Products & Solutions
Why DriveWorks
How to Buy
Resources
About
Log InTry Demos

Get Started with Design Automation with the DriveWorks Solo 30-Day Free Trial

Design Automation

Markets arechanging, and customers are expecting more from the products and services they are buying. Consumers want products faster, cheaper and easier than ever before,without compromising on quality. This is presenting a challenge for many businesses. To meet demand, manufacturers are turning to automation.

Design automation is enabling businesses to turn aroundproposalsquickly,design and manufacture efficientlyanddeliver on promisesconsistently, all whilst maintaininga healthy profit.

By automating time-sensitive and often repetitive activities, businesses canfocus on innovationand adding value to their products, improving throughput and quality to meet customers requirements.

Save time, reduce errors, improve quality, and streamline processes with DriveWorks.

A graphic advertising the 30-Day DriveWorks Free Trial Offer.

Why DriveWorks Solo?

UseDriveWorks Solo to quickly and easily create and configure custom productsinside SOLIDWORKS速.

The rules-based design automationeliminates errorsand expensive, time-consuming design changes.

Automate repetitive SOLIDWORKS tasksand free up engineers to focus on product innovation and development.

DriveWorks Solo iseasy to set up, maintain and use. Deliver custom products faster and with greater accuracy, without using complex macros, design tables or code.

Get a head start bytrying DriveWorks Solo free for 30 days.

Get the Most Out of Your 30 Day Free Trial of DriveWorks Solo

We’ve created help and training resources so you can get the most from DriveWorks Solo and your 30 day free trial.

DriveWorks training manual page.

Training Tutorial

Follow the free Online Training to learn how to use DriveWorks Solo step by step. The training is on-demand in the DriveWorks Learning Portal so you can learn at your own pace and at a time that suits you.

MyDriveWorks account page on a computer screen

DriveWorks Community

Explore resources and content in the MyDriveWorks Community, with learning resources and opportunities to connect with other customers, resellers and partners from around the world.

A screenshot of some How-To videos page on DriveWorks.co.uk

How-To Videos

Our How-To Video Clips include tips on setting up different aspects of DriveWorks, including design automation (CAD), form design, automating the creation of drawings, documents, running projects and more.

A screenshot of some sample projects page on DriveWorks.co.uk

Sample Projects

Download DriveWorks Sample Projects, explore them and get ideas for your own projects. Take a look at how they are set up and see a variety of DriveWorks functionality set up and ready to use.

A screenshot of the DriveWorks Pro Help File page

Online Help File

A complete online help file is available online 24/7. The DriveWorks Solo Help File gives information, best practices, and solutions. Learn about a variety of topics.

The DriveWorks Webinars & Events page.

Webinars and Learning Events

Join the DriveWorks Solo Getting Started and DriveWorks Solo Online Training webinars to learn more, ask questions and get up and running quickly.

A screenshot of the Articles page on DriveWorks.co.uk

Articles Library

Our articles take an in-depth look at DriveWorks functionality and industry trends, alongside detailed how-to guides written by our technical experts.

DriveWorks Solo ROI Calculator page.

ROI Calculator

Calculate your ROI for DriveWorks Solo, based on automating one of your own products.
See the savings you can make and how soon you will benefit.

A picture of a page in The Little Book of Rules and a DriveWorks mug.

Little Book of Rules

Filled with examples of the rules used to automate designs with DriveWorks and a guide to the syntax you can use. Get in contact with us to request a Little Book of Rules.

A screenshot of the DriveWorks Technology page on DriveWorks.co.uk

Technology Examples

Explore the core technologies that make up DriveWorks software. Our Technology Examples go behind the scenes of our powerful technology, explore them to see what you can do with DriveWorks.

A screenhot of a configurator example on driveworkslive.com

Configurator Examples

Be inspired by ourDriveWorks Configurator examples. Our productconfigurator examplesshow whats possible withDriveWorks Pro. Explore and interact with the examples atDriveWorksLive.com

Screenshot of the Tech Tips help resources on MyDriveWorks

Tech Tips

Examples to demonstratespecific functionality and answer common questions. Download and explore the Tech Tips to learn how you can re-implement the same functionalityinto your own DriveWorks projects.

Take Your Design Automation Knowledge Further

TheDriveWorks Solo Certificationis available to anyone with a DriveWorks Solo license, including the 30-day free trial.

The certification isa great way to get off to the best start with your DriveWorks Solodesign automationprojects.

Strengthen your DriveWorks Solo skills and push your DriveWorks projects further.

Complete the exam in less than 3 hours to learn more about design automation and add an extra certification to your resume.

Example DriveWorks Solo certificate given to all who complete the certification.

Download and Use DriveWorks Solo Free for 30 Days

Follow the 3 easy steps below to download the DriveWorks Solo 30 day free trial and see the functionality for yourself.

A picture of a computer screen with a ''activate your DriveWorks community account'' on the screen.

Create MyDriveWorks Account

A computer screen showing a drawing using DriveWorks.

Download & Licence DriveWorks Solo

Two computer screens showing a drawings using DriveWorks.

Automate SOLIDWORKS

Before capturing your Master Models Assembly Structure inside DriveWorks, you need to decide which components need to be captured, and how to capture them.

The first question you should ask is,do any new models need to be created based on this component?

If they do, and Dimensions or Features need driving,they should be captured as a component. This will allow you to go on and capture Dimensions, Features, Custom Properties, and Drawings against the component.

