SOLIDWORKS Tech & Services Blog

MCP Server or Native Connector? Choosing the Right AI Integration Path

MCP server vs native in-app connectors


Uncategorized / May 18, 2026

As AI becomes more practical inside engineering and business workflows, companies are facing a new…



Flatter Files: The Smartest Way to Distribute Engineering Documents Without Giving Everyone CAD or PDM Access

Engineer using Flatter Files to access CAD documents and released drawings from his computer, Flatter Files workflow connected to SOLIDWORKS PDM for automatic PDF, STEP, IGES, and DXF/DWG distribution


Uncategorized / May 11, 2026

For engineering teams, creating great designs is only part of the job. The real challenge…



Closing the BOM-to-ERP Loop: Solving Manufacturing Gaps with OpenBOM

Closing the BOM-to-ERP Loop: Solving Manufacturing Gaps with OpenBOM


Uncategorized / May 4, 2026

For many engineering teams, the challenge is not creating a bill of materials. It is…



Is Your CAD Environment Ready for Q3?

header q3 cad environment


Uncategorized / April 29, 2026

Q3 is when design cycles accelerate — and when a poorly maintained CAD environment stops…



Meet Leo and Aura: SOLIDWORKS’ New AI-Powered Virtual Twins

AI-Assisted CAD 3DEXPERIENCE - Leo and Aura Virtual Twins


Announcements,CAD / April 27, 2026

SOLIDWORKS is redefining the future of engineering with the introduction of two new AI-powered Virtual…



EpiGrid Cloud-Hosting for CAD: Performance, Security, and TCO Explained

Epigrid


Announcements,CAD / April 20, 2026

Engineering teams often think CAD performance problems start with software or hardware. In reality, they…



The ROI of CAD Security: Calculating the Cost of a Data Breach


Announcements,CAD / April 13, 2026

The ROI of CAD Security: What a Data Breach Really Costs Many engineering teams still…



Microsoft Azure Is Out Of Cores!

header azure out of cores


Announcements,CAD / April 7, 2026

We’re not ones to kick a man when he’s down — but if you’re planning…



You’re Invited! Converge In-Person Event – May 20th 4:30PM Gainesville, GA

header may 20th event


Announcements,CAD,Events / April 6, 2026

AI Is Reshaping Product Design. See What That Means in Practice. Artificial intelligence is changing…



You’re Invited! Converge Webinar Series Continues – 3DEXPERIENCE to Enhance Your CAD Workflow Today

header blog webinar 3dexerience


Announcements,CAD,Events / March 30, 2026

You’re Invited! April 22nd • 10:30 AM EST • Hosted by Kevin Zich (Dassault Systemes)…



The Human Element: Training Your Engineering Team to Be Cyber-Secure



Tools, firewalls, and processes matter — but people matter more. Across audits and security reviews,…



Top 3 CAD Workflow Mistakes – Are you making any?


CAD,CAD Data Management / March 16, 2026

When most engineering teams evaluate their CAD environment, they focus on tools—licenses, performance, or new…



Accelerate Quoting: Leveraging DriveWorks in Configurable Product Design Part 3



Our previous two posts on how DriveWorks speeds up quoting, we introduced you to DriveWorks…



You’re Invited! Converge Webinar Series Continues – How EpiGrid Reduces Your CAD IT Burden


Announcements,CAD,Events / March 3, 2026

You’re Invited! March. 18 • 10:30 AM EST • Hosted by Phillip Lewis & Tanner…



Accelerate Quoting: Leveraging DriveWorks in Configurable Product Design Part 2



In last week’s post, we looked at what DriveWorks is and why it matters. Now,…



Accelerate Quoting: Leveraging DriveWorks in Configurable Product Design Part 1


CAD,CAD Data Management,DriveWorks / February 23, 2026

In a market where customers expect fast, accurate answers, sales teams often succeed or fail…



Introducing The Lewis Brothers – Next Gen of Converge Support


CAD,SOLIDWORKS,Tech Help / February 17, 2026

We’re thrilled to welcome Daniel and Bowen Lewis to the Converge family. Around the office,…



Practical AI Use Cases for the SOLIDWORKS User in 2026


CAD,SOLIDWORKS,Tech Help / February 16, 2026

How Will You Use AI in Your CAD Workflow? AI in CAD is no longer…



3 Things To Consider About SOLIDWORKS Licensing


CAD,SOLIDWORKS,Tech Help / February 9, 2026

Choosing the right SOLIDWORKS licensing model is about more than checking a box with IT….



