RISA 3D vs Pro/MECHANICA

[1Khaleel]

Gurus,
A new co-worker suggested we move from using Pro/MECHANICA to RISA 3D for our FEA analyses. We use ProE and have been comfortable with Pro/M. However, it can be time consuming to setup and solve models when dealing with fairly large and complicated models.
We usually carry out an FEA to analyze support structures for our electronic and drive system components.
Are there any real advantages in changing to RISA 3D? Any limitations?
Thanks.

 

[prost]

Depends on your application, that is, the types of problems you analyze--RISA 3D seems like a great choice if you are doing a lots of frames, plates and shells, like the A/E industry does. If you do lots of 3D solid models of machinery, brackets, lugs, etc., Pro/MECHANICA looks like the better choice over RISA 3D. Are you doing mostly rod/frame/shell/plate analyses? You say 'support structure' but I don't know if that means the rods and plates of table-like objects, or if you need to look at complex 3D models of structural details like connections, lugs, welds, etc.