Company moving from 2D to 3D, help choosing
Company moving from 2D to 3D, help choosing
(OP)
Hoping this isn't bad to post this here and in Pro/E area... just looking for varied opinions.
We are looking to move from Autocad to a 3D package.
There is no complex geometry. Mainly steel frames, driven&idler rolls will be designed, with belts, pulleys and motors added into assemblies.
Here is a pages with several pics of some of the smaller individual units: http://www.faustel.com/products.cfm?id=3
We also design our own sheetmetal electrical enclosures.
Hoping some of you can help point out some pros and cons of the packages you have used.
I think the choice is going to come down to Pro/E, SolidWorks, Inventor, or just staying with Autocad.
Any input would be appreciated.
Chris
We are looking to move from Autocad to a 3D package.
There is no complex geometry. Mainly steel frames, driven&idler rolls will be designed, with belts, pulleys and motors added into assemblies.
Here is a pages with several pics of some of the smaller individual units: http://www.faustel.com/products.cfm?id=3
We also design our own sheetmetal electrical enclosures.
Hoping some of you can help point out some pros and cons of the packages you have used.
I think the choice is going to come down to Pro/E, SolidWorks, Inventor, or just staying with Autocad.
Any input would be appreciated.
Chris






RE: Company moving from 2D to 3D, help choosing
It is easy to use, and very intuitive.
Don't trust any of our opinions on Solidworks though, we are all loyalists ( see also fanatics).
Guy G.
Mechanical Designer/Drafter
Tucson AZ.
RE: Company moving from 2D to 3D, help choosing
Each have their own way off doing things though. I advise having the VARs for each give demos. But don't let them only give their canned demos ... have them create a few of your most complex parts while you watch.
Also obtain the trial versions of each and use as much as you can to see which is the best fit for your company and the potential users.
RE: Company moving from 2D to 3D, help choosing
Also, be prepared to upgrade your computers, network, etc. The hardware specifications for operating a 3D modeling package at any profitable level are very different than operating a 2D drawing package. Depending on your number of users, you may also want to look into compatible PLM/PDM packages that will help you keep your sanity when you start dealing with thousands of models, drawings and their different configurations and handling all this when it comes time to do product changes.
Good luck, its not an easy choice. Even after you do all your homework, you will still second guess if you made the right one.
"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."
Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?
RE: Company moving from 2D to 3D, help choosing
It seems to me the 3D CAD market is in a great deal of flux right now with company acquisitions, mergers, and software advances generally. Do some homework on market share and ask around with those you need to deal with to find out what they use. Could be well worth your time.
Jeff Mowry
www.industrialdesignhaus.com
Reason trumps all. And awe transcends reason.
RE: Company moving from 2D to 3D, help choosing
Not that SW can't handle large assemblies, but you have to learn to model correctly and check out the FAQ's here for tips. If you don't already have a PLM, you might look into PDMWorks or something similar that ties in with SW.
SW07 SP2.0
Flores
RE: Company moving from 2D to 3D, help choosing
It is expected that we will have to upgrade, but how much more we have to do for a specific program would likely affect the decision.
RE: Company moving from 2D to 3D, help choosing
RE: Company moving from 2D to 3D, help choosing
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RE: Company moving from 2D to 3D, help choosing
Jeff Mowry
www.industrialdesignhaus.com
Reason trumps all. And awe transcends reason.