Mechanical 3D softwares

[s4family]

Our company is going to buy a 3D software for sheet metal design. We are considering tree companies: Solid Edge, Solid Works, and Pro/Engineer. Can anybody give me an advice what is the best software for our application. What are advantages and disadvantages (except a price). We do not have big assemblings, around 400-500 parts.

Thanks.

 

[swertel]

All will work fine, as will Alibre.

--Scott

For some pleasure reading, try FAQ731-376

 

[s4family]

What about crashes, auto updating Bill Of Materials, changes in flat or bend parts and automatically updating a part and BOM?
What is more user friendly? We have to export files to CNC program for AMADA machines.
Someone told me that with Solid Edge and SolidWorks after some changes on a bend part you have to manually update flat piece and also manually update BOM in speadsheet. Is it true? For me it does not makes any sense.

 

[TheTick]

I have worked on UG, Pro/E and SW. Of these, Pro/E has the best sheetmetal functionality.

 

[swertel]

Solid Edge used to be the front runner in Sheet Metal. But, they haven't done many improvement in that environment lately and the competition has caught up. I've never used Pro/E's sheet metal, though. Solid Edge may still be slightly ahead.

Crashing is universal. Depending on your hardware config and other applications loaded/running, you will or will not crash with each software and each version or service pack of software.

Someone may have given you the wrong impression of "manually updating" in SE and SW. Basically what happens is through the dependencies inherent in 3D parametric modeling, the flat patterns, BOMs, drawing views, etc. recognize that a change has been made to the part. Rather than automatically updating drawing views and BOMs, for example, they are highlighted showing the user that a change has been made to the model. You then choose to update the out-of-date information by clicking one icon. If this wasn't done, then everytime you opened a drawing, you would never have a clue that someone else made a change to the model; print out the drawing; and now it doesn't match the released print in Document Control.

I also have the problem of revising a part but forgetting to make a print of the old revision until I open up the drawing and see the out-of-date stamp. I then print it out, update my views, and have the earlier revision in order to compare and record the changes.



--Scott

For some pleasure reading, try FAQ731-376

 

[alexit]

We are now using Solidworks for sheetmetal, the whole CAD package was less than the cost of the sheetmetal module add-on to Pro/E...so far us engineers are pleased with the decision.

Crashing is inherent in PCs, usually because the huge number of configurations. Use all recommended components, or buy the hardware direct from the CAD VAR and make them support you.