To Unigraphics from Solidworks

[J-C]

I'm considering a position where I'm located that uses UG NX2 to do mostly surfacing modeling (Medical applications). Coming from a Solidworks background, how similar are the two programs?

Interested in users who have used both and could give me a good idea of what to expect.

thanks,
gil

 

[JTD64]

Couldn't be much more compatible, they both use the parasolid kernel.
Exchange data back and forth using parasolids.

John D

 

[Xwheelguy]

JTD is correct, but you may wish to make sure that a separate translator isn't needed to import/export Parasolid files. Also keep in mind that a Parasolid is a dumb or unparametric model. Below is straight from the Solidworks website:

SolidWorks Office Professional includes a translator which allows for the import of native Unigraphics part and assembly files. SolidWorks Office Professional and Unigraphics use the same modeling kernel – Parasolid®. Instead of sending the data through translators such as IGES and STEP, the Parasolid file format (usually *.xmt_txt) is available for import and export. This capability allows you to bypass IGES and STEP, providing you with a cleaner data exchange between SolidWorks Office Professional and Unigraphics products.

Tim Flater
Senior Designer
Enkei America, Inc.

http://www.enkei.com

 

[J-C]

I was more talking about how hard is UG to learn coming from a Solidworks background?

Jason Capriotti
ThyssenKrupp Elevator

 

[Xwheelguy]

I think that's all relative to how much a user can retain from one session on UG to the next. Like all CAD software, UG is going to be better at some things than Solidworks is, but I'm sure there are be other things Solidworks is better at than UG.

Not knowing your proficiency in Solidworks makes it hard to answer your question. I mean, surfacing is surfacing no matter what software you use...you either understand it or you don't. The techniques usually don't change a whole lot, just the terminology used by the software makers.

Also, I have no clue the types of objects you will be modeling (bones, joints, medical utensils) or the complexity of those objects.

Just don't let UG scare you...it's not as complex as you might think. If you're only creating surfaces & not worried about solid modeling, you may wish to take a look at UG's Shape Studio...I think it's much easier to use than the traditional Free Form Features UG offers. Take a training class if your employer will pay for it. That will at least introduce you to UG's theory of modeling, etc.

I would also strongly suggest that to take advantage of UG's Free Form Features that you break yourself from relying on only sketching....use UG's powerful curve creation & editing to their full advantage. Sometimes the sketcher can make it very difficult to model complex free form shapes.

Most of this is opinion & not fact. I think you'll be OK.

Tim Flater
Senior Designer
Enkei America, Inc.

http://www.enkei.com

 

[J-C]

When I interviewed, it appears that they use the freeform tools. Can you give me examples of UG freeform tools? They did not seem to indicate that they use surfacing in UG.