You can then build rules for these captured elements inside your projects Model Rules.

The next question to consider is, does thecomponent need to be swapped for another, or have its configurations changedin the generated Assembly?

If the answer is yes,capturing the component as an Instancewill mean you can build Rules that allow the component to be swapped, and have its configuration driven.

If a component doesnt change,you dont need to capture it at all. The component that exists in the master assembly will continue to be referenced by any generated assemblies.

 

Here is an example in practice:

Inside SOLIDWORKS we have an Assembly called DoorAssembly with the Assembly Structure as pictured here.

A screenshot of the SOLIDWORKS feature tree.

If we capture this Assembly inside DriveWorks Solo, the Captured Assembly Structure tab opens, and we need to decide what to capture inside the Assembly.

A screenshot of Captured Assembly Structure window with door, handle and hinge unchecked.

We want to be able to drive the Door Parts dimensions and generate new files based on a Master Part. This means we need to capture it as a component by checking the associated checkbox.

A screenshot of the Captured Assembly Structure window open and only the door part unchecked.

In any new DoorAssembly files that we create using DriveWorks, we dont want new Handle Parts to be created. However, we do want to be able to swap in existing Parts from a library. To do this, we can choose to capture the Handle Part as an Instance.

With the DoorAssembly open, clicking on the Instances tab will show all the components that can be captured as Instances, clicking on the checkbox next to the Handle component will capture it as an Instance.

A screenshot of the Instances window inside SOLIDWORKS.

The final component to consider is the Hinge. We can leave this uncaptured as the component cant change. The Hinge Part being referenced by the Master DoorAssembly will continue to be referenced by any generated DoorAssembly Models. You wont need to build any Rules for the Hinge Part and running the Project wont generate any new Hinge Parts.

A screenshot of the Captured Assembly Structure window open and only the door part unchecked.

Inside your Projects Model Rules, swap the Handle Part for a different SOLIDWORKS Model and reference the existing Hinge Part in any generated models. This will allow you to create a new version of the DoorAssembly and Door Part.

A screenshot of Model Rules.

Learn more about Captured Assembly Structure in our online help file

See what you can achieve with design automation and get started for free with the DriveWorks Solo 30-day trial

Design Automation

Markets arechanging, and customers are expecting more from the products and services they are buying. Consumers want products faster, cheaper and easier than ever before,without compromising on quality. This is presenting a challenge for many businesses. To meet demand, manufacturers are turning to automation.

Design automation is enabling businesses to turn aroundproposalsquickly,design and manufacture efficientlyanddeliver on promisesconsistently, all whilst maintaininga healthy profit.

By automating time-sensitive and often repetitive activities, businesses canfocus on innovationand adding value to their products, improving throughput and quality to meet customers requirements.

Save time, reduce errors, improve quality, and streamline processes with DriveWorks.

A graphic advertising the 30-Day DriveWorks Free Trial Offer.

Why DriveWorks Solo?

UseDriveWorks Solo to quickly and easily create and configure custom productsinside SOLIDWORKS速.

The rules-based design automationeliminates errorsand expensive, time-consuming design changes.

Automate repetitive SOLIDWORKS tasksand free up engineers to focus on product innovation and development.

DriveWorks Solo iseasy to set up, maintain and use. Deliver custom products faster and with greater accuracy, without using complex macros, design tables or code.

Get a head start bytrying DriveWorks Solo free for 30 days.

Get the Most Out of Your 30 Day Free Trial of DriveWorks Solo

We’ve created help and training resources so you can get the most from DriveWorks Solo and your 30 day free trial.

DriveWorks training manual page.

Training Tutorial

Follow the free Online Training to learn how to use DriveWorks Solo step by step. The training is on-demand in the DriveWorks Learning Portal so you can learn at your own pace and at a time that suits you.

MyDriveWorks account page on a computer screen

DriveWorks Community

Explore resources and content in the MyDriveWorks Community, with learning resources and opportunities to connect with other customers, resellers and partners from around the world.

A screenshot of some How-To videos page on DriveWorks.co.uk

How-To Videos

Our How-To Video Clips include tips on setting up different aspects of DriveWorks, including design automation (CAD), form design, automating the creation of drawings, documents, running projects and more.

A screenshot of some sample projects page on DriveWorks.co.uk

Sample Projects

Download DriveWorks Sample Projects, explore them and get ideas for your own projects. Take a look at how they are set up and see a variety of DriveWorks functionality set up and ready to use.

A screenshot of the DriveWorks Pro Help File page

Online Help File

A complete online help file is available online 24/7. The DriveWorks Solo Help File gives information, best practices, and solutions. Learn about a variety of topics.

The DriveWorks Webinars & Events page.

Webinars and Learning Events

Join the DriveWorks Solo Getting Started and DriveWorks Solo Online Training webinars to learn more, ask questions and get up and running quickly.

A screenshot of the Articles page on DriveWorks.co.uk

Articles Library

Our articles take an in-depth look at DriveWorks functionality and industry trends, alongside detailed how-to guides written by our technical experts.

DriveWorks Solo ROI Calculator page.

ROI Calculator

Calculate your ROI for DriveWorks Solo, based on automating one of your own products.
See the savings you can make and how soon you will benefit.

A picture of a page in The Little Book of Rules and a DriveWorks mug.

