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Need help with 3D CAD & Modeling

Need help with 3D CAD & Modeling

Need help with 3D CAD & Modeling

(OP)
I recently began working as an HVAC product designer and while I have lots of experience with systems and products, my CAD ability is limited. I have been using AutoCAD LT but I need to make the transition to a 3D CAD program that will enable me to do better product visualizations and flow modeling. My fear is that 3D packages can be very complicated and interfacing with modeling programs may be tedious.
Any suggestions as to which software is easiest to use?
3D CAD-
AutoCAD Inventor seems to be great product but I understand that it is the most difficult to learn. I suspect that SolidWorks and Wildfire are fairly easy to use.
Flow Modeling-
Fluent and FloCAD both seem to be compatible with SolidWorks and Wildfire.
Your suggestions will be greatly appreciated!

RE: Need help with 3D CAD & Modeling

I find SolidWorks a bit easier than Inventor to use in the design of compressor systems

RE: Need help with 3D CAD & Modeling

I have not done any modeling of flow, but I have experience in using ABS and Revit.  Revit, by far is the  best, IMO, for 3-D piping and seeing how everything fits.  If you are doing plumbing piping, it has definite shortcomings (it doesn't like sloped pipe and sanitary fittings).

Our HVAC guys like Revit because they can do flow modeling and sizing for their ductwork and closed loop piping systems.  I believe it is based on flow rate and/or friction.

RE: Need help with 3D CAD & Modeling

IntelliCAD is a good alternative to AutoCAD.  Well worth checking out in its various flavours. (Same basic programme but with various customisation. Autodsys etc.

For solid modelling, try Alibre.  They have an offer on in Jan 08 so you might make a good saving if you act quickly.  I am not sure how it would be for ducting and larger drawings.  

I would suspect that you would could do a lot with an autocad / intellicad approach.  One factor with intellicad is that it does yet have autocad's shademode.  I would suspect that lack of shademode would be a downside for serious 3D modellng.  (Does anybody know for sure).  I sure you could live without it given the price difference.    

RE: Need help with 3D CAD & Modeling

(OP)
Thanks for the great input. I am checking each of the suggested packages via demos and hope to find something that is both powerful and within my ability.

One thing that should be very interesting is how well the finite software handles infinite analysis.

Larry  

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