Day 3 From 3DEXPERIENCE World 2026 In Houston!


3DExperience,CAD,SOLIDWORKS / February 5, 2026

Nashville, TN! That’s right, we’re going back to Nashville for 3DEXPERIENCE World 2027. Let us…



Day 2 From 3DEXPERIENCE World 2026 In Houston!


3DExperience,CAD,SOLIDWORKS / February 4, 2026

Now that the hoopla of Day 1 has subsided, Day 2 is typically the day…



Day 1 From 3DEXPERIENCE World 2026 In Houston!


3DExperience,CAD,SOLIDWORKS / February 3, 2026

After a nation-wide weather event one week prior, the whole Converge team has converged in Houston…



Converge is Heading to 3DEXPERIENCE World — Let’s Connect in Houston!


3DExperience,CAD,SOLIDWORKS / January 28, 2026

We’re excited to share that we will be attending 3DEXPERIENCE World in Houston this year,…



Beyond the Firewall: Why Managed CAD Administration is Your Best Defense


CAD,CAD Data Management,Cloud / January 21, 2026

In today’s fast-moving design and engineering environment, companies invest heavily in protecting their intellectual property….



The CAD Department’s Top Cybersecurity Threats in 2026 — and How to Fix Them



In 2026, CAD teams face more cyber risk than ever before. Cloud PDM, AI tools,…



You’re Invited! Converge Webinar Series Continues – PDM Standard vs. Professional



You’re Invited! Jan. 14 • 10:30 AM EST • Hosted by Phillip Lewis & Tanner…



Converge Wishes You Happy Holidays!


CAD,SOLIDWORKS,Tech Help / December 24, 2025

Converge wishes you a happy holiday, and a safe and enjoyable new year! We’ll see…



3 Pillars Webinar Series – Complete And Available For Your Whole Team


CAD,SOLIDWORKS,Tech Help / December 22, 2025

The 3 Pillars of CAD Data webinar series has wrapped — and it’s now available…



Engineering and Manufacturing – 2026 Cybersecurity and Risk Mitigation Briefing Invitation


CAD,SOLIDWORKS,Tech Help / December 15, 2025

Is Your Engineering Firm’s Cybersecurity Truly 100% Secure? Join our weekly briefing to find out…



Converge Customer Story: Titan Steel Door – Story Wrap Up

titan steel door blog 1


CAD,SOLIDWORKS,Tech Help / December 8, 2025

Last month, we continued our story focusing on Titan Steel Door in this blog post, and how, even…



What Is DoppelPaymer, and Why Should Engineers Be Worried?


CAD,SOLIDWORKS,Tech Help / December 1, 2025

Why this attack matters — and what engineering organizations must do now. Last year’s DoppelPaymer…



Meet the Converge Support Team!


CAD,SOLIDWORKS,Tech Help / November 19, 2025

At Converge we don’t just patch problems — we remove the causes of them. Our…



Why SOLIDWORKS PDM In The Cloud?


CAD,SOLIDWORKS,Tech Help / November 17, 2025

Let’s be honest—on-premise PDM is starting to feel like dial-up internet. It technically works, but…



3 Pillars of CAD Data Webinar Series Continues! – #6 Do You Know Everything About Your CAD Software Entitlement?


Announcements / November 10, 2025

We’re back with the Final session in our 3 Pillars Webinar Series Wednesday December 10th…



Converge Customer Story: Titan Steel Door – Onboarding at Scale: ESPR + MCAS 

titan steel door blog 1


CAD,SOLIDWORKS,Tech Help / November 3, 2025

Last month, we continued our story focusing on Titan Steel Door in this blog post, and how, even…



