Hey Luis, thanks for joining the UE4CAD group, and for your interest in using Unreal Engine for your SolidWorks projects!
I always like to start with a small bit of background - I’m a huge advocate for the modeling features of SolidWorks software. When it comes to producing SolidWorks products big and small, I have very little trouble creating the 3D geometry; the same goes for any veteran of this or any other 3D software. When it comes to conveying or marketing your product to others online, office presentations, or at conventions, SolidWorks alone cannot cut it. Many of the other solutions out there don’t do the job either, and I’m talking about bigger productions for film, manufacturing, VR, App development, and experimental 3D solutions.
My bottom line - Be Cutting Edge.
SolidWorks to Unreal Engine - Unreal Engine has become really good at importing SolidWorks native files using the Datasmith pipeline, and there’s always the STEP214 file format. This means, you can import your CAD geometry right into a videogame engine where you can make anything possible. For CAD artists like myself, I can take client and personal projects into the Unreal Engine and take advantage of, but not limited to, the real-time rendering and animations. The process is automatic for me now having over a hundred UE4 projects, but even a beginner will be able to easily import their CAD and begin using UE4 for production use the same day.
So going forward, there are two ways you can accomplish your goals:
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Self-Starter Method
A Google search will lead you to a plethora of tutorials on how to get started for yourself with CAD and the Unreal Engine, and if you’re new to the Unreal Engine altogether, try doing a few basic courses on Unreal Engine Academy.
SolidWorks to Unreal Engine in the smallest nutshell:
- Design in SolidWorks
- Apply Appearances to your CAD to separate the materials
- Open UE4 editor and import your CAD using Datasmith (be sure to enable the plugin)
- Replace or edit the materials with any of the free or paid PBR materials on the Marketplace; or make your own!
- Setup an Environment for your project
- Add lights and cameras
- Grab a few additional free or paid plugins to enhance your UE4 projects
- Begin rendering, animating, and whatever else you can imagine.
There’s a ton of details between-the-lines in this list, but it quickly becomes as natural as anything I ever did in SolidWorks, and it will for you too. If you want to use the Unreal Engine like it was KeyShot, try using the Unreal Engine HDRI backdrop, PBR materials, and Ray Trace enabled projects. Those results are stunning and in Real-Time! Also built into the Unreal Engine are templates for Games, Film, Television, Live Events, Architecture, Engineering, Construction, Automotive, Product Design, and Manufacturing to jumpstart any UE4 project.
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Hire an Unreal Engine Professional
- This could be me or another person online. I’d begin my search on Artstation and find authors of UE4 projects similar to your industry needs. Make sure they’ve had enough experience to overcome any challenges that arise, and you’ll have a successful hire.
- Hire or train someone in your office, or recruit your BFF, wife, or children to learn the Unreal Engine so you can make cool stuff happen! No matter the team composition, having a local dev team is terrific for the project momentum.
Depending on what type of SolidWorks products you make for the entertainment industry, Unreal Engine can show them off to clients or online networks in an revolutionary and engaging way. Mixing SolidWorks with Unreal Engine truly lets you create without limits, and distinctly separates you from a saturated CAD market of design, engineering, and visualization productions; especially if you exploit the power beyond basic still-shot rendering. If you have a budget and would like to know more about what I can do as a developer for you, feel free to reach out to me at pdxeffects@gmail.com
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