environment allows us to generate fast and accurate conceptual motion studies using the explode capabilities, motors, appearance changes and motion paths. With these tools it is very easy to generate technical illustration manuals, maintenance and repair manuals, assembly manufacturing instructions, training videos and much more. This Solid Edge video tutorial will concentrate on how we can make effective use of the ERA functionality to create compelling animations.

Solid Edge’s high end rendering application is far more than just a tool for image creation. With more effective communication it is possible to reduce product costs and increase efficiency by reviewing designs before costly physical prototypes are built. The use of better quality presentation material will also give potential customers a more professional example of a new design and improve your chances of winning new business. Within the rendering environment you can instantly see the effects that different materials, colours, textures, and lighting have on your product design. This Solid Edge video tutorial will focus on how to use the rendering tools within the Explode Render Animate (ERA) environment.

The PMI (Product Manufacturing Information) functionality in Solid Edge allows you to easily convey rich manufacturing information inside a 3D model or assembly. This information can be very useful for design reviews as well as many downstream processes which support lean initiatives and manufacturing. The fact that all dimensional and manufacturing information can be stored within a single file improves productivity, ensures the 3D information is accurate and in sync and removes the need to keep multiple documents up to date thus reducing the requirement for 2D drawings. Solid Edge provides a full suite of tools for adding PMI data to any of your 3D designs. All these tools are in full compliance with ASME Y14.41 and other world standards. This Solid Edge video tutorial focuses on the functionality available within the Solid Edge PMI toolset.

Solid Edge’s Goal Seeking capabilities allow you to combine the excellent parametric capabilities of Solid Edge with 2D sketches in order to easily visualise your design and efficiently calculate your desired design parameters. Goal Seek capabilities will let you perform what if calculations by finding a target value in an engineering calculation. You are able to define critical parameters and vary other factors in order to arrive at your desired design goal. The fact that the Goal Seeking tools automatically iterate the dimensional values means that all the hard work is done by Solid Edge which enables you to arrive at your design goal quickly and easily. For example you might have a sequence of belt pulleys and need to adjust one of the pulleys into a location that gives you a desired belt length. Once these parameters are fed into the Goal Seek tools – Solid Edge will do the rest. This Solid Edge video tutorial will cover how to use the Goal Seek tools in both the 2D and 3D environments.