While checking out the 2010 Beta, I ran into this new option available for Motion Studies, when you have SolidWorks Simulation added as well. You can find it listed as Structural Simulation Analysis for Motion in the What’s New Guide.  It simply means that in SolidWorks 2010, and with Motion and Simulation added, you can perform your stress, deformation or factor of safety analysis automatically from Motion, without having to go through the process of setting or importing loads, setting up boundary conditions, etc.  And then you can watch the results as you run the animation.

This example shows how easy it is. First, you set up and run your Motion Study (Motion Analysis only), then you click on Simulation Setup, select the component you want to investigate, and set up a time of duration in the timeline.

Then you click on Calculate Simulation Results, and let SolidWorks take care of the rest.

This is what you’ll see after the analysis has been concluded. If you run the animation now, you can see the stress distribution on the component as it is moving in the assembly. Neat, isn’t it? Of course, you still have the option for SolidWorks Simulation of importing motion loads, just the same as you used to in the past.