Problem

This article walks through the steps to install the SolidWorks Associative Interface for Abaqus. This tool allows Abaqus to directly import from SOLIDWORKS. It does require a license for it so for more information on licensing, contact Technical Support.

Solution

1. Locate the installation files for Abaqus and browse to this file path: <Abaqus Installation File Set>\1\SIMULIA_Abaqus_AI to locate the .tar file SIMULIA_Abaqus_AI.AllOS.1-1.tar.

2. Extract this .tar file with a program such as 7-Zip, WinRAR, or a similar program that can extract .tar files
3. Navigate through the extracted folder following this file path: ...\SIMULIA_Abaqus_AI.AllOS\1\SolidWorks_X.X_Associative_Interface
4. Extract the zipped folder called "SAI_X.X" and open the extracted folder
5. Open SOLIDWORKS with Administrator privileges
6. With SOLIDWORKS open, go to File > Open at the top
7. In the Windows Explorer window that comes up, browse to a .dll file called "Sw2AbqPlugin.dll" located in ...\SIMULIA_Abaqus_AI.AllOS\1\SolidWorks_X.X_Associative_Interface. and click "Open"

If the installation is successful, there will be a new Abaqus button in the SolidWorks Interface for "Export to Abaqus/CAE".

It will also be listed in the Add-ins list in Tools > Add-ins under the "Other Add-ins" section as "Abaqus/CAE".

To use the SolidWorks interface to export to Abaqus, read through the attached PDF, which can be found in the same folder as in step 3: ...\SIMULIA_Abaqus_AI.AllOS\1\SolidWorks_X.X_Associative_Interface.

For additional support, existing customers can submit a ticket or new customers can contact Hawk Ridge Systems.