Little Book of Rules

Filled with examples of the rules used to automate designs with DriveWorks and a guide to the syntax you can use. Get in contact with us to request a Little Book of Rules.

A screenshot of the DriveWorks Technology page on DriveWorks.co.uk

Technology Examples

Explore the core technologies that make up DriveWorks software. Our Technology Examples go behind the scenes of our powerful technology, explore them to see what you can do with DriveWorks.

A screenhot of a configurator example on driveworkslive.com

Configurator Examples

Be inspired by ourDriveWorks Configurator examples. Our productconfigurator examplesshow whats possible withDriveWorks Pro. Explore and interact with the examples atDriveWorksLive.com

Screenshot of the Tech Tips help resources on MyDriveWorks

Tech Tips

Examples to demonstratespecific functionality and answer common questions. Download and explore the Tech Tips to learn how you can re-implement the same functionalityinto your own DriveWorks projects.

Take Your Design Automation Knowledge Further

TheDriveWorks Solo Certificationis available to anyone with a DriveWorks Solo license, including the 30-day free trial.

The certification isa great way to get off to the best start with your DriveWorks Solodesign automationprojects.

Strengthen your DriveWorks Solo skills and push your DriveWorks projects further.

Complete the exam in less than 3 hours to learn more about design automation and add an extra certification to your resume.

Example DriveWorks Solo certificate given to all who complete the certification.

Download and Use DriveWorks Solo Free for 30 Days

Follow the 3 easy steps below to download the DriveWorks Solo 30 day free trial and see the functionality for yourself.

A picture of a computer screen with a ''activate your DriveWorks community account'' on the screen.

Join the DriveWorks Community

A computer screen showing a drawing using DriveWorks.

Download and Licence DriveWorks Solo

Two computer screens showing a drawings using DriveWorks.

Automate SOLIDWORKS

Making Your DriveWorks Solo Forms Dynamic and Intelligent

In DriveWorks Solo you can create interactive and dynamic Forms easily by linking Form Controls together using Control Properties.

By linking Control returns to other properties it is possible to change positions, visibility, values and selections within the DriveWorks Form and Project.

This allows you to show different options based on selections and rules to aid guided selling.

In this example we are driving the form to display an image if the length is 2500mm or higher. This informs the user that if their trailer is larger than 2499mm they require a twin axis.

In this example we are swapping the image for one with a green border to show that a spare wheel option has been selected.

On the right, you can see that if the length of the trailer exceeds 2499m we will display an image to show the trailer requires a twin axle and we drive the width minimum value to be increased from 1200mm to 1500m.

Linking Form Controls is a quick and easy way of improving user experience and providingguided selling.

This trailer example uses the Visibility, File Name, and the Default Value Properties to change the controls to be reactive to other values that are driven on the Form.

More advanced Projects may use multiple Forms with Decisions.

Decisions allow the Project creator to build Rules that will alter the navigation of the Project Specification when run.

For example, In this Trailer configurator, we could create a Checkbox Control that asks the user whether they want accessories or not.

We could then add a decision to our Form Navigation tab.

A rule would be added that states:

If the accessories Checkbox is ticked, the next form is accessories.

Otherwise, dont show the accessories Form at all.

Learn More

Download the DriveWorks Solo Agricultural Trailer Configurator Sample project to explore how the Control Properties are linked.
There’s also further useful information in the DriveWorks Solo Online Help File.

Download DriveWorks Solo free for 30 days and see what you can achieve with design automation.

Design Automation

Markets arechanging, and customers are expecting more from the products and services they are buying. Consumers want products faster, cheaper and easier than ever before,without compromising on quality This is presenting a challenge for many businesses. To meet demand, manufacturers are looking toautomation.

Design automation is enabling businesses to turn aroundproposalsquickly,design and manufacture efficientlyanddeliver on promisesconsistently, all whilst maintaininga healthy profit.

By automating time-sensitive and often repetitive activities, businesses canfocus on innovationand adding value to their products, improving throughput and quality to meet customers requirements.

A graphic advertising the 30-Day DriveWorks Free Trial Offer.

Why DriveWorks Solo?

UseDriveWorks Solo to quickly and easily create and configure custom productsinside SOLIDWORKS速.

The rules-based design automationeliminates errorsand expensive, time-consuming design changes.

Automate repetitive SOLIDWORKS tasksand free up engineers to focus on product innovation and development.

DriveWorks Solo iseasy to set up, maintain and use. Deliver custom products faster and with greater accuracy, without using complex macros, design tables or code.

Get a head start bytrying DriveWorks Solo free for 30 days.

Get the Most Out of Your 30 Day Free Trial of DriveWorks Solo

We’ve created help and training resources so you can get the most from DriveWorks Solo and your 30 day free trial.

DriveWorks training manual page.

Training Tutorial

Download the free Training Manual to learn how to use DriveWorks Solo step by step. There is also a training video for each lesson to make it even easier.

MyDriveWorks account page on a computer screen

DriveWorks Community

Explore resources and content in the DriveWorks Community. My.DriveWorksis a great resource for anyone, with learning resources and opportunities to connect with other customers, resellers and partners fromaround the world.

