In SOLIDWORKS, a circular reference can occur when two or more assembly components share an external reference. For example, a rebuild of component1 requires the rebuilding of component2, but component2 then requires a rebuild of component1, and so on.
Companies often have SOLIDWORKS installed and set up long before they implement PDM. This article walks through modifying your SOLIDWORKS installation to add PDM Client. To modify your SOLIDWORKS installation, open the Control panel, and navigate to Programs > Programs and features.
In 2026, Canadian manufacturers face tighter margins, higher quality expectations, and ongoing labour shortages, but also a rare opportunity. Quality inspection is becoming a competitive advantage, not just a compliance function, and recent changes to the SR&ED program mean advanced inspection and metrology investments may now qualify for significant government support. Manufacturers that modernize their inspection processes with digital workflows and 3D scanning will be better positioned to reduce risk, move faster, and protect their margins.
Metal 3D printing has streamlined the process, removing the need for tedious, manual brazing. But the very property that makes copper desirable - its high thermal conductivity- adds its own unique challenges, as heat quickly dissipates away from the laser powder bed fusion melt pool, often leading to instability and significant residual stress. BLT (Bright Laser Technologies) addresses these hurdles with its "Full-System Engineering" approach, integrating design, materials, and machinery to produce copper thrust chambers nearly a meter in height.
While learning the “picks and clicks” of CAD is a necessary rite of passage, it has often come at the expense of actual engineering education. Every minute spent troubleshooting a broken mate is a minute lost to discussing design intent, manufacturability, or optimization. With the release of SOLIDWORKS 2026, that paradigm is shifting. By integrating meaningful, practical AI tools directly into the interface, the software is moving from a passive drawing tool to an active design partner. For educators across North America, this means a fundamental shift in the classroom: moving the focus from where to click to how to engineer.
We’ve all been there: you attempt to pattern a feature around a complex curve, and your CAD software suddenly decides "not today." Patterning is often treated as a necessary evil, a finicky tool that seems to break at the slightest hint of a design change. Here are 5 SOLIDWORKS and 3DEXPERIENCE patterning workflows to get you started.
In CATIA V5 Drafting, the default settings and drawing actions are not always apparent. This article provides some tips for drafting settings and command options to reduce drawing modification time.
In 2026, the term “Industrial Clinic” is described as a fundamental shift in healthcare where hospitals and Orthotics & Prosthetics (O&P) facilities move 3D printing from prototyping and fit check to primary production. This transition is powered by HP Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) technology, enabling the on-site fabrication of final-use biocompatible medical devices that meet stringent clinical standards - without the lead times of traditional centralized fabrication.
3DEXPERIENCE World 2026 wrapped up in Houston, TX, last week. In case you missed it, here's a recap of some of the key messages and announcements heard during this year’s event.