Does ProE offer a 2d layout software?

[bry593]

You know, something like AutoCAD or Draftsight?


This would greatly speed ground up design in the type of product my company manufactures. Someone suggested Othena Pro or something like that, but I haven't been able to find any info on it.


BTW, we are using Wildfire 2.0.


TIA

 

[s_pme20]

it is more advantageous to use 3D software even in initial stage of design.I would say it is more speedy to change 3D model than working only on 2D...by the way what is product of your company?

 

[cgosnell]

But there are times when sketching in 2D is very useful,
and I use it all the time, especially for range of motion
studies, etc... The only way I know how to do 2D in Pro-E
is just start a 3D part/assembly and use 2D sketches on
your particular plane of interest.

What Pro-E desperately needs is the concept of 'blocks'
like in Solidworks, and Autodesk (i think)

 

[bry593]

@ cgosnell


You are correct, 2D layout greatly increases efficiency for the following reasons:

1. 
   <LI>2d requires changes in only one file, plus it is 2 dimensions so moving and measuring entities as well as file generation is many times quicker</LI>
   <LI>there is no need to create a file for each component of which you may not need by the time the layout is finished</LI>
   <LI>2d layout allows for quick range of motion, angular positioning, etc</LI>
   <LI>2d layout eliminates the need for "do overs" as often required to 3d models if initial assumptions create problems with later changes. This is especially important when a design is "ground-up" new. Not so important if you are just tweaking an existing concept.</LI>
   <LI>2d layout generally lends itself well to mechanical design, while 3d layout is better suited to structure exterior design.</LI>

You can never convincea software engineer or salespersonthat"top-down" isnot thebest method for every application. As the saying goes, "Walk a mile in my "....

 

[srieger]

I don't understand what the problem is with 2d Sketch for what you are looking for. 1. You can do it all in a single file (if you wish)


2. You may be able to use it as a skeleton model as the design progresses


3. Sketch allows for quick range of motion, angular positioning, etc


4. Do overs are a matter of how you start your design. You can conseptualize in a sketch but if you make your initial geometry in a model complicated, it makes it less efficient to change as the design progresses.


5. I completely disagree here. Mechanical design is well suited to 3D modelling. This is the reason the industry has converted to it.


Yes, you need to have a basis to start from. A concept. You can use Layout in Pro/Engineer which is like an engineers notebook but I feel in most cases it's much more cumbersom than starting the model. It could be the path you choose when starting a model that makes it more difficult. I don't know. Modelling techniques are the downfall of most 3D design applications.


CoCreate (Now Creo/Direct) dramatically simplifys this and it also is done within a single file. This is why we have it. People with less experience can model with more flexibility because there is no model tree. No feature is dependant upon a previous feature.


There is still a learning curve and it is dramatically different than Pro/Engineer. Some of the functionality is being incorporated into Pro/E (Creo) but its functionality is pretty limited right now and it is an add-on deal.

 

[bry593]

The ProE sketcher is not 2D friendly for layouts since it is lacking the time saving commands and capabilities of a true 2D package. Sure, you can do it, but it takes forever and like you say, you might as well just start in 3D.


I hadn't heard of the CoCreate. Will have to look into this to see if it is more efficient than sketcher.

 

[s_pme20]

It also depends on how you are efficient/experience of using perticular CAD tool..for example, if I do something 2D in autocad it takes me ages to finish, while in pro-e i can do it very quickly.That doesn't mean that autocad is lacking capabilities.
One more thing, they can not include each area so strongly in one software.Other wise it becomes very difficult for syatem.Every software is strong in some area and weak in some.

 

[srieger]

I'm sorry but Sketcher couldn't get much more efficient. It has all the time saving functions in any 2D package. If there is anything else you need, make a mapkey.


Yes, Layout is not the best tool for this although it has it's purpose.


I'm thinking that you may be having an issue with the paradigm shift from the old way of doing things to the new ways of conceptualizing and implementing the 3D workflow. Just an observation, not a judgement.


I've been doing this forover 30years. It has shifted dramatically in that time. I don't ever require a 2D CAD package and find it much more cumbersome that the current workflow. I do use several packages, however. Dealing primarily with otherpeople's 2D drawings.