A screenshot of some How-To videos page on DriveWorks.co.uk

Videos

Learn how to use DriveWorks atyour own pace. Watch ourHow to Video Clipsto get tips on setting updifferent aspects of DriveWorks. Clips cover: design automation (CAD), form design, automating the creation of drawings, documents, running projects and more

A screenshot of some sample projects page on DriveWorks.co.uk

Sample Projects

Explore a range of industry examples. DownloadDriveWorks sample projects, explore them and get ideas for your own projects. Take a look at how they are set up and see a variety of DriveWorks functionality set up and ready to use.

A screenshot of the DriveWorks Pro Help File page

Online Help File

A complete online help file is available online 24/7. The DriveWorks Solo help file gives information, best practices, and solutions. Learn about a variety of topics. They are searchable and indexed by google, so its easy to find what youre looking for to get the help you need when you need it.

The DriveWorks Webinars & Events page.

Webinars and Learning Events

Join the DriveWorks Solo Getting Started and DriveWorks Solo Online Training webinars to learn more, ask questions and get up and running quickly.

A screenshot of the Articles page on DriveWorks.co.uk

Articles Library

Our extensivearticles libraryis a knowledge-share resource.

Our articlestake an in-depth look at DriveWorksfunctionality and industry trends, alongside detailed how-to guides written by our technical experts. Learn more and expand your knowledge.

DriveWorks Solo ROI Calculator page.

New: ROI Calculator

Calculate ROI for DriveWorks Solo, based on automating one of your own products. It accounts for the cost of the software, the time it will take to implement and the savings that can be made and how soon you will benefit.

A picture of a page in The Little Book of Rules and a DriveWorks mug.

Little Book of Rules

Filled with examples of the rules used to automate designs with DriveWorks and a guide to the syntax you can use. Get in contact with us and we will provide you with the Little Book of Rules.

A screenshot of the DriveWorks Technology page on DriveWorks.co.uk

Technology Examples

Go under the hood and see the differenttechnology in DriveWorks. Explore the core technologies that make up DriveWorks software. Our Technology demos go behind the scenesof our powerful technology. Explore theTechnology Examplesto see what you can do with DriveWorks.

A screenhot of a configurator example on driveworkslive.com

Configurator Examples

Be inspired by ourDriveWorks Configurator examples. Our productconfigurator examplesshow whats possible withDriveWorks Pro. Explore and interact with the examples atDriveWorksLive.com

Screenshot of the Tech Tips help resources on MyDriveWorks

Tech Tips

Examples to demonstratespecific functionality. These example projects have been created by the DriveWorks Tech Team to demonstrate specific functionality. Use eachTech Tips to learn exactly how you canre-implement the same functionalityinto your own DriveWorks projects.

Download and Use DriveWorks Solo Free for 30 Days

Follow the 3 easy steps below to download the DriveWorks Solo 30 day free trial and see the functionality for yourself.

A picture of a computer screen with a ''activate your DriveWorks community account'' on the screen.

Join the DriveWorks Community

A computer screen showing a drawing using DriveWorks.

Download and Licence DriveWorks Solo

Two computer screens showing a drawings using DriveWorks.

Automate SOLIDWORKS

We’ve updated our Return on Investment Calculator. Use it to calculate a return on investment for DriveWorks Solo based on automating one of your own products. See how quickly you could benefit and how much you could save.

What is DriveWorks Solo?

Use DriveWorks Solo to quickly and easily create and configure custom products inside SOLIDWORKS.

DriveWorks Solo iseasy to set up, maintain and use,helping your company deliver custom products faster and with greater accuracy, without using complex macros, design tables or code.

Automate repetitive SOLIDWORKS tasksand free up engineers to focus on product innovation and development.

Reduce the cost of custom designs, respond quickly to sales enquiries, reduce repetitive tasks and enhance product quality.

From one simple input form, DriveWorks Soloquickly generates 3D models, 2D drawings,Bills of Materials, sales quotes, cover letters and more, automatically.

Download a 30 day free trial of DriveWorks Solo to get started.

What Could You Save?

Use the calculator to view the savings you could make, and see how soon you could benefit from implementing DriveWorks Solo software. Enter your details and youll receive the ROI breakdown, a boss justification letter, and a quote, all automatically created and emailed to you by DriveWorks.

This ROI calculator is a powerful tool that helps you see how much automation could benefit you.

Create new product designs and sales quotes quickly using DriveWorks Solo while;

  • Eliminating Errors – DriveWorks rules-based SOLIDWORKS速 automation eliminates errors and expensive, time-consuming design changes.
  • Saving Time & Innovating More – Automate repetitive SOLIDWORKS tasks and free up engineers to focus on product innovation and development.
  • Delivering custom products faster and with greater accuracy, without using complex macros, design tables, or code.

How to Use the DriveWorks Solo ROI Calculator

The ROI Calculator is powered by DriveWorks Pro software. The forms, calculations, emails, and documents are all generated by DriveWorks. We have created this ROI calculator to make it easier for you to justify the purchase of DriveWorks Solo before making the investment.

We have made the calculator clear, and easy to follow. Take a look at this guide to using our updated ROI calculator.

A screenshot of the DriveWorks ROI Calculator page, showing the form.

1. Your ROI is calculated based on the values you enter. The more information you enter, and the more accurate it is, the more realistic your ROI calculation will be. You should calculate your ROI on a product or item you design which is typically the same but different.

A screenshot of the DriveWorks ROI Calculator page, showing the form and a red box around the section titled 'Assumptions'.

