In many product development programs, optical and mechanical design progress in parallel rather than sequentially. While this concurrency can shorten development cycles, it also increases the risk of misalignment between optical intent and mechanical constraints. RayViz is designed to address this challenge by embedding optical context directly into the CAD workflow, enabling early validation without disrupting established mechanical design processes.
RayViz is an Add-In for SOLIDWORKS that brings optical materials, surface properties, and ray visualization into the native CAD environment. It is closely aligned with the non-sequential analysis capabilities of TracePro, allowing optical assumptions made in CAD to carry forward into full system-level simulation.
Optical Awareness Inside the Mechanical Design Process
RayViz allows engineers to assign optical materials and surface properties directly to CAD geometry and visualize ray paths within a mechanical assembly. This provides immediate insight into how light interacts with real geometry, including housings, apertures, mounts, and structural features.
This capability is particularly valuable during early and mid-stage design, when component placement and enclosure geometry are still evolving. By visualizing ray propagation directly in CAD, teams can identify blocked or clipped paths, potential vignetting, and unintended reflections caused by mechanical features. Because these effects are visible within the design environment, issues can be addressed early, before downstream simulation or prototyping.
Fast Feedback Without Full Simulation Overhead
RayViz is best understood as a workflow accelerator rather than a full optical solver. It does not replace detailed illumination or stray light analysis. Instead, it provides rapid, visual feedback during mechanical design iterations, allowing teams to understand how geometry changes influence light behavior without exporting models to a standalone optical simulation tool.
This is especially useful in organizations where mechanical engineers may not be optical specialists but still need immediate insight into optical consequences. By keeping ray visualization inside SOLIDWORKS, RayViz lowers the barrier to optical awareness and supports faster, more informed design decisions during frequent geometry updates.
Seamless Transition to Non-Sequential Analysis
RayViz maintains consistency with TracePro by using the same optical property definitions and material models. Optical properties applied within SOLIDWORKS are saved as part of the CAD model, ensuring that assumptions made during early design stages are preserved.
When a design reaches the point where quantitative analysis is required, the RayViz-enhanced SOLIDWORKS model can be exported directly into TracePro for full non-sequential ray tracing. This allows engineers to evaluate illumination performance, stray light, and system-level behavior using the same geometry and optical definitions established earlier in the process.
Practical Use in Real-World Projects
RayViz is particularly effective in projects where mechanical constraints are tight and optical performance is sensitive to small geometric changes. It supports early validation of optical clearances, collaborative optical-mechanical design reviews, and rapid iteration on enclosure, aperture, or baffle geometry. By identifying potential optical issues early, teams can reduce rework and improve coordination across disciplines. RayViz is best suited for embedding optical awareness into the mechanical design process. It helps teams detect optical issues early, improves communication between optical and mechanical engineers, and streamlines the transition from CAD to full optical simulation. When used alongside TracePro, RayViz enables a more efficient and coordinated approach to optical system development.
Ready to See RayViz in Action?
You can request a free trial to explore how RayViz integrates optical insight directly into your SOLIDWORKS workflow and supports a smoother transition to full non-sequential analysis in TracePro.