Solid Edge

Solid Edge is a 3D computer-aided design (CAD), parametric feature and synchronous technology solid modeling software. It runs on Microsoft Windows and provides solid modeling, assembly modelling and 2D orthographic view functions for mechanical designers. Through third party applications it has links to many other product lifecycle management technologies. Originally developed and released by Intergraph in 1996, using the ACIS geometric modeling kernel, it changed to using the Parasolid kernel when it was purchased and further developed by UGS Corp., in 1998. In 2007, UGS was acquired by the Automation & Drives Division of Siemens AG. UGS company was renamed Siemens Digital Industries Software on October 1, 2007. Since September 2006, Siemens has also offered a freeware 2D version named Solid Edge 2D Drafting. Solid Edge is available in Design and Drafting, Foundation, Classic, or Premium. The Premium package includes all features of Classic plus mechanical and electrical routing software, and engineering simulation abilities for computer-aided engineering (CAE). Since 2020, Siemens offers Solid Edge as a freely-available non-commercial Community Edition for makers, CAD enthusiasts, and students. Solid Edge Community Edition offers functionality comparable to its paid commercial versions, including exporting models for 3D printing, however files created within Community Edition cannot be opened in commercially licensed versions of Solid Edge, exported 2D drawings are watermarked, and projects cannot be used for commercial purposes. Solid Edge is a direct competitor to SolidWorks, Creo, Inventor, IRONCAD, and others.