2. We have made some assumptions based on our existing customers, to reduce the amount of information required from you. You can edit these assumptions when filling out the form by clicking ‘Edit Assumptions’. Doing the 30-day free trial for DriveWorks Solo before filling out the calculator will give you a better insight into what the answers to the assumptions will be.

A screenshot of the DriveWorks ROI Calculator page, showing the form with a red box around the section that is a round up of how much money a user could save.

3. DriveWorks rules-based system calculates your ROI in real time as you input your values.

A screenshot of the final page of the form, where users decide what documents they require prior to them being sent.

4. When you enter your details, youll be able to download a summary of your results. You will also receive an email with a full breakdown of your results.

A screenshot of the final page of the form, where users decide what documents they require prior to them being sent, with a red box around the section that asks if a user requires a manager justification letter.

5. You will also have the option to get a customized justification letter to send to your manager.

A computer screen showing the first page form of the DriveWorks Solo ROI Calculator.

Calculate Your ROI for DriveWorks Solo

Anyone can use the ROI calculator to see how they could benefit from DriveWorks Solo. Free trials and ROI calculators are great ways of figuring out what works for you, before committing to a tool and investing time and money.

 

Learn How It Was Built

Our ROI Calculator is powered by DriveWorks Pro software and was created using the latest version, DriveWorks 20. The forms, calculations, emails, and documents are all generated by DriveWorks.

In addition to updating the UI of the project, all of the documents generated have been refreshed to match our branding too.

We trust in our software, which is why we use it ourselves in all areas of our business.

You can find out more about how we used DriveWorks to create our ROI calculator at DriveWorks World 2023. If you haven’t signed up already, make sure you register for our biggest technical training event of the year.

DriveWorks Solo Tech Tip: Additional File Formats

Along with generating new SOLIDWORKS Parts, Assemblies and Drawings, you can set up your DriveWorks Solo Projects so generated SOLIDWORKS files are saved in additional file formats.

You may want to create a PDF version of a SOLIDWORKS Drawing so it can be sent to a customer, or you may require a DXF of a part for manufacturing.

Instead of having to manually save the generated SOLIDWORKS files in the required formats, you can automate this process by capturing the additional file formats against the SOLIDWORKS file inside DriveWorks Solo.

With a captured model open, you will notice a File Formats tab. With this selected, you can capture additional file formats for a file. The file formats that can be captured change depending on the type of SOLIDWORKS file that you have open, this reflects the file formats available inside SOLIDWORKS.

Each available file format type can be set to one of the following:

  • No – the file format is not captured.
  • Yes – the file format is captured and will be created each time the model is generated with the same name and location as its parent SOLIDWORKS file.
  • With Rules – the file format is captured but rules can dictate if it is to be created and the location it is stored.

Learn More

Learn more about Additional File Formats in the DriveWorks Solo Online Help File:

Try DriveWorks Solo

Create and configure custom products inside SOLIDWORKS速 quickly and easily with DriveWorks Solo.

Use DriveWorks Solo to reduce the cost of custom designs, respond quickly to sales inquiries, enhance product quality & reduce repetitive tasks.

Download a 30 Day Free Trial of DriveWorks Solo to try the functionality for yourself.

Design Automation

Markets arechanging, and customers are expecting more from the products and services they are buying. Consumers want products faster, cheaper and easier than ever before,without compromising on quality This is presenting a challenge for many businesses. To meet demand, manufacturers are looking toautomation.

Design automation is enabling businesses to turn aroundproposalsquickly,design and manufacture efficientlyanddeliver on promisesconsistently, all whilst maintaininga healthy profit.

By automating time-sensitive and often repetitive activities, businesses canfocus on innovationand adding value to their products, improving throughput and quality to meet customers requirements.

Download DriveWorks Solo free for 30 days and see what you can achieve with design automation.

A graphic advertising the 30-Day DriveWorks Free Trial Offer.

Why DriveWorks Solo?

UseDriveWorks Solo to quickly and easily create and configure custom productsinside SOLIDWORKS速.

The rules-based design automationeliminates errorsand expensive, time-consuming design changes.

Automate repetitive SOLIDWORKS tasksand free up engineers to focus on product innovation and development.

DriveWorks Solo iseasy to set up, maintain and use. Deliver custom products faster and with greater accuracy, without using complex macros, design tables or code.

Get a head start bytrying DriveWorks Solo free for 30 days.

Get the Most Out of Your 30 Day Free Trial of DriveWorks Solo

We’re committed to your success and believe in helping others to help themselves.

We’ve created help and training resources so you can get the most from DriveWorks Solo and your 30 day free trial. Follow our tips below to help you get the most out of your free trial.

Training Tutorial

Download the free Training Manual to learn how to use DriveWorks Solo step by step. There is also a training video for each lesson to make it even easier.

DriveWorks Community

Meet other users, share tips and tricks and find solutions in the DriveWorks Community. Get involved with the forums, watch how-to videos and download the training tutorial.

Videos

Head to the DriveWorks YouTube channel for an in-depth look at DriveWorks Solo with useful how-to videos and sample project walkthrough videos.

Webinars

Join the DriveWorks Solo Getting Started and DriveWorks Solo Online Training webinars to learn more, ask questions and get up and running quickly.

Sample Projects

Learn about DriveWorks Solo by downloading the Sample Projects. Pick them apart to discover how each one is constructed and what it can do. Each project comes with a useful walkthrough video and a PDF with the key facts.

