Beyond Soildworks

[daveparkinson]

I was wondering what programs you guys use other than Solidworks? And what you use them for? I'm trying to add a few strings to my bow...and have a bit of fun at the same time. I figure what better time than a recession to add to your current skills.

I've started to get interested in 3D design, downloading and using 3dsMAX and Maya to get a little feel for things, I've downloaded blender also but not had a play with it yet. I'm thinking about doing a 10-week evening course in 3D animation also, just as an introduction.

This isn't limited just to animation and 3D renderings, it's interesting to see what programs people are using for whatever they're doing.

I use the following programs:

SolidWorks w/ PDM Workgroup - for sheet metal design, customer presentations etc.
Photoview 360 - started to tinker with it.
Lantek - sheet metal CAM program.
Google Chrome - it seems to load pages quicker to me.
Microsoft Office, Sage - General office stuff and databases.

I've started looking into Microsoft Sharepoint Server also, as a way to improve communication between our two branches. But there's a lot more reading up I need to do yet.

Hopefully we'll get an interesting discussion going.

 

[daveparkinson]

I am of course referring to Solid Works...not SOILED Works as the title suggests. Ho ho ho.

 

[Theophilus]

I purchased the SolidWorks version of Hypershot to try out the quick (and convincing) ability to render environmentally-effected scenes. Good software.

Maybe also check into Modo if you're interested in what PV360 can do, since those are based on the same technology (but Modo also has a modeling capacity).

For browsing, I find nothing beats Firefox because of the excellent range of extensions provided. v3.5 was just released and is quite quick. Making full use of the tabs reduces search times (for CAD geometry, formulas, standard steel gauge thicknesses, McMaster-Carr hardware, whatever).



Jeff Mowry

http://www.industrialdesignhaus.com

A people governed by fear cannot value freedom.

 

[NomLaser]

Cosmos (trying to persuade management into Comsol)
CFDesign

Those are the two modules that we are using. Both accept native SW files. Comsol is supposed to be releasing a flow package this fall so i might get some leg room there to get both into the same package and not have 2 different subscriptions.

 

[NomLaser]

Forgot to mention that we are using PDMWorks Enterprise along with the typical MS Office apps. And AMEN on Firefox! At home I use Open Office because it's free and works just as well as MS's office suite.