SOLIDWORKS to Flux

Bring your SOLIDWORKS project to Flux and continue it here. Flux edits the imported parts and assemblies, designs new parts around them, and adds electronics and firmware in the same project.

Import your SOLIDWORKS files into Flux

Attach the .sldprt or .sldasm files to a message in the Chat panel and ask Flux to import them. For an assembly, also attach all of the .sldprt files that it uses.

Import these SOLIDWORKS part files of the motor mount.

Import this SOLIDWORKS assembly with all of its part files.

To do it in the UI:

In Flux, select Flux menu → Import → Mechanical → 3D part or assembly….
In the Import Parts dialog, click Choose files and select the .sldprt part files or the .sldasm assembly file. For an assembly, also select all of the .sldprt files that the assembly uses. You can also click Choose folder, or drop the files or a ZIP file on the dialog.
Select the parts to import, then click the Import button. The button shows the number of selected parts, for example Import 3 parts.
Flux creates a new part in your library for each part file. For an assembly, Flux creates one part that keeps each component, its name, and its position. Drag the part from the Part Library into your project.

Export STEP files from SOLIDWORKS

You can also export a STEP file and add it to a Flux project as an asset.

In SOLIDWORKS, open the part (.sldprt) or the assembly (.sldasm).
Select File → Save As.
In Save as type, select STEP AP214 (*.step;*.stp) or STEP AP242 (*.step;*.stp).
Click Save. For an assembly, SOLIDWORKS saves all of its parts and their positions in one STEP file.

To export more than one part, repeat these steps for each part.

Import the STEP file into Flux

Attach the STEP file to a message in the Chat panel and tell Flux what to do with it.

Here is the STEP file of the housing. Add it to the project and show it in the 3D view.

Here is the STEP assembly of the gearbox. Measure the distance between the two shaft axes.

Here is the STEP file of the housing. Design a PCB that fits inside it.

To do it in the UI:

Open your Flux project, or create a new project.
In the Inspector, open Assets, click Manage Assets, then click Add Item.
Upload the .step file (or the .stp file). In Assets, Flux accepts .step, .stp, .stpz, .iges, .igs, and .brep files.
Open the View panel and use the 3D view to see the model. For an assembly, Flux keeps each part in its original position, with its color and repeated instances.

You can also attach the STEP file to a message in the Chat panel and tell Flux what to do with it.

To add a component with its 3D model to your part library, select Flux menu → Import → Part… and upload the symbol and footprint files with the matching .step or .stp model. See Mechanical Design.

Import SOLIDWORKS PCB boards (.SWPcbDoc) with Flux menu → Import → Project….

What you can do with your design in Flux

Flux is an AI hardware engineer. After the import, your SOLIDWORKS model is part of a Flux project. Ask Flux to work on it. Flux works on the mechanical parts, the electronics, the firmware, and the manufacturing in the same project.

Turn the imported model into a complete device

Use the imported SOLIDWORKS part or assembly as the fit reference for a PCB. Then add firmware for the board and a wire harness for off-board sensors or actuators where the assembly needs one.

Ask Flux to design a PCB that fits the imported SOLIDWORKS enclosure or mechanism. Include its mounting points, connectors, and clearances.
Ask Flux to design firmware for the microcontroller and peripherals on the new board.
If the assembly has off-board sensors or actuators, ask Flux to design a wire harness between them and the board.

Using the imported SOLIDWORKS assembly as the fit reference, design a PCB that fits inside it and aligns with its mounting points and connector openings.

Create firmware for the microcontroller on the new board. Use the imported SOLIDWORKS model to list the sensors and actuators.

For the imported SOLIDWORKS assembly, design a wire harness between the PCB and the off-board sensors and actuators.

Edit the imported model

Tell Flux what to change. Flux measures the imported model and converts its parts into editable CAD code. It saves each edit as a new model and keeps your original file unchanged in the project. In an assembly, Flux changes the part you name and keeps the other parts where they are.

Make the imported housing 10 mm taller and keep the wall thickness.

Move the 6 mm mounting holes on bracket.step 15 mm toward the center.

Add a 2 mm fillet to all outside edges of the cover.

Design new parts and mechanisms

Ask Flux for custom parts that fit your imported model: brackets, mounts, housings, hinges, and mechanisms. Flux builds them around the real 3D models of your parts and boards. It uses screws, standoffs, and other hardware from the Flux part library.