Online Help File

The DriveWorks Help File is packed with valuable information so you can find answers to your questions and learn what’s possible, following best practices and picking up tips and tricks. The search function makes it really easy to find what you’re looking for.

Little Book of Rules

Filled with examples of the rules used to automate designs with DriveWorks and a guide to the syntax you can use. Get in contact with us and we will provide you with the Little Book of Rules.

ROI Calculator

Calculate ROI for DriveWorks Solo, based on automating one of your own products. It accounts for the cost of the software, the time it will take to implement and the savings that can be made and how soon you will benefit.

Download and Use DriveWorks Solo Free for 30 Days

Follow the 3 easy steps below to download the DriveWorks Solo 30 day free trial and see the functionality for yourself.

A picture of a computer screen with a ''activate your DriveWorks community account'' on the screen.

Join the DriveWorks Community

A computer screen showing a drawing using DriveWorks.

Download and Licence DriveWorks Solo

Two computer screens showing a drawings using DriveWorks.

Automate SOLIDWORKS

DriveWorks Solo Tech Tip: Positioning Form Controls

DriveWorks Solo includes tools to help you quickly position your Form Controls.

Grouping Controls

Grouping Controls are great for controls that you want to keep together on your forms, like a set of dimension controls (Height, Width, Depth).

To Group Controls:

  1. Select two or more controls from the same user form.
  2. Right click on one of the selected controls.
  3. Select Group Controls from the menu.

To Ungroup Controls

  1. Select a group of controls from the user form.
  2. Right click on the group.
  3. Select Ungroup Controls from the menu.

Aligning Form Controls

Aligning Form Controls makes your controls snap to a grid and helps you to quickly make sure they are all placed neatly.

To align two or more form controls, either box select (by click-dragging the form design surface), or control-select each control you wish to align, and then press the relevant alignment button.

The following alignment tools are available:

  • Align Left
  • Align Vertical Centers
  • Align Right
  • Align Horizontal Centers
  • Align Middle
  • Align Bottom
  • Space Evenly Vertically
  • Space Evenly Horizontally

Control Guides
Control guides allow quick and accurate alignment of controls when designing user forms.

Control guides appear when controls are moved on the user form.

Control Guides align to other controls in two ways:

  • Margin Guides – Snap a set distance away from another control.
  • Alignment Guides – Snap to the edges of another control.

Accurate Positioning

Accurate Positioning allows you to position your Form Controls graphically to the pixel.

For fine tuning of control positions the keyboard arrow keys can be used to move the selected control one pixel at a time.

  1. Select a single control or multiple controls to be moved.
  2. Press and hold the Alt key on the keyboard and the arrow key that corresponds to the direction the control is to be moved.
  • Alt + – Move the control(s) 1 pixel up.
  • Alt + – Move the control(s) 1 pixel left.
  • Alt + – Move the control(s) 1 pixel down.
  • Alt + – Move the control(s) 1 pixel right.

Use each Form Controls Layout Properties to ensure consistent positioning

In this example the property that defines a Form Controls Left position has been linked to a Variable.

This Variable can be used in multiple Form Controls Left position property. Updating the Variables value will update the Left position of all the Form Controls it has been applied to.

Find out more about the DriveWorks Solo Form Designer in the DriveWorks Solo Online Help File.

Using Intelligent File Naming in DriveWorks Solo

DriveWorks Solo offers the ability to take complete control over the naming and location of your generated files.

File naming is an important consideration when planning an implementation, and DriveWorks provides complete flexibility in how files are named.

Your file names can be as simple or as complex as you require, with the ability to suffix, prefix or even ignore a files original name.

In this case we are going to use intelligent file naming to allow DriveWorks to re-use a file that has been previously created.

The top-level assembly will still require a unique name, if not, nothing at all could be generated. But all sub-assemblies and parts can be assigned an intelligent naming convention.

Intelligent file names combine parameters within your Project that impact the outcome of the model into the file name. For example, the length or color of a component.

For this to work, a components file name rule will need to include the values of all the parameters being driven within the component.

Every time DriveWorks is used to generate new files, the file name rule will be evaluated and if the file name has already been generated, DriveWorks will re-use the existing component. This reduces the number of components being generated and improves model generation time.

Lets look at an example to see how this works in practice.

In this DriveWorks Solo Conveyor Project we use intelligent file naming to re-use parts within the conveyor assembly.

As previously mentioned, this improves generation time but also allows us to create a library of parts for this assembly. This also helps easily identify files without having to open them in SOLIDWORKS.

Within Model Rules the rule shown below determines whether the file name of the Conveyor Assembly uses Intelligent File Naming. This is controlled by a Check Box Control on the form.

If intelligent file naming returns TRUE, then this rule will use the return of numerous Form Controls along with text strings to identify each value to create a unique file name.

In this example the parameters being used are the Length, Width, Height and whether side rails are required.

If I enter the values 600, 870 and 680 for Length Width and Height, the resulting file name is:
CONVEYOR FRAME ASSEMBLY-600L X 870W X 680H.SLDASM

You can see the result of the generated file names below.

Learn more about Intelligent File Naming in the DriveWorks Solo Online Help File

Using Tabulated Data in DriveWorks Solo

Using tabulated data helps to keep your projects tidy while allowing available options to change depending on previous user inputs.

Linking Form Controls to tabulated data also makes your projects more flexible as updating the table data will be mirrored by the associated controls.

