If you’re designing cutting-edge tech products, you need tools that keep up with the demands of modern engineering. SOLIDWORKS isn’t just a CAD program — it’s a full-fledged design, simulation, and validation ecosystem that makes product development faster, smarter, and more cost-effective. With powerful built-in simulation tools, seamless integration with circuit board design software, and access to cloud-based collaboration on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, SOLIDWORKS gives engineers everything they need to bring high-performance products to market with confidence.
The Growing Importance of Simulation in Product Development
As electronic devices become more powerful and compact, managing factors such as thermal efficiency, structural integrity, and vibration resistance is critical. Physical testing, while reliable, is expensive and can significantly extend product development cycles. Companies like KOSES Co., a producer of semiconductor manufacturing systems in Korea, have realized the benefits of integrating data management and advanced simulation tools to validate designs early in the process, reducing the number of costly prototypes and ensuring their semiconductor equipment meets strict performance standards.
How SOLIDWORKS Simulation Enhances Shock and Vibration Analysis
SOLIDWORKS Simulation offers engineers an in-depth look at how products will perform under real-world conditions. Recent enhancements, like mesh re-use and automatic detection of under-constrained parts, make it faster than ever to identify potential weak points early, saving time and effort during development. While many SOLIDWORKS users are familiar with how easy it is to run stress analysis on their 3D parts and assemblies, testing for shock and vibration is a natural next step everyone can take, even without an analysis background.
Many companies, for instance, are required to demonstrate that their equipment can withstand shock and vibration loads experienced during shipping. With linear dynamic analysis tools in SOLIDWORKS Simulation Premium, they can simulate vibrations caused by high-speed movement and optimize their designs accordingly. The ability to convert a traditional Static study to Time History analysis, Random Vibration analysis, or Harmonic analysis allows a unique way to perform advanced simulation early enough in the design process to evaluate large numbers of changes — everything from changing the material of a vibration isolator to relocating electronic components.
Thermal Management and Airflow Optimization with SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation
For hi-tech products like semiconductor manufacturing equipment, managing heat buildup is just as important as ensuring mechanical durability. Companies like KOSES routinely turn to SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation to quickly fine-tune cooling strategies for their precision machines. The Electronics Cooling Module allows them to model heat dissipation across circuit boards and enclosures accurately by directly inputting heat power and thermal resistance information of their electronic components using standard JEDEC modes, ensuring that key components operate within safe temperature limits.
Through these simulations, designers can identify hotspots and optimize design choices like fan and heatsink placement, improving airflow efficiency and preventing overheating. The ability to generate temperature distribution maps and airflow velocity profiles enables their engineers to experiment with different cooling designs before committing to expensive prototypes.
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Integrating PCB Design with SOLIDWORKS and Cadence OrCAD X
For electronics-driven machinery, the integration between PCB design and mechanical components is critical. While KOSES is focused on equipment to manufacture semiconductors, many others are focused on designing the boards themselves, utilizing electrical design tools like Cadence OrCAD X alongside SOLIDWORKS to streamline the design of circuit boards used in their semiconductor systems. With this integration, they:
- Minimize design errors by ensuring precise alignment between PCB layouts and enclosures.
- Reduce development time by making real-time adjustments between mechanical and electrical teams.
- Run accurate thermal and vibration simulations to optimize component placement within their systems.
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This seamless workflow between PCB and mechanical design gives KOSES a competitive edge, ensuring high-performance electronics are properly housed and cooled within their machines.
How KOSES Decreased Overall Product Development Time by 20%
KOSES saw firsthand how SOLIDWORKS and 3DEXPERIENCE tools could transform their design process. By bringing simulation in-house, they were able to cut outsourcing costs, speed up testing, and refine their designs more efficiently. One of their biggest improvements was in vibration analysis — what used to be a lengthy, outsourced process could now be completed in 40% less time using the cloud computing capabilities found in 3DEXPERIENCE SIMULIA.
“While we initially were interested in the 3DEXPERIENCE platform for collaboration and data management solutions, we also were excited to begin using 3DEXPERIENCE Works simulation tools, which use the Abaqus® solver, said Jung Jai-Lee, Chief Technology Officer. “Based on the fact that the application of 3DEXPERIENCE Works solutions has reduced the duration of the design cycle completed by a five-person development team by 10 days, it’s expected to reduce the total development cost for the OffLoader by about 7 percent.”
Moreover, cloud-based collaboration allowed their teams to work together seamlessly, reducing miscommunication and accelerating design iterations. By utilizing the 3DEXPERIENCE platform for cloud-based data management and revision control, they were able to prevent issues with duplicate files, lost work, or unapproved change processes. This resulted in a 20% reduction in overall product development time and a 7% decrease in costs, making their semiconductor manufacturing equipment more competitive in a fast-moving market.
How Analysis Results Influence Product Design
Advanced simulations provide valuable insights that drive better design decisions. KOSES leveraged SOLIDWORKS Simulation to evaluate:
- Stress and strain distribution across critical machine components, reinforcing weak points before manufacturing.
- Displacement and deformation predictions to ensure moving parts function correctly without excessive wear.
- Shock and impact resilience, allowing them to modify materials and support structures to absorb vibrations and sudden impacts effectively.
- Random vibration responses, enabling them to meet industry requirements for stability and performance in high-speed operation.
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Learn More About Simulating and Refining Products Virtually
As companies like KOSES continue to push the boundaries of innovation, SOLIDWORKS provides the tools they need to stay ahead. Whether it’s optimizing structural integrity, improving heat management, or integrating PCB designs, the ability to simulate and refine products virtually is a game-changer for today’s engineering teams. With ongoing advancements in cloud-based simulation and AI-driven design optimization, the future of hi-tech product development is more efficient and cost-effective than ever before.
Have questions or want to know more? Contact us to learn how these tools could be integrated to improve your product development processes.
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