SolidWorks Corporation (Concord, MA) acquired U.K.-based Priware Limited, a developer of CircuitWorks software, which bridges the gap between electronic CAD and mechanical CAD software. The acquisition gives engineers around the world a platform to integrate electronic and mechanical designs for the millions of electronic products developed every year. CircuitWorks enables engineers to accelerate and simplify electronic product design by integrating ECAD files into their 3D models and 2D drawings. As a SolidWorks Gold Partner Product, CircuitWorks allows engineers to ensure electronic components such as printed circuit boards (PCBs) will fit and work correctly in their products — all within the SolidWorks software design window. A mechanical engineer can use CircuitWorks to include a PCB design (in industry-standard IDF and PADS file formats) in the SolidWorks solid model of a new global positioning system (GPS) device to help ensure the PCB is not too close to any metal contacts. SolidWorks Routing would allow the engineer to create the wire harness to connect to the PCB. The engineer would also be able to gauge how the PCB will stay in place using COSMOSWorks design validation software, and check heat flow using COSMOSFloWorks thermal dynamics analysis software. The acquisition further establishes SolidWorks software as a platform for developing highly complex mechatronics systems, which combine electrical, mechanical, and information processing components found in consumer electronics and robotics. SolidWorks and CircuitWorks combined let mechatronics engineers use digital modeling to improve product quality, reduce prototyping, and streamline development. CircuitWorks, available now as a component of SolidWorks Office Premium, will be provided to existing Premium customers at no additional charge. For details, contact SolidWorks Corporation. Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company's website.
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