Questions from new user
Questions from new user
(OP)
After some 15 years of using Cadkey, we took the plunge and purchased our first seat of Solid Edge, v15, last week and we're beginning to do the tutorials when time permits. I won't get into this full time until next month but would like some help in a few areas before I get too far into it.
1. What's a good video card to use with SE? I currently have a GeForce3 128 meg card that works pretty good with Cadkey but SE seems to be very slow at responding in comparison. Is this a setting in SE or the card. Computer is a AMD 3000xp with 1GB of memory.
2. Are there any good books out there that would help in the training? Or, are the tutorials good enough?
3. Is there a Solid Edge sponsored forum like this for users to post question and suggestions? I didn't see any on their Web site. This was/is a tremendous help for the Cadkey users and developers alike.
4. I work with allot of imported parts from other CAD systems like Pro/e to build molds around. What is the best way to handle these when working with parametrics? Cadkey only had a limited version of Parametrics and we never used it.
Moldcore
1. What's a good video card to use with SE? I currently have a GeForce3 128 meg card that works pretty good with Cadkey but SE seems to be very slow at responding in comparison. Is this a setting in SE or the card. Computer is a AMD 3000xp with 1GB of memory.
2. Are there any good books out there that would help in the training? Or, are the tutorials good enough?
3. Is there a Solid Edge sponsored forum like this for users to post question and suggestions? I didn't see any on their Web site. This was/is a tremendous help for the Cadkey users and developers alike.
4. I work with allot of imported parts from other CAD systems like Pro/e to build molds around. What is the best way to handle these when working with parametrics? Cadkey only had a limited version of Parametrics and we never used it.
Moldcore





RE: Questions from new user
1.Regarding the video card, SE has a recommended hardware list that is also available from their website. I had a GE Force II card with 32megs on my last computer and when I ordered my new one I went with a Quadro FX 500 with 128 megs. It made a huge difference and was not very expensive. They typically recommend using cards that are dedicated to CAD/CAM work. If you're having trouble, one thing to check is under Tools, Options, View. The first pull down box has options for Graphics card driven and Backing Store. Usually, setting the option to backing store helps. Also turn down or off the hardware acceleration setting. With my new card, I actually have it set on Graphics card driven and the acceleration wide open with no problems. That seems to support SE's recommendation for the card. The site is:
www.solidedge.com/prodinfo/hardware_specs.htm
2. Dr. Walt has some books and cadcamtraning.com has some as well. Also there is a website www.geocities/segurucool/ that has some nice tutorials for surface modeling. The tutorials that come with SE will give you a nice start. You might also wish to invest the money in one of the SE run traning sessions. Talk to your VAR about the nearest location. They're about 4 days long but will give you a head start.
3.Here's the link to the Solid Edge GTAC (Global Technical Access Center) page that will let you access the newsgroups. You will need to get a password by using your sold to ID number. Also, there are various links depending on whether your newsreader will work - mine doesn't so I access through the html interface. I was a Cadkey user (still am on limited basis) for 10 years. One thing I can tell you is that if you post an enhancement request, you will usually get a phone call as a follow up. Even better, if you post problem, you will usually get a phone call the next day or sooner. Very nice customer support. They can usually fix a problem over the phone.
4. As far as data formats, I usally get files in IGES, STEP or Parasolid. Even though the files are dumb, you can still perform operations on them. Major changes would be handled by your customer. The nice thing is that you can use associative part copies to create the molds and if your customer sends you a new file, replace the old one and the mold should update or at least greatly reduce the re-work. I'm not a mold guy but it works on other things I've tried.
http://support.plms-eds.com/html/conferencing.shtml
I have used Cadkey for about 10 years but switched to Solid Edge around 3 years ago. We still use Cadkey for legacy files but SE for all new projects. Sometimes I will even use Solid Edge to create parts for the older Cadkey models(sheetmetal especially) and then import them back into Cadkey becuase I can create parts faster in SE.
Kyle
RE: Questions from new user
I have a NVIDIA Quadro FX 1100 with 128 meg ram, and it works pretty good. It's worth the investment.
Good luck with SE
Patrick
RE: Questions from new user
The link for Dr. Walt seems to be broken. I'm familiar with his books on Cadkey and have one around here from a few years ago. I'll do a search on the web and see what I can find.
Wayne
RE: Questions from new user
I used to think that most video cards today could handle CAD/CAM duties as long as they had enough memory. I couldn't have been more wrong. It pays in the long run to buy a video card that is made for CAD/CAM applications.
Wayne
RE: Questions from new user
One of the newer guys just got a pc with 2.8ghz, 1gig of ram and a GeforceFX 9600 and it just looks like butt. I turned HA down all the way and its mad slow but it works, i went in and changed it from Videocard driven to the other option, and it seems to work a bit better now.
Any thoughts on why it would work on some but not others, and are there any recommended cards that arent 1000$+?
RE: Questions from new user
--Scott
For some pleasure reading, try FAQ731-376
RE: Questions from new user
RE: Questions from new user
thanks for all the tips!