What is 3DEXPERIENCE?

By Sarah Taylor on

“3DEXPERIENCE on the cloud provides you with a complete suite of industry-leading solutions which gives you everything you’ll need to bring your idea to reality, including design & engineering, manufacturing & production, simulation, governance & collaboration.” – Dassault Systèmes

The 3DEXPERIENCE Platform from Dassault Systèmes is a cloud-based collaborative environment built with design teams in mind. The Platform is an interconnected online ecosystem where your data management, collaboration and design tools are all housed in one common interface. The Platform hosts a portfolio of enterprise-class technologies including: SOLIDWORKS, CATIA, SIMULIA, DELMIA, and ENOVIA. In this article we will take a closer look at a few key traits of the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform.

Communication Hub in 3DX

Caption: The communication hub in 3DEXPERIENCE, 3DSwym, allows users to create posts, leave comments, and stay informed on design ideas and changes.

Cloud Hosted

The 3DEXPERIENCE Platform is a browser-based environment. The only requirements for the Platform are an internet-connected device and a web browser such as Chrome, Firefox, Safari, etc. Because the Platform runs in the browser, this offers flexibility between devices and locations. The cloud-based tools are compatible with PCs, Macs and mobile devices and no installation is necessary.

Your data is stored and managed securely in the cloud. Now more than ever, design teams are working at multiple offices/sites, from home or while traveling. With the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform, you can access your files and tools from anywhere.

Enovia tools on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform

Caption: View and Manage your data using ENOVIA tools in the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform.

3DEXPERIENCE has a Wide Variety of Roles and Apps

The Platform hosts a portfolio of enterprise-class technologies including: SOLIDWORKS, CATIA, SIMULIA, DELMIA, and ENOVIA. A large catalogue of apps and online services are available in the following areas:

  • Governance & Collaboration
  • Design/Styling
  • Engineering
  • Simulation
  • Manufacturing & Operations
  • Marketing

Shop Floor Programmer Role

Caption: The Shop Floor Programmer Role provides CAM capabilities right in your browser.

xHighlight on the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform

Caption: Create stunning marketing and technical documentation materials using apps like xHighlight or xStudio.

Read more about “5 Key Tools to Know in 3DEXPERIENCE” >>

Customize Your Platform

Each design team is different, and every user has individual needs. On the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform, tools are bundled into Roles which are assigned to individual users on an as-needed basis. Roles grant access to Apps in the Platform. You can think of the Roles on the platform as “a la carte” – meaning you can build your Platform to contain exactly the tools you need, and none of the ones you don’t. Some Roles contain basic tools which may be required for every user, and other Roles are highly specialized for particular applications.

Roles are assigned to individual users – this way, each user has access to the tools they need, but are not burdened by excess tools they may never use. For example, imagine a company with three employees, Joe the Manager, Sally the Engineer, and Bob the Analyst:

  • The Manager may need to preview a 3D model using a file viewer but does not need the CAD software because they will never need to make changes to the model.
  • The Engineer will need the design software where they can create and edit the models.
  • The Analyst may have a specialized set of simulation tools that only they use.

On the Platform, these users’ needs may translate into these Roles:

Joe Manager Sally Engineer Bob Analyst
Role #1 Collaborative Business Innovator (basic Platform tools) Collaborative Business Innovator

(basic Platform tools)

Collaborative Business Innovator

(basic Platform tools)

Role #2 (N/A) 3D Creator (parametric CAD modeling) Structural Engineer (FEA tools)
Role #3 (N/A) 3D Sculptor (subdivision modeling) (N/A)

Roles can always be added, removed or re-assigned among users. Roles allow each user to have different toolsets at their fingertips.

Simulia FEA on the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform

Caption: SIMULIA FEA tools on the Platform run on the cloud, leveraging more processing power and multi-core scaling.

3DEXPERIENCE Connection with SOLIDWORKS

One thing our customers love about the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform is its connection to SOLIDWORKS. SOLIDWORKS is an industry-leading CAD software used by mechanical designers around the world. The 3DEXPERIENCE Platform allows for SOLIDWORKS data to be stored in a secure cloud vault. 3DEXPERIENCE Data Management tools can be accessed from directly inside of SOLIDWORKS, allowing you to manage your files while you work.

3DX PLM add-in

Caption: Manage your SOLIDWORKS data on the cloud with the 3DEXPERIENCE PLM Add-in.

The 3DEXPERIENCE Platform is a one-stop-shop for everything your engineering team needs to take your designs from concept to market.

Learn more about the 3DEXPERIENCE platform and how it can help transform your business in the on-demand webinar “Get to Know 3DEXPERIENCE Platform”.