LiveLink™ for SOLIDWORKS® Updates

For users of LiveLink™ for SOLIDWORKS®, COMSOL Multiphysics® version 5.2a makes it possible to connect to COMSOL Server™ from within SOLIDWORKS®. You will also find an example that shows how you can build an app that lets users modify the SOLIDWORKS® geometry from the app directly. Review all of the LiveLink™ for SOLIDWORKS® updates in more detail below.

Connecting to COMSOL Server™ from Within the SOLIDWORKS® Interface

When you have installed COMSOL® Client, a button will be made available for connecting to COMSOL Server™ from within SOLIDWORKS®. This means that you can browse and run apps from within the SOLIDWORKS® interface, including those that use geometry synchronized with SOLIDWORKS®.

The COMSOL Multiphysics® ribbon tab and embedded COMSOL Server™ interface in the SOLIDWORKS® user interface. The COMSOL Multiphysics® ribbon tab and embedded COMSOL Server™ interface in the SOLIDWORKS® user interface.

The COMSOL Multiphysics® ribbon tab and embedded COMSOL Server™ interface in the SOLIDWORKS® user interface.

New App: Bike Frame Analyzer

The reliability of a bike frame can be estimated by analyzing the structural stress subjected to different load cases. This app leverages LiveLink™ for SOLIDWORKS® to interactively update the geometry while computing stress analyses. Using this app, you can easily test different configurations of a bike frame for different cases of dimensions, material, and loads. The app computes the stress distribution and the deformation of the frame, based on the structural dimensions, materials, and loads/constraints of the bike frame.

To easily keep track of the analyzed CAD design when the geometry in the app is updated from a SOLIDWORKS® document, the app displays CAD file information, such as the date and time of the last update, as well as the document name, its configuration, and display state. You can manipulate the frame geometry's dimensions, such as head angle, seat angle, top tube length, base bottom drop, the chainstay, wheelbase, and stack. You can also define material properties to be aluminum, steel, titanium, or something that you specify. Load cases and constraints can also be specified.

The app allows you to set a maximum allowable stress factor where a control value for the effective stress is computed for a given load case.

Application Library path for the Bike Frame Analyzer app:

LiveLink_for_Soldiworks/Applications/bike_frame_analyzer_llsw
Structural_Mechanics Module/Applications/bike_frame_analyzer_llsw

The user interface of the Bike Frame Analyzer app showing the effective stress on the frame with a 180-degree crank angle.

NOTE: In order to run this app, you need both LiveLink™ for SOLIDWORKS® and the Structural Mechanics Module.

The user interface of the Bike Frame Analyzer app showing the effective stress on the frame with a 180-degree crank angle.

NOTE: In order to run this app, you need both LiveLink™ for SOLIDWORKS® and the Structural Mechanics Module.

The user interface of the Bike Frame Analyzer app showing the effective stress on the frame with a 180-degree crank angle.

NOTE: In order to run this app, you need both LiveLink™ for SOLIDWORKS® and the Structural Mechanics Module.

Keeping Track of the Document State

In order to prevent synchronization with an incorrect SOLIDWORKS® document, the LiveLink™ interface now keeps track of the file name and path, as well as the configuration and the display state of the synchronized SOLIDWORKS® design. During the first synchronization, the file name is retrieved and documented. For subsequent synchronizations, the interface automatically selects the same file in the SOLIDWORKS® software, as long as the file is open there, and automatically switches to the previously synchronized configuration and state of the design.

This bike design in SOLIDWORKS® has several configurations and one display state. After synchronization, the configuration and display state are shown in the Settings window for the LiveLink™ for SOLIDWORKS® node. During future updates, the interface will automatically synchronize the first synchronized configuration, even if another configuration is active in SOLIDWORKS®. This bike design in SOLIDWORKS® has several configurations and one display state. After synchronization, the configuration and display state are shown in the Settings window for the LiveLink™ for SOLIDWORKS® node. During future updates, the interface will automatically synchronize the first synchronized configuration, even if another configuration is active in SOLIDWORKS®.

This bike design in SOLIDWORKS® has several configurations and one display state. After synchronization, the configuration and display state are shown in the Settings window for the LiveLink™ for SOLIDWORKS® node. During future updates, the interface will automatically synchronize the first synchronized configuration, even if another configuration is active in SOLIDWORKS®. This bike design in SOLIDWORKS® has several configurations and one display state. After synchronization, the configuration and display state are shown in the Settings window for the LiveLink™ for SOLIDWORKS® node. During future updates, the interface will automatically synchronize the first synchronized configuration, even if another configuration is active in SOLIDWORKS®.

This bike design in SOLIDWORKS® has several configurations and one display state. After synchronization, the configuration and display state are shown in the Settings window for the LiveLink™ for SOLIDWORKS® node. During future updates, the interface will automatically synchronize the first synchronized configuration, even if another configuration is active in SOLIDWORKS®.

Parameter Selection in CAD Assembly Components

The LiveLink™ interface now automatically synchronizes parameters that are selected in component files for assemblies. Previously, the parameters in the components had to be selected from the synchronized assembly file.

Updated Support for New CAD File Format Versions

The CAD file import and export functionality has been extended to support new versions for the following file formats:

Read From File

  • Parasolid® (.x_t, .xmt_txt, .x_b, .xmt_bin) up to V28.1
  • ACIS® (.sat, .sab, .asat, .asab) up to R25, 2016 1.0
  • CATIA® V5 (.CATPart, .CATProduct) R8-R25, 2016
  • Inventor® assemblies (.iam) versions 11, 2008-2016
  • Inventor® parts (.ipt) versions 6-11, 2008-2016
  • SOLIDWORKS® (.sldprt, .sldasm) versions 98-2016
  • AutoCAD® (.dwg) versions 2.5-2016
  • AutoCAD® DXF (.dxf, 3D) versions 2.5-2016

Write to File

  • ACIS® (.sat, .sab) R4, R7, and 2016 1.0
  • Parasolid® (.x_t, x_b) V28.1

A complete list of supported CAD file formats is found in the CAD Specification Chart under the "Read from File, CAD" and "Write to File" sections.


ACIS is a registered trademark of Spatial Corporation. Autodesk, AutoCAD, and Inventor are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and/or other countries. Parasolid and NX are trademarks or registered trademarks of Siemens Product Lifecycle Management Software Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and in other countries. SOLIDWORKS and CATIA are registered trademarks of Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corp. All trademarks listed herein are the property of their respective owners, and COMSOL AB and its subsidiaries and products are not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or supported by those trademark owners. For a list of such trademark owners, see http://www.comsol.com/tm.