For example, the table below can be used to dictate what material options are available for the selected handle type:

Here’s how the rules are set up in the background:

The Handle Types Items property has been defined by listing the distinct values in the first column of the table using the ListAllDistinct function.

The Handle Materials Items property rule uses the return of the Handle Type Form Control to dynamically change the available items.

The ListAllConditional function has been used to only show valid material options.

Download and Use DriveWorks Solo Free for 30 Days

Follow the 3 easy steps below to download the DriveWorks Solo 30 Day Free Trial and see the functionality for yourself.

A picture of a computer screen with a ''activate your DriveWorks community account'' on the screen.

Join the DriveWorks Community

A computer screen showing a drawing using DriveWorks.

Download and Licence DriveWorks Solo

Two computer screens showing a drawings using DriveWorks.

Automate SOLIDWORKS

Learn More About DriveWorks Solo

Were committed to your success and believe in helping others to help themselves. Weve created help and training resources to help you get the most from DriveWorks Solo and your 30-day free trial.

Explore the Help File

Learn more about DriveWorks Solo in our extensive Online Help File.

Training and Resources

Explore our learning resources to help you succeed with DriveWorks Solo.

Capturing Assembly Structure

Before capturing your Master Models Assembly Structure inside DriveWorks, you need to decide which components need to be captured, and how to capture them.

The first question you should ask is, do any new models need to be created based on this component?

If they do, and Dimensions or Features need driving, they should be captured as a component. This will allow you to go on and capture Dimensions, Features, Custom Properties and Drawings against the component.

You can then build rules for these captured elements inside your projects Model Rules.

The next question to consider is, does the component need to be swapped for another or have its configurations changed in the generated Assembly?

If the answer is yes, capturing the component as an Instance will mean you can build Rules that allow the component to be swapped, and have its configuration driven.

If a component doesnt change, you dont need to capture it at all. The component that exists in the master assembly will continue to be referenced by any generated assemblies.

Lets look at an example to see how this works in practice.

Inside SOLIDWORKS we have an Assembly called DoorAssembly with the Assembly Structure below:

If we capture this Assembly inside DriveWorks Solo, the Captured Assembly Structure tab opens, and we need to decide what to capture inside the Assembly.

We want to be able to drive the Door Parts dimensions and generate new files based on a Master Part. This means we need to capture it as a component by checking the associated checkbox.

In any new DoorAssembly files that we create using DriveWorks, we dont want new Handle Parts to be created. However, we do want to be able to swap in existing Parts from a library.

To do this, we can choose to capture the Handle Part as an Instance.

With the DoorAssembly open, clicking on the Instances tab will show all the components that can be captured as Instances, clicking on the checkbox next to the Handle component will capture it as an Instance.

The final component to consider is the Hinge. We can leave this uncaptured as the component cant change.

The Hinge Part being referenced by the Master DoorAssembly will continue to be referenced by any generated DoorAssembly Models.

You wont need to build any Rules for the Hinge Part and running the Project wont generate any new Hinge Parts.

Inside your Projects Model Rules, swap the Handle Part for a different SOLIDWORKS Model and reference the existing Hinge Part in any generated models. This will allow you to create a new version of the DoorAssembly and Door Part.

Learn more about Capturing Assembly Structure in our online help file.

Making Your DriveWorks Solo Forms Dynamic and Intelligent

In DriveWorks Solo you can create interactive and dynamic Forms easily by linking Form Controls together using Control Properties.

By linking Control returns to other properties it is possible to change positions, visibility, values and selections within the DriveWorks Form and Project.

This allows you to show different options based on selections and rules to aid guided selling.

In this example, we are driving the form to display an image if the length is 2500mm or higher. This informs the user that if their trailer is larger than 2499mm they require a twin axis.

In this example, we are swapping the image for one with a green border to show that a spare wheel option has been selected.

On the right, you can see that if the length of the trailer exceeds 2499m we will display an image to show the trailer requires a twin axle and we drive the width minimum value to be increased from 1200mm to 1500m.

Linking Form Controls is a quick and easy way of improving user experience and providingguided selling.

This trailer example uses the Visibility, File Name, and the Default Value Properties to change the controls to be reactive to other values that are driven on the Form.

More advanced Projects may use multiple Forms with Decisions.

Decisions allow the Project creator to build Rules that will alter the navigation of the Project Specification when run.

For example, In this Trailer configurator, we could create a Checkbox Control that asks the user whether they want accessories or not.

We could then add a decision to our Form Navigation tab.

A rule would be added that states:

If the accessories Checkbox is ticked, the next form is accessories. Otherwise, dont show the accessories Form at all.

Learn More

Download the DriveWorks Solo Agricultural Trailer Configurator Sample Project to explore how the Control Properties are linked. There’s also further useful information in the DriveWorks Solo Online Help File.

Design Automation

Markets arechanging, and customers are expecting more from the products and services they are buying. Consumers want products faster, cheaper and easier than ever before,without compromising on quality This is presenting a challenge for many businesses. To meet demand, manufacturers are looking toautomation.

Design automation is enabling businesses to turn aroundproposalsquickly,design and manufacture efficientlyanddeliver on promisesconsistently, all whilst maintaininga healthy profit.

By automating time-sensitive and often repetitive activities, businesses canfocus on innovationand adding value to their products, improving throughput and quality to meet customers requirements.

