SOLIDWORKS and the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform:

 

SOLIDWORKS and the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform:
A Connected Approach to Industrial Design

In today’s engineering environment, the challenge is no longer just creating accurate 3D models—it is ensuring that those models remain connected, controlled, and usable across the entire project lifecycle. This is where the integration of SOLIDWORKS with the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform delivers a significant advantage.

For mechanical engineers, designers, and drafting teams working in industrial sectors such as mining, manufacturing, and infrastructure, the ability to move seamlessly from concept through to fabrication—without losing data integrity—is critical. The 3DEXPERIENCE Platform provides the framework to make this possible.



Engineering data governance workflow with SOLIDWORKS, 3DEXPERIENCE platform, and Hamilton By Design for industrial design and project control


Moving Beyond File-Based Workflows

Traditional SOLIDWORKS workflows rely heavily on local file storage, shared drives, and manual revision control. While effective for smaller projects, this approach introduces risk when projects scale:

  • Multiple file versions across teams
  • Unclear revision status (IFR, IFA, IFC)
  • Limited visibility for stakeholders
  • Difficulty coordinating across disciplines

The 3DEXPERIENCE Platform shifts this model from file-based management to data-driven collaboration. Instead of passing files between users, teams work within a centralised environment where models, drawings, and project data are always up to date.

SOLIDWORKS Connected: Design in Context

One of the key advantages of integrating SOLIDWORKS with the platform is the ability to design in context of the full project environment.

This is particularly important for:

  • Pipework systems
  • Structural interfaces
  • Equipment layouts
  • Brownfield modifications

By linking SOLIDWORKS models directly to shared project data, designers can:

  • Reference point cloud scans of existing assets
  • Coordinate with other disciplines in real time
  • Reduce clashes before fabrication
  • Maintain alignment between design intent and site conditions

This eliminates one of the most common causes of rework—designing in isolation from reality.

Integrating LiDAR Scanning and Reality Capture

For engineering-led workflows, the integration of LiDAR scanning is a major advantage.

Point cloud data captured on site (e.g. E57 or RCP formats) can be incorporated into the SOLIDWORKS environment via the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform. This enables:

  • Accurate modelling of as-built conditions
  • Verification of clearances and tie-in points
  • Improved confidence in fabrication outputs

Rather than relying on outdated drawings or assumptions, engineers work directly from measured reality.

Data Governance and Revision Control

A major benefit of the platform is its built-in data governance capability.

Every model, drawing, and document is:

  • Version controlled
  • Tracked through its lifecycle
  • Linked to approval workflows

This is critical for projects where multiple stakeholders are involved, including:

  • Asset owners
  • Engineering consultants
  • Fabricators
  • Contractors

The platform ensures that all parties are working from the same controlled dataset, reducing the risk of errors caused by outdated or incorrect information.

Collaboration Across Distributed Teams

Engineering projects today are rarely confined to a single office. Teams are often distributed across:

  • Different cities
  • Multiple companies
  • On-site and off-site environments

The 3DEXPERIENCE Platform enables real-time collaboration by providing:

  • Browser-based model viewing
  • Shared dashboards and project tracking
  • Instant access to drawings and revisions

For SOLIDWORKS users, this means designs are no longer locked to a workstation—they become part of a live, accessible project environment.

From Design to Fabrication

One of the strongest advantages of combining SOLIDWORKS with the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform is the ability to maintain continuity from design through to fabrication.

This includes:

  • Generating fabrication-ready drawings directly from models
  • Ensuring all revisions are controlled and traceable
  • Maintaining alignment between 3D models and 2D documentation

For industries such as mining and industrial processing, where shutdown windows are tight and errors are costly, this level of control is essential.

Practical Application: Industrial Pipework Design

A typical use case highlights the value of this connected approach:

  1. A site is scanned using terrestrial LiDAR
  2. The point cloud is uploaded and managed within the platform
  3. Pipework is modelled in SOLIDWORKS using real-world geometry
  4. Clash detection is performed against existing structures
  5. Fabrication drawings are generated and issued with revision control
  6. Installation feedback is captured and fed back into the model

This creates a continuous digital thread from site to design to fabrication, ensuring accuracy at every stage.

Engineering-Led Digital Transformation

There is increasing pressure within the industry to adopt digital tools, but not all solutions deliver real engineering value. The difference lies in how the tools are used.

An engineering-led approach—combining SOLIDWORKS design capability with the governance and connectivity of the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform—delivers:

  • Reduced rework
  • Improved accuracy
  • Better project coordination
  • Stronger data integrity

This is not about adopting new software for the sake of it—it is about improving outcomes.

Final Thoughts

For SOLIDWORKS users working in complex industrial environments, the integration with the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform represents a shift toward connected engineering.

It enables teams to:

  • Design with real-world data
  • Collaborate across disciplines
  • Control revisions and approvals
  • Deliver fabrication-ready outputs with confidence

As projects become more complex and timelines tighter, this level of integration is quickly becoming the benchmark for professional engineering delivery.


Dark navy industrial-style button graphic featuring a LiDAR scanner on a tripod beside a wireframe mining haul truck and terrain point cloud, with bold white and yellow text reading “LIDAR 3D SCANNING” and a yellow directional arrow.


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