3 Pillars of CAD Data Webinar Series Continues! – #5 Flatter Files Data Distribution


Announcements / October 27, 2025

We’re back with the next session in our 3 Pillars Webinar Series Wednesday November 12th…



The Top 3 Reasons Why Your Team Needs SOLIDWORKS PDM


Announcements / October 20, 2025

If you’re managing product design workflows without a formal system for storing and controlling your…



Converge Customer Story: Titan Steel Door Data Distribution

titan steel door blog 1


CAD,SOLIDWORKS,Tech Help / October 6, 2025

Last month, we continued our story focusing on Titan Steel Door in this blog post,…



3 Pillars of CAD Data Webinar Series Continues! – #4 Who is Managing My Data and How?


Announcements / October 1, 2025

We’re back with the next session in our 3 Pillars Webinar Series Wednesday October 15th…



The Top 6 Reasons Why Cloud-Based CAD Just Makes Sense in 2026

6 reasons why cad in the cloud 2025


CAD,Cloud / September 15, 2025

Let’s keep it simple: engineering teams are under pressure to do more with less. That’s…



Converge Customer Story: Titan Steel Door Data Management

titan steel door blog 1


CAD,SOLIDWORKS,Tech Help / September 8, 2025

Last month, we continued our story focusing on Titan Steel Door in this blog post,…



Converge Partners with CADchat To Solve The Design Review Problem


CAD,SOLIDWORKS,Tech Help / September 3, 2025

We’re thrilled to announce our strategic partnership with CADchat, a bold step forward in our…



Switching SOLIDWORKS PDM License Types: A Quick Guide for Engineering Teams


CAD,SOLIDWORKS,Tech Help / August 25, 2025

Whether you’re scaling your team or adjusting workflows, changing a SOLIDWORKS PDM client license type…



Converge Customer Story: Titan Steel Door Data Creation

titan steel door blog 1


CAD,SOLIDWORKS,Tech Help / August 11, 2025

Last month, we introduced you to Titan Steel Door in this blog post, and how,…



Converge June Meeting – Getting Things Done


CAD,SOLIDWORKS,Tech Help / August 4, 2025

At Converge, we believe in practicing what we preach—distributed design, cloud-hosted systems, and the ability…



The Importance of Product Data Management in the CAD Industry

importance of cad product data management


CAD,SOLIDWORKS,Tech Help / July 28, 2025

In the high-stakes world of CAD design, managing design data efficiently is no longer a…



Converge Customer Story: Titan Steel Door Tackles The 3 Pillars

titan steel door blog 1


CAD,SOLIDWORKS,Tech Help / July 21, 2025

Every design/manufacturing company’s story is unique, but at the core you will find very common…



The Three Pillars of CAD Data – Converge


Tech Help / July 14, 2025

In engineering, your data is everything. From initial sketches to finalized shop drawings, how you…



Designing for the Community: How SOLIDWORKS Helped Stealth Sports Academy Elevate Their Game

design for the community stealth


CAD,SOLIDWORKS,Tech Help / July 7, 2025

At Converge, we’re passionate about solving engineering problems—big and small—for businesses across the world. But…



How to Clear Out Stuck Tasks in SOLIDWORKS PDM: A Step-by-Step Guide

pdm stuck task clear


CAD,SOLIDWORKS,Tech Help / June 30, 2025

SolidWorks PDM (Product Data Management) is a powerful tool for engineering teams to manage file…



Unlocking the Future: The Benefits of Hosting SOLIDWORKS PDM in the Cloud

solidworks pdm in the cloud header


CAD,SOLIDWORKS,Tech Help / June 16, 2025

In today’s engineering landscape, agility, collaboration, and scalability aren’t just nice-to-haves — they’re essential. As…



The Hidden Costs of Inadequate Engineering Documentation

hidden cost of inadequate engineering documentation


CAD,SOLIDWORKS,Tech Help / May 19, 2025

In the fast-paced world of product development, engineering success relies not only on innovation but…