Download DriveWorks Solo free for 30 days and see what you can achieve with design automation.

Why DriveWorks Solo?

UseDriveWorks Solo to quickly and easily create and configure custom productsinside SOLIDWORKS速.

The rules-based design automationeliminates errorsand expensive, time-consuming design changes.

Automate repetitive SOLIDWORKS tasksand free up engineers to focus on product innovation and development.

DriveWorks Solo iseasy to set up, maintain and use. Deliver custom products faster and with greater accuracy, without using complex macros, design tables or code.

Get a head start bytrying DriveWorks Solo free for 30 days.

Get the Most Out of Your 30 Day Free Trial of DriveWorks Solo

We’re committed to your success and believe in helping others to help themselves.

We’ve created help and training resources so you can get the most from DriveWorks Solo and your 30 day free trial. Follow our tips below to help you get the most out of your free trial.

Training Tutorial

Download the free Training Manual to learn how to use DriveWorks Solo step by step. There is also a training video for each lesson to make it even easier.

DriveWorks Community

Meet other users, share tips and tricks and find solutions in the DriveWorks Community. Get involved with the forums, watch how-to videos and download the training tutorial.

Videos

Head to the DriveWorks YouTube channel for an in-depth look at DriveWorks Solo with useful how-to videos and sample project walkthrough videos.

Webinars

Join the DriveWorks Solo Getting Started and DriveWorks Solo Online Training webinars to learn more, ask questions and get up and running quickly.

Sample Projects

Learn about DriveWorks Solo by downloading the Sample Projects. Pick them apart to discover how each one is constructed and what it can do. Each project comes with a useful walkthrough video and a PDF with the key facts.

Online Help File

The DriveWorks Help File is packed with valuable information so you can find answers to your questions and learn what’s possible, following best practices and picking up tips and tricks. The search function makes it really easy to find what you’re looking for.

Little Book of Rules

Filled with examples of the rules used to automate designs with DriveWorks and a guide to the syntax you can use. Get in contact with us and we will provide you with the Little Book of Rules.

ROI Calculator

Calculate ROI for DriveWorks Solo, based on automating one of your own products. It accounts for the cost of the software, the time it will take to implement and the savings that can be made and how soon you will benefit.

Download and Use DriveWorks Solo Free for 30 Days

Follow the 3 easy steps below to download the DriveWorks Solo 30 day free trial and see the functionality for yourself.

A picture of a computer screen with a ''activate your DriveWorks community account'' on the screen.

Join the DriveWorks Community

A computer screen showing a drawing using DriveWorks.

Download and Licence DriveWorks Solo

Two computer screens showing a drawings using DriveWorks.

Automate SOLIDWORKS

Carrosserie Cazaux are Saving Time by Driving New Variations with DriveWorks Solo

Carrosserie Cazaux are a leading manufacturer of custom-made refrigeration units for carrier vehicles of up to 26 tonnes, as well as containers, cold rooms, trailers and custom units.

Based in France, Carrosserie Cazaux was founded in 1983.

Implementing DriveWorks

Carrosserrie started using DriveWorks Solo in 2019 and used it to develop a configurator inside SOLIDWORKSthat drives dimensions and appearances.

They have also automated the placement of different features on a model.

When describing how DriveWorks has benefitted the company, Guillaume Guerin, design engineer at Carrosserie Cazaux says that DriveWorks is interactive and fun to use, more flexible, and benefits from the excel syntax in the rules builder.”

Guillaume says that this is particularly beneficial when first learning how to use DriveWorks.

At Carrosserie, DriveWorks is used internally by the engineering team.

Since implementing the software, they have found it much easier to train up new members of the team, owing to the simplicity in writing the rules and in using the software itself.

Using Define Tables

Guillaume says that Carrosserie have benefitted particularly from using tables in DriveWorks Solo.

The ability to work with tabular data allows the user to import data into static tables, from any existing databases and spreadsheets.

This data can then be queried and used to drive new variations.

Automating Drawings

Carrosserie Cazaux also uses DriveWorks Solo to automate the creation of manufacturing data and drawings.

The image on the right shows an example of a custom 2D drawing that has been automatically generated by DriveWorks Solo inside SOLIDWORKS.

Each drawing is updated and customized with the company logo, the designer, the date and the client. It is then ready to be sent to the manufacturing floor.

Form Navigation

Carroserrie Cazaux have also benefitted from the ability to design their own forms inside DriveWorks Solo.

These then appear in the SOLIDWORKS task pane.

Using decisions, you can also set up a custom navigation.

This allows you to show specific forms and follow a set path based on values entered.

Benefits of DriveWorks Solo

When asked what the most important thing about implementing DriveWorks Solo has been for the company, Guillaume says the speed in getting our products into production.

We look forward to following the progress at Carrosserie Cazaux!

Download and Use DriveWorks Solo Free for 30 Days

Follow the 3 easy steps below to download the DriveWorks Solo 30 Day Free Trial and see what time savings you can achieve.

Automate SOLIDWORKS Parts, Assemblies and Drawings.

Save time, reduce errors and innovate more.

A picture of a computer screen with a ''activate your DriveWorks community account'' on the screen.

Join the DriveWorks Community

A computer screen showing a drawing using DriveWorks.

Download and Licence DriveWorks Solo

Two computer screens showing a drawings using DriveWorks.

Automate SOLIDWORKS