Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

SolidWorks Simulation VS Insight Maker

Compare SolidWorks Simulation VS Insight Maker and see what are their differences

SolidWorks Simulation logo SolidWorks Simulation

Simulation solutions for SOLIDWORKS® provide an easy-to-use portfolio of analysis tools for predicting a product’s real-world physical behavior by virtually testing CAD models.

Insight Maker logo Insight Maker

Explore powerful simulation algorithms for System Dynamics and Agent Based Modeling in a truly...
  • SolidWorks Simulation Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-07-27
  • Insight Maker Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-05

SolidWorks Simulation features and specs

  • Integration
    Seamlessly integrates with SOLIDWORKS CAD, allowing for easy transition from design to simulation without requiring data translation or additional file handling.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    SolidWorks Simulation features an intuitive interface with comprehensive help documentation and tutorials, making it accessible for both beginners and experienced users.
  • Wide Range of Analysis Types
    Supports various analysis types including static, dynamic, thermal, fatigue, and fluid flow, among others, providing versatility for different engineering needs.
  • Parametric Optimization
    Allows users to perform parametric optimization studies, facilitating design improvements and innovation by evaluating multiple design scenarios efficiently.
  • Robust Validation Tools
    Equipped with tools to validate and verify simulations against empirical data, aiding in the credibility and accuracy of the simulations.

Possible disadvantages of SolidWorks Simulation

  • Cost
    SolidWorks Simulation can be expensive, with high licensing fees that might not be affordable for small businesses or individual users.
  • Hardware Requirements
    Requires high-performance hardware to run complex simulations efficiently, potentially necessitating additional investment in computing resources.
  • Learning Curve
    Although user-friendly, mastering the full suite of tools and capabilities requires time and effort, especially for those new to simulation software.
  • Complex Simulations Limitations
    Some users report limitations when dealing with extremely complex simulations or very large assemblies, which may require supplementary specialized software.
  • Limited Mac Compatibility
    SolidWorks Simulation is primarily designed for Windows-based systems, resulting in limited compatibility and support for macOS users.

Insight Maker features and specs

  • Versatile Modeling
    Insight Maker supports a wide range of modeling paradigms, including system dynamics, agent-based modeling, and causal loop diagrams, making it adaptable for various types of simulation and analysis.
  • Cloud-Based
    Being a web application, it offers the flexibility of accessing models from anywhere without the need for software installation, facilitating collaboration and easy sharing.
  • Free to Use
    Insight Maker is free, making it accessible to students, educators, and professionals who need powerful modeling capabilities without financial constraints.
  • Community Support
    It has an active user community and plenty of resources, including tutorials and forums, which can be very helpful for newcomers to the platform.

Possible disadvantages of Insight Maker

  • Learning Curve
    The breadth of features and types of modeling can be overwhelming for new users, particularly those unfamiliar with systems thinking or modeling concepts.
  • Limited Advanced Features
    While powerful for general use, it may lack some of the advanced features and customization options available in more specialized or commercial modeling software.
  • Performance Issues
    Being a cloud-based tool, it may experience lag or performance issues, especially with large models or complex simulations.
  • Internet Dependency
    As a web-based application, continuous internet access is required to work on models, which might be inconvenient for users with limited or unreliable internet connections.

Analysis of SolidWorks Simulation

Overall verdict

  • SolidWorks Simulation is considered a highly effective simulation tool, especially for those who are already using SolidWorks for CAD design. Its integration, ease of use, and comprehensive features make it a reliable choice in the field of engineering simulations. However, for highly specialized simulations, other dedicated tools might be more appropriate.

Why this product is good

  • SolidWorks Simulation is a powerful tool used for validating and optimizing designs through advanced simulation capabilities. It offers finite element analysis (FEA) that allows engineers to test static, dynamic, and thermal behaviors of models. The integration within the SolidWorks environment makes it easy to perform simulations without needing to transfer files between software. Additionally, its user-friendly interface and robust features like design optimization, fatigue analysis, and drop test analysis make it accessible for both novice and experienced engineers. The availability of comprehensive tutorials and support further enhance its usability.

Recommended for

  • Mechanical engineers looking to integrate simulation within their design process.
  • Designers requiring accessible but powerful simulation tools.
  • Companies already utilizing SolidWorks for CAD, seeking a seamless simulation solution.
  • Educators and students in engineering programs for learning and teaching purposes.

SolidWorks Simulation videos

What's New SOLIDWORKS Simulation 2021

More videos:

  • Review - SOLIDWORKS Simulation Step-Up Series: Accuracy and Convergence

Insight Maker videos

Building a simple simulation with Insight Maker

More videos:

  • Review - Insight Maker Simulation xRev
  • Review - Simulation with Insight Maker xRev

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to SolidWorks Simulation and Insight Maker)
3D
100 100%
0% 0
Technical Computing
45 45%
55% 55
CAD
100 100%
0% 0
Simulation Software
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Insight Maker seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 4 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

SolidWorks Simulation mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of SolidWorks Simulation yet. Tracking of SolidWorks Simulation recommendations started around Mar 2021.

Insight Maker mentions (4)

  • Modelica
    Switch to https://insightmaker.com/ if you can. It is FOSS , maintained and used as powerfull but simpelere alternative. - Source: Hacker News / 5 months ago
  • Where is the system model for human nutrition and digestion?
    I'm looking into free to use online simulation and collaboration software such as https://insightmaker.com/ and will start digging into it. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Fools Stop Mysticizing System Dynamics
    I created a fairly popular system dynamics modeling applications back when I was a grad student [0]. When using modeling tools like system dynamics, it's useful to keep in mind George Box's quote that "All models are wrong, but some are useful". When using a modeling tool to describe any form of social system you're creating an imperfect copy of it. This imperfect copy embeds what the modeler (rightly or wrongly)... - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
  • How to Safely Think in Systems
    Some other commenters here seem to think this article is (or should have been?) an introduction to systems thinking, or an argument for using it. The article is explicitly framed as some advice, based in experience, on avoiding common pitfalls with using explicit models in systems thinking. As such I think it is a nice read. It is also full of links to other interesting work by the author, not least of which is a... - Source: Hacker News / over 3 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing SolidWorks Simulation and Insight Maker, you can also consider the following products

Inventor - Inventor is a 3D CAD software that lets you quickly create 3D models with embedded intelligence, intuitive workflows, and optimized performance.

StochSD - StochSD (Stochastic System Dynamics) is a Continuous System Simulation extension that is built with the capabilities to help you simulate continuous flows between compartments and, most importantly, also has the power to manage discrete transitions …

Autodesk Fusion 360 - Integrated CAD, CAM, and CAE featuring collaborative editing and cloud-based computation.

EMSO simulator - EMSO simulator is an equation-oriented process simulator with a graphical interface for modeling...

MATLAB - A high-level language and interactive environment for numerical computation, visualization, and programming

Minsky - System dynamics program with additional features for economics