Best Practice Information
Domain and Role/Product
SOLIDWORKS Design Collaborative Designer for SOLIDWORKS SOLIDWORKS Design with Cloud Services
What's Covered? - Jump to each section using the Contents List in the top right!
- Prerequisite Learning
- Introduction to Managing Flexible Parts Using the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform and SOLIDWORKS Design
- Deformable Parts in the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform
Revision History
| Rev # | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | Oct 2025 | Document created. |
Note
All SolidPractices are written as guidelines. It is a strong recommendation to use these documents only after properly evaluating your requirements. Distribution of this document is limited to Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks employees, VARs, and customers that are on active subscription. You may not post this document on blogs or any internal or external forums without prior written authorization from Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corporation.
This document was updated using version SOLIDWORKS 2025 SP04. If you have questions or need assistance in understanding the content, please contact your designated reseller.
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1. Prerequisite Learning
The target audience of this guide is designers and engineers currently using SOLIDWORKS Design.
Administrators for the 3DEXPERIENCE platform will also benefit from the information; however, the majority of the information is aimed at designers and engineers using SOLIDWORKS Design regularly.
Knowledge of saving and organising SOLIDWORKS Design content on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform is a prerequisite for this guide.
Before studying this guide, it's recommended that you are familiar with the following topics:
- Creating SOLIDWORKS parts and assembly models
- Saving and opening SOLIDWORKS parts and assemblies from the 3DEXPERIENCE platform
- Storing and organising design content in 3DEXPERIENCE collaborative spaces and bookmarks
- Configuring (Admin only) and assigning Enterprise Item Numbers
2. Introduction to Managing Flexible Parts Using the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform and SOLIDWORKS Design
Many products contain flexible parts. Flexible parts deform from their original manufactured shape when placed into a product during assembly. Common examples of flexible components include O-rings, Springs, Hoses, and Cables. These are often purchased items, each with its own unique part/item number and are typically used across multiple designs and product ranges.
When using the Windows file system to manage SOLIDWORKS design data, SOLIDWORKS configurations are a common technique employed by designers and engineers to represent different deformed variations of a flexible part. Configurations provide several distinct benefits; however, when adopting the 3DEXPERIENCE platform for managing your design-to-manufacturing process, modelling techniques that worked well with Windows file management are not necessarily the most appropriate to enable a business to take full advantage of the 3DEXPERIENCE platform capabilities.
The 3DEXPERIENCE platform provides a specific set of capabilities that enable users to define a part as deformable, and then easily keep track of which products/designs the deformed variation is used in. Adopting these capabilities will enable your design team and other departments within your company to gain full value from the 3DEXPERIENCE platform.
3. Deformable parts in the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform
Deformable parts in the 3DEXPERIENCE platform are defined by creating a relationship between a SOLIDWORKS part representing the stock component and a SOLIDWORKS part representing the deformed state of the stock part. The deformed relationship type enables users to easily view which individual components in a product structure are a deformed variation of a stock item number.
a) Defining a SOLIDWORKS Part as Deformable
First, the stock part is modelled in SOLIDWORKS in its undeformed state. In this example, a USB cable is modelled in its straight, undeformed shape.
After saving the part to the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, the part can be assigned its key attribute information, for example, Enterprise Item Number and description. The Enterprise Item Number is automatically transferred to any part that is deformed from a
Note: For detailed information about configuring and utilising Enterprise Item Numbers, please refer to the Naming and Numbering Solidpractices guide. Link
Next, use the Product Mechanical Behaviour command on the MySession Tools toolbar to define the USB cable part as Deformable. This operation applies a unique tag to the part in the database.
Note: When selecting OK to the Deformable option, the operation cannot be undone. The part will keep the Deformable tag in the 3DEXPERIENCE platform.
b) Defining a SOLIDWORKS Part as Deformed
A new model representing the USB cable in its deformed shape is created. The deformed shape is representative of the geometry in its final assembled state.
Next, the part is linked back to the stock USB cable model, again by using the Product Mechanical Behaviour command from the MySession tools toolbar. This time, the Deformed option is selected, and the stock USB cable part is selected as the deformable file.
The search dialogue will display a list of all parts that have been defined as deformable.
After selecting the USB Cable and clicking OK, a Deformed relation type is created between the two parts. The relations app shows that the coil-shaped USB Cable part has been deformed from the stock USB Cable part.
Note: If an Enterprise Item Number has been assigned to the stock deformable part, it will be linked to the deformed part. Even though these are two separate part models in SOLIDWORKS the creation of Deformed relationship results in both being treated as a single item in the database.
By repeating the same step, the stock deformable USB cable part can be related to any number of shaped USB cable part models that are used in different assemblies. The relations browser will display all of the parts that have been deformed by the stock component.
When attempting to assign an Enterprise Item Number to a physical product that has a "deformed from" relationship with a part that already has an EIN assigned, the following warnings are displayed,
This is because the deformed part already has a linked Enterprise Item Number from its deformable parent part.
c) Tracking the Usage of Stock Deformable Parts in the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform
When viewing a product structure in the Product Explorer app, a user can filter a product structure to show only the deformed parts.
- Select the Filter command on the Tools toolbar, create a new Filter By Attribute.
- Select the Attribute type Deformability from the drop-down list of attribute values, followed by the Deformed attribute value.
- Validate the filter criteria by selecting the green tick and the select Apply to filter the product structure.
Since both the stock USB cable model and the deformed USB cable are the same item in reality, despite being two different SOLIDWORKS part files, the deform relationship between the two results in the Enterprise Item Number of the stock deformable part being displayed for the deformed version of the USB cable.
Tip: The column display in the Product Explorer app can be configured to show the Enterprise Item Number and the Deformability status of a part. The Enterprise Item Number of the stock deformable part will be displayed for the deformed part.
4. Summary
Adopting the 3DEXPERIENCE platform for managing design data, like any new business process change, offers an opportunity to enhance current working practices that take advantage of new capabilities.
The use case outlined in this guide explains how to transition from using traditional SOLIDWORKS modelling techniques for designing flexible parts, to one that will enable design teams to realize more value from adopting the 3DEXPERIENCE platform.
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We would like to hear your feedback and suggestions for new topics. After reviewing this document, please take a few minutes to fill out a brief survey. Your feedback will help us create the content that directly addresses your challenges.