SOLIDWORKS PDM vs. 3DEXPERIENCE Cloud PDM: Workflows, Licensing, and More

solidworks pdm vs. 3dexperience data management



Managing CAD data efficiently is no longer a luxury — it’s essential for engineering teams…



Manual ODBC Connection for SOLIDWORKS PDM

odbc connection pdm


CAD,SOLIDWORKS,Tech Help / April 21, 2025

Sometimes, users may encounter issues with SOLIDWORKS PDM databases hosted on an SQL Server named…



Upgrading Your SOLIDWORKS PDM Server

How to upgrade solidworks


CAD,PDM,SOLIDWORKS,Tech Help / September 25, 2024

Upgrading a SOLIDWORKS PDM (Product Data Management) server to a new major version, such as…



What does it mean to be a SOLIDWORKS PDM Administrator?

solidworks pdm administrative roles



Reach out and speak to an expert right away A key player in the successful…



Moog Music Gains CAD Productivity in the Cloud

header image moog wordmark


Uncategorized / January 20, 2021

In keeping with its storied history and reputation for innovation, Moog Music (rhymes with “vogue”) recently…



Flatter Files With SOLIDWORKS PDM: A Cloud-Based Solution for Data Distribution

cnc vector


Cloud / May 27, 2020

  We’ve touched on this subject before in various CAD-in-the-Cloud blog posts, but I still…



What Customers Are Saying About Our EpiGrid Solution for SOLIDWORKS Cloud

customer testimonial rendored


Uncategorized / May 20, 2020

  Here at Converge, we’ve been focused on enabling remote access for CAD teams for…



Has the Cloud Finally Realized Its Potential in CAD?

the cloud imperative


Cloud / April 22, 2020

There are several ways in which life will change forever after this Coronavirus pandemic has…



Implementing SOLIDWORKS PDM Made Simple and Cost Effective

solidworks pdm promotion


PDM / April 21, 2020

  We are living in unprecedented times with lots of uncertainty. Companies are hyper-vigilant of…



Changes to SQL Licensing for SOLIDWORKS Users

SQL update


PDM / November 25, 2019

  We try not to get too deep into the nuts and bolts of SOLIDWORKS…



Data Distribution & PDM | Part 4

cad design finger pointing


Data Distribution / October 3, 2019

In the last blog post, we discussed Flatter Files. The next step in the data…



Data Distribution & PDM | Part 3

flatter files diagram


Data Distribution / September 26, 2019

In the last blog post, we discussed the built-in options for automating some tasks using…



Data Distribution & PDM | Part 2

data distribution for cad users part 2


Data Distribution / September 19, 2019

In our last installment, we spent a bit of time talking about the data creation…



Data Distribution & PDM | Part 1

desktop stock


Data Distribution / September 12, 2019

“What we’ve found over the past 5 or so years, is that the problems most…



How CAD In The Cloud Is Changing PDM

hand moving towards cad design


Cloud / February 7, 2019

  The cloud is a nebulous and unknowable thing, right? Not so much these days….



SOLIDWORKS Workgroup PDM – Your Guide to the End-Of-Life of this Product

Partners


SOLIDWORKS / September 15, 2018

  We’ve had a love-hate relationship with the SOLIDWORKS Workgroup PDM product since its inception….



Top 5 Tips to Transform Product Design for Smarter Products

cloud computing stock


Cloud / September 11, 2018

The Journey Toward New Development Approaches The emergence of smart, connected technologies is enabling unprecedented…



EpiGrid and DesignPoint Announce Exclusive Technology Partnership to Enable CAD in the Cloud

Partners


Announcements / September 1, 2018

  Today EpiGrid and DesignPoint announced a strategic exclusive partnership to provide CAD and PDM…



10 Reasons Engineers Should Be Using CAD in the Cloud

hand moving towards cad design


Cloud / July 7, 2018

  The engineering sector is dynamic – the industry may boom, or economies may lull,…



SOLIDWORKS CAD Admin Services and PDM Application Management

cad in the cloud


CAD Data Management / June 25, 2018

    SOLIDWORKS Product Data Management (PDM) is an incredible tool. PDM has been the…



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