SOLIDWORKS Plastics | What’s New in SOLIDWORKS 2026

SOLIDWORKS 2026 introduces a suite of enhancements that elevate SOLIDWORKS Plastics simulations to new levels of precision, flexibility, and efficiency. Whether you’re creating complex injection molds or managing a large variety of molding projects, SOLIDWORKS Plastics 2026 empowers you to work smarter thanks to streamlined workflows.

Come explore the standout features in SOLIDWORKS Plastics that make SOLIDWORKS 2026 a must-have for companies looking for a competitive edge.

Expanded Material Database

The plastics industry is constantly innovating, with new polymers entering the market at a rapid pace. SOLIDWORKS Plastics 2026 keeps engineers ahead of the curve by adding eighty-five new materials to its database and updating twelve existing ones.

Material database additions in SOLIDWORKS 2026

This ensures that plastic simulations reflect the latest material properties, enabling more accurate predictions of flow, cooling, and curing behaviors. If you work with common plastics or high-performance polymers, the expanded database supports better-informed design decisions.

Increased Solver Speed

SOLIDWORKS Plastics simulation speed is often a bottleneck in iterative design workflows, as it requires constantly running studies. In 2026, the solver has been optimized to reduce solve times by up to 30%.

This improvement allows engineers to run more simulations in less time, accelerating the design-validation cycle. Faster results mean quicker insights, enabling teams to refine designs without compromising project timelines.

Unfilled Volume Visualization

Finding where parts fail to completely fill with plastic can be costly and difficult to identify. Previously, SOLIDWORKS Plastics could detect short shots but lacked a clear way to visualize the unfilled regions when viewing results.

Visualizing short shots in SOLIDWORKS Plastics

In 2026, a new Unfilled Volume result is displayed as the first output when a short shot occurs. This visual cue helps engineers pinpoint problem areas instantly, ensuring that critical errors are addressed before tooling begins.

Enhanced Vent Definition

Air traps and venting issues can lead to defects in your final part, such as burn marks and material degradation. Earlier versions of SOLIDWORKS Plastics allowed venting only at vertices, which didn’t reflect real-world molding practices.

SOLIDWORKS Plastics 2026 introduces the ability to define vents along edges, including split lines and parting lines, where air naturally escapes. This enhancement provides a more realistic simulation of venting behavior, helping engineers design molds that mitigate air entrapment effectively.

Thermoset Plastic Support

Thermoset plastics, such as epoxies, phenolic resins, and silicones, require a different approach to simulation due to their curing behavior. SOLIDWORKS Plastics 2026 supports these materials, allowing users to simulate chemical curing instead of cooling.

Defining parameters for thermoset plastics

For applications like joysticks and finger grips, which use silicone, this functionality ensures accurate modeling of the curing process, leading to better part performance and reliability.

Upgrading to SOLIDWORKS 2026

SOLIDWORKS Plastics 2026 delivers meaningful improvements that simplify plastic simulation while enhancing control and integration. From improved material libraries to more complex plastic support and enhanced vent definition, these updates reflect the evolving needs of professional engineers.

Whether you need assistance during the upgrade process or just want to explore these great new enhancements, TriMech is your trusted technical partner. Our team is here to help ensure that upgrading to SOLIDWORKS 2026 is one of the best decisions you make.

To learn more about SOLIDWORKS 2026 and get a trial, click here.