Simulation Software: An Essential Tool for Hardware Startups

Startup founders often have to manage tight budgets, small teams, and the pressure to get their products to market faster. That’s why, as a startup, making the right choice of product development software is critical. In addition to industry-standard 3D CAD, startups need simulation software to test and refine their designs virtually, which saves time and money on product development. Simulation software helps design teams reduce the number of physical prototypes, catch mistakes earlier in the product development cycle, validate product performance, reliability, and safety, and make better-informed engineering decisions.

Faster Time to Market

With simulation, startups can test products in hundreds of different scenarios without building a physical prototype. You can quickly iterate on your design, catching and fixing issues early in the process, speeding up product development. For startups, that speed can be the difference between being first to market or playing catch-up with competitors. It can also reduce costs and accelerate time to revenue. 

Diversified Product Offerings

When you get a product to market faster, you can move on to creating new products or improving existing ones based on feedback from your target market. Maybe you want to create a premium version of your product or target a new market segment. With simulation, you can explore different design variations quickly and cheaply and offer a wider range of products or enhanced customizations. Simulation can help startups confidently expand their product line and potentially boost their revenue streams.

Professional Investor and Stakeholder Presentations

Picture this: You’re in front of potential investors, and instead of showing them a rough sketch or a basic prototype, you pull up a full-color 3D model of your product. You can show them how it works, demonstrate its features, and even show simulation results in the meeting. This level of professionalism shows you’re serious about your product and can impress investors and stakeholders, potentially helping you secure funding or partnerships. 

Gamechanging Simulation Capabilities for Startups

We’ve identified four main simulation solutions that can really make a difference for many startups, and we packaged them into a Simulation Multiphysics Offer available to qualifying hardware startups as part of the SOLIDWORKS for Startups program. Our multiphysics offer includes Durability and Mechanics, Fluid Dynamics, Electromagnetics and Plastic Injection Molding simulation capabilities powered by SIMULIA and Abaqus® technology. Run simulations on your local computer or on the cloud. With HPC on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform you can run more time-consuming simulations. And when your CAD model changes in SOLIDWORKS, you can update the simulation model in just a few clicks.

Simulation Multiphysics Offer For Startups Includes:

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Structural Analysis and Simulation

3D model of a backhoe with simulation data - SOLIDWORKS

Knowing how long your product will last is just as important as knowing that it works. That’s where structural simulation comes in. Startups with simulation software for structures can:

  • Incorporate fatigue properties of the material with repeated loading 
  • Accurately capture real-world testing scenarios
  • Test the life of a part in minutes instead of days or weeks
  • Ensure a design will last for its desired time frame

Startups that are part of the SOLIDWORKS for Startups program can access the Durability and Mechanics Engineer. With this solution, you can:

  • Use industry-leading Abaqus and fe-safe solvers in a single environment
  • Account for paramaters like life, stress, displacement, mass and much more
  • Choose from more than 300 materials with fatigue properties included, plus define additional materials
  • Make geometry changes in SOLIDWORKS that are automatically recognized in the simulations
  • Compare results locally and in your web browser

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)

3D model of adaptive ebike with computational fluid dynamics data - SOLIDWORKS

Startups with fluid dynamics needs are typically creating products that involve fluid flow or heat transfer. CFD simulation software can help you:

  • Explore and validate fluid flow and thermal performance
  • Predict both steady-state and long-transient flow and thermal behavior
  • Capture complex aerodynamic interactions
  • Discover alternatives in the concept phase

As part of the Simulation Multiphysics Offer for Startups, SIMULIA’s Fluid Dynamics Engineer has features like:

  • Comprehensive physics capabilities validated for a broad spectrum of industrial applications 
  • Hex-dominant mesh technology to provide automatic fluid volume extraction and robust body-fitted meshing with boundary layers
  • The ability to accurately model fluid behavior over complex geometries
  • A high-performance visualization engine to provide insights into flow and thermal properties 
  • Powerful mesh diagnostic tools for advanced users
  • Make geometry changes in SOLIDWORKS that are automatically recognized in the simulations

Electromagnetic Simulation

3D rendering of EMAG Antenna with simulation data displayed

In our wireless world, electromagnetic simulation is becoming increasingly important. Businesses that develop and work on any of the following products rely on it to mitigate risks and pass certifications:

  • Antennas and Wireless/RF devices 
  • Electronic components
  • Microwave components
  • Electro-mechanical devices

As part of the SOLIDWORKS for Startups program, startups have access to Electromagnetics Engineer. With this electromagnetic simulation solution, you can:

  • Utilize multiple electromagnetic solvers and hybrid simulations to analyze entire systems
  • Analyze electro-mechanical effects and thermal effects
  • Predict the performance and efficiency of antennas and filters
  • Simulate human body exposure to electromagnetic fields
  • Predict EMC/EMI compliance issues early
  • Make geometry changes in SOLIDWORKS that are automatically recognized in the simulations
     

Plastic Injection Molding Simulation

Simulation model of corner fill results - SOLIDWORKS

With plastic injection molding simulation, startups can validate their designs before investing in expensive tooling and production. This software lets you:

  • Prevent common defects in plastic part and injection molding designs
  • Optimize parts and molds during the design phase
  • Reduce manufacturing risks and development costs 
  • Decrease time to market

The SOLIDWORKS for Startups program gives access to Plastics Injection Engineer, a powerful yet intuitive simulation tool designed specifically for injection molding. This solution lets you:

  • Predict common molding defects like weld lines, sink marks and air traps 
  • Simulate and evaluate filling, packing, warpage and mold cooling system designs 
  • Guide design modifications based on simulation results 
  • Quickly explore hundreds of design variations 
  • Improve product performance with CAD-embedded simulation
  • Make geometry changes in SOLIDWORKS that are automatically recognized in the simulations

With simulation, startups can evaluate the performance, reliability and safety of materials and products before committing to physical prototypes, saving time and money in their product development process. With a complete 3D CAD and Simulation software package, our startups are set for success and can accelerate their time to revenue.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Successful Startups Use Simulation Software