Design a motor mount for the NEMA 17 stepper in this assembly. Use M3 screws and leave 1 mm clearance to the frame.

Design a hinge between the lid and the base of the imported housing, with a 110° stop.

Build assemblies and complete products

Ask Flux to build multi-part assemblies and complete products, from a handheld device to a robot arm. Flux places the parts by face, edge, or axis constraints, and places the board and its components in the assembly.

Build a pan-tilt camera mount from the imported base plate. Add two servo brackets and align the pivots by their axes.

Place the board in the imported housing on the four bosses and check the connector openings.

Check fit, strength, heat, and mass

Ask Flux to check the fit and the clearances between parts and to find interference. For a part under load, ask Flux to analyze the stress and the deflection. For a part that gets hot, ask Flux to analyze the heat conduction through the part. Flux also calculates the mass, the center of mass, and the inertia. Flux reports the results with numbers and images. See Simulation.

Analyze the stress and the deflection of the imported bracket in 6061 aluminum with a 50 N load on the tip.

Check the clearance between the board and the housing and report the smallest gap.

Calculate the mass and the center of mass of the assembly in ABS.

Simulate air flow, liquid flow, and cooling

Ask Flux to simulate the air flow and the temperature inside an enclosure with vents, fans, or heatsinks. Flux also simulates liquid cooling and the pressure drop in channels, and the drag around a product.

Simulate the air flow through the housing with the 40 mm fan at full speed. Is the motor driver below 85 °C?

Design the electronics, firmware, and cables

Flux designs the electronics inside your product in the same project. Ask Flux for the requirements, the parts, the schematic, and the PCB layout and routing. Ask Flux to write and test the firmware for the microcontroller. Ask Flux for the wire harnesses between the boards and the other devices, with a quote from a harness manufacturer.

Design the motor controller board that fits inside the imported housing. Use the four bosses as mounting holes.

Write firmware for the microcontroller that drives the two servos from a joystick.

Get a quote for 10 cables from the board to the stepper, 300 mm long.

Render your design

Ask Flux for a still render, a turntable video, or an exploded-view animation of your models. You can also ask for a product video of your device.

Make a turntable video of the assembly on a white background.

Make an exploded-view animation of the housing, the board, and the lid.

Ask Flux to export the 3D model of the project.

Export the 3D model of the project as a STEP file.

Export the 3D model as an STL file for 3D printing.

To export in the UI:

Select Flux menu → Export → Mechanical → PCB 3D model to export STL, STEP, STEP compressed, GLB, COLLADA, BREP, VRML, or XAO files. Open the STEP file in SOLIDWORKS to continue the work there.

Ask Flux for 3D-printing quotes from vendors such as Craftcloud, JLCPCB 3D printing, and PCBWay 3D printing, and for laser-cut and sheet-metal quotes from SendCutSend and OSH Cut. Ask Flux to order the 3D-printed parts from Craftcloud. For the board, ask Flux for PCB quotes and orders. See Export and manufacturing.

Get 3D-printing quotes for the housing and the lid in PETG.

Get a laser-cut quote for the base plate in 3 mm aluminum.

Order 5 sets of the housing and the lid from Craftcloud.

SOLIDWORKS concepts in Flux

In SOLIDWORKS	In Flux
FeatureManager design tree	Flux saves each edit as editable CAD code that your engineers can open and change.
Part (`.sldprt`) and assembly (`.sldasm`) files	Models in a Flux project. Every project has a URL, and Flux keeps its history.
Toolbox	The Flux part library, with screws, standoffs, and other mechanical hardware.
SOLIDWORKS Simulation	Ask Flux for the stress, the deflection, and the heat conduction of a part.
SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation	Ask Flux to simulate the air flow, the liquid flow, and the cooling.
PhotoView 360 and Visualize	Ask Flux for a render, a turntable video, or an exploded-view animation.
SOLIDWORKS PCB and CircuitWorks	Flux designs the schematic and the PCB in the same project as the mechanical parts.
Mates and constraints	Ask Flux to align the parts by face, edge, or axis constraints.
Measure tool	In the 3D view, press M to start Measure Distance.
Section view	In the 3D view, expand Analysis and turn on Cross Section.
Display styles	In the View panel, open Display and choose X-Ray, Solid, Realistic, or Blueprint from Materials.
Mass properties	Ask Flux for the mass, the center of mass, and the inertia.

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