Total integration

SolidWorks has acquired Shropshire-based Priware Limited, a SolidWorks Gold Partner and developer of CircuitWorks software, which bridges the gap between electronic CAD and mechanical CAD software.

The CircuitWorks software enables engineers to simplify their electronic product designs by integrating ECAD files into 3D models and 2D drawings, allowing engineers to ensure electronic components such as printed circuit boards (PCBs) will fit and work correctly in their products.

The move marks a recognition by Solidworks that an increasing number of its customers are developing electromechanical systems, rather than just purely mechanical ones. And the purchase of Priware will help Solidworks to deliver an integrated system to meet their needs.

As an example, 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.