LiveLink™ for SOLIDWORKS® Updates

For users of LiveLink™ for SOLIDWORKS®, COMSOL Multiphysics® software version 5.3a brings updated tutorial models and extends support to new versions of certain CAD file formats. See the LiveLink™ for SOLIDWORKS® updates in more detail below.

Updated Tutorial Model: Electrical Heating in a Busbar Assembly

This tutorial model now analyzes a busbar assembly designed to conduct a direct current from a current source to the anode in an electrolysis process. During synchronization, selections are generated in the COMSOL Multiphysics® model based on the materials assigned to the components in the SOLIDWORKS® assembly. The selections are then used to assign materials to the geometry in the COMSOL Multiphysics® model. User-defined selections are also synchronized and used for assigning boundary conditions in the analysis. A parametric sweep over two-dimensional parameters in the SOLIDWORKS® assembly has been included to study the influence of the geometry on the physics phenomena, visualized through a Table Surface plot in the results.

The updated Electrical Heating in a Busbar Assembly model using LiveLink™ for SOLIDWORKS®.

The synchronized geometry and the 3D surface plot of the temperature distribution in the busbar assembly. The 2D plot generated after the parametric sweep can help in selecting geometric parameter combinations that keep the maximum temperature in the copper components below the desired maximum value.

The synchronized geometry and the 3D surface plot of the temperature distribution in the busbar assembly. The 2D plot generated after the parametric sweep can help in selecting geometric parameter combinations that keep the maximum temperature in the copper components below the desired maximum value.

Updated Tutorial Model: Pacemaker Electrode

This tutorial now uses selections defined on the geometry in the SOLIDWORKS® part file as an input to the boundary conditions when setting up the analysis inside the COMSOL Multiphysics® software. Defining selections in the SOLIDWORKS® part file results in a faster and more robust workflow when performing geometric parameter sweeps and optimization of geometric parameters.

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 V30.0
  • ACIS®: (.sat, .sab, .asat, .asab) up to R25, 2018 1.0
  • AutoCAD® (.dwg, .dxf) up to 2017
  • CATIA® V5 up to 2017
  • PTC Creo Parametric™ up to 4.0

Write to File

  • Parasolid®: (.x_t, x_b) V30.0

You can view a complete list of supported CAD file formats in the CAD Specification Chart under the "Read from File, CAD" and "Write to File" sections.


SOLIDWORKS is a registered trademark of Dassault Systèmes SOLIDWORKS Corp. ACIS is a registered trademark of Spatial Corporation. Autodesk, the Autodesk logo, and AutoCAD are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and/or other countries. CATIA is a registered trademark of Dassault Systèmes or its subsidiaries in the US and/or other countries. Parasolid is a trademark or registered trademark of Siemens Product Lifecycle Management Software Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and in other countries. PTC, Creo, and Creo Parametric are trademarks or registered trademarks of PTC Inc. or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and in other countries. COMSOL AB and its subsidiaries and products are not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or supported by these trademark owners.