wildfire 2.0 8

[bnrg]

Hi,
Anyone have experience with wildfire 2.0? We are considering upgrade from 2001.
Thanks,
Bob

 

[mgnt8]

Make sure you get training beacause a lot has changed from 2001. Also, system requirements are greater for Wildfire, i.e. more RAM needed, more powerful graphics card, etc.
Having said that, WF 2.0, if you're able to manage the change, makes Pro/E better than ever.

 

[cehall]

I have been having a hard time getting anyone here to go to Wildfire 1.0 after they were trained on it. Seems they dug their heels in on 2001 and are not moving.

We just got the Wildfire 2.0 CD's today; so I am not moving to it yet. I like some of the improvements in the demos.

 

[Guest0527211403]

Here's my experiences with WF2, so far...

The Datum Sketch feature..
There is a new command next to the sketched datum curve command which allows you to create a "sketch" feature. This feature is just like a sketched datum curve, however it can be used directly as a reference for an extrusion or revolve, for example. Those of you who use Wildfire know that there is no "link" between a sketched datum curve and a sketched feature (although you can make them associative via a config option i believe). In WF2 There *is* a link between this new sketch feature and any feature created from it..

The omnipresent "undo" command..
Yes, you can undo almost any action in WF2! So go ahead.. delete that feature.. its just a Ctrl-Z away!

Copying of features...
I was really impressed by this. You can now literally click a feature (say, a hole), press Edit--> Copy, pick a new place to put it (say, a new surface) and press Edit--> Paste special to place a new one. There is an easy to use dialog that lets you choose new references or maintain old ones. You can also apply transformations from the Paste-Special command as well.

Patterning..
Aside from the fill pattern (from Wilfdire), WF2 pretty lets you pattern any features in any direction. This means you don't need to create a "make datum" to pattern a rib around a boss, for example. You would simply pattern it around an axis.

Annotation Features...
WF2 lets you make 3-Dimensional Annotations which conform to the ASME Y14.41 standard for Digital Product Data. So a model can contain dimensions which remain on a specific plane and rotate with the model. This is a new standard and we are in the process of investigating it. I do, however, like the idea of it so far.

Sheetmetal...
WOW. You have to see this to believe it. If you are using Pro/Sheetmetal 2001, you will kiss your screen when you see WF2. The process of creating walls has become so simple, its literally a matter of clicking an edge to attach and choosing the flat wall command. The dynamic drag allows you to alter the angle, and the dashboard allows you to control the shape. We created a sheetmetal part in less than 1/4 of the time it used to take us using this new functional area.

Analyis tools
There has been a serious consolidation of the tools used to analyze models. I'm toying with that right now so I cant really list all the changes, but I can tell you that it is a major step from both 2001 and WF.

Parameters & relations
The improved relations editor in WF was improved upon in WF2. You now have buttons that let you enter in mathematical symbols (i know it doesn't sound like much, but it does make things easier), and you can specify UNITS to parameters. So now very simple relations can be used to perform unit conversions during regen.

So far, that's all the info I can come up with.. I'm sure there's more to be discovered, but I guess more people need to start moving towards this release before we start using it more.

-Mark

 

[Heckler]

Mark - thanks for the update. It sounds a lot like Solid Works. I still have not convinced WF is the desired upgrade path....I'm waiting for PTC to wise up a release Pro/E 2005. I'm digging my heels in.....PTC has to set itself apart. Or next thing we read will be Desault Systems set to buy PTC!

The sky is falling

 

[darcyo]

I also heard that wildfire 2 has a new licensing method: now licneses can be "borrowed" from the license server - allowing a pro/e user, for example, to borrow a license on his/her laptop and take it home with them (while disconnected from the network). pretty sweet. anybody used this licensing feature yet? any problems?

 

[cehall]

I have WF2 now. Have gone thru the video on line and the PDF of Whats New. Monday I am going live in WF2.

Now all I have to do is get WF2 on my laptop! And I can work at home, finally.

((((HAPPY DANCE))))

Looks like the rest are going to do the big leap from 2001 & 200oi2 right to WF2. No more heals dug in

 

[Guest0527211403]

Theres one more update in WF2 I'd like to share...

An interface for adding drawing views has been added, which makes it much easier to place views and see ALL of the options available to the user...

Those of you using Wildfire 1 can see it by setting the following config.pro option to "yes":

new_drawing_view_ui

-mark

 

[jdt020471]

Mark,

I have tried to set the new_drawing_view_ui in the config.pro, but it doesn't recognise this setting.

Jeff

 

[Guest0527211403]

hmm. thats strange.

I'm using Wildfire Datecode 2003170. Pro/E 2001 doesnt offer this setting. You can, however, set the new parameter and relations interfaces using new_relation_ui and new_parameter_ui .

Jeff- out of curiousity what is your datecode?

-Mark

 

[verifone]

My company is going to upgrade to Wildfire 2. Does anyone know which version of Intralink mate?

 

[jdt020471]

Hi Mark,

The datecode for Wildfire installed is 2003490.

It's such a pain that you cannot save to an earlier version, and I don't mean saving as a neutral file etc. That is soooo long winded. Tehe problems I have is that most of the companies we deal with use 2001 and aren't willing to change even to WF1. So now when PTC brings out WF2, there is no point in me upgrading and using it. So, I'm going to miss out on all the nice new features. My point is that, if there was a 'save as to an earlier version' I wouldn't have this problem.

Surely I'm not the only one with this kind of problem. I'd be interested to see who else feels the same!

Anyway rant over now, I'm getting back in my box

Jeff


Jeff

 

[Guest0527211403]

Verifone-

Nothing prior to Intralink 3.3 will work with Wildfire (1 or 2).

-Mark

 

[looslib]

Even more specific, you need 3.3 M021 for Wildfire 1 build M140+ and Wildfire 2 build F000+.


"Wildfires are dangerous, hard to control, and economically catastrophic."

Ben Loosli
CAD/CAM System Analyst
Ingersoll-Rand

 

[Heckler]

Jdt - their are many reasons why engineers like us refuse to give up real functionality for fluff(WF). The save as early version rhetoric was starting by a company called AutoDesk when CAD was nothing more than lines on a screen. The SolidWorks folks complain about this all the time.....they call it a software conspiracy that ensures corporations like SolidWorks and PTC gets a piece of the pie to cover development costs.

I think I've gotten off subject here...but one last thing I would like appoint Mark as the official WildFire guru....for posting such a detailed response. It almost makes me want to upgrade my Pro/E 2001 to WF. I guess I hold off until PTC comes to its senses and releases Pro/E 2005.

 

[cehall]

WF2, I like it.

I really like the Datum Sketch Feature. Used it four times today. Sweeeet!

Really seems much better than WF1. Cleaner pick paths.

And the copy/paste works.

 

[Guest0527211403]

PTC has an "interactive tour" on thier site which shows the improvements in WF2. Some pretty cool stuff I didn't notice before (License Borrowing!).

Go to:

http://www.ptc.com/go/wildfire/

Look for the Interactive Tour on the lower left of the page. You need to give them your info, which means you will probably end up on a cold-call list. You need Flash player for it to work.

Threre is also a 150 KB PDF of the "top 10 enhancements"

http://www.ptc.com/products/datasheets/top10_enhancements.pdf

-Mark

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

It sounds a lot like Solid Works.

To be more precise, it sounds a lot like SW2003

Sorry Heckler, I don't mean to pick on you ... but

The SolidWorks folks complain about this all the time.....they call it a software conspiracy

Your statement makes it sound like all the SW forum members subscribe to the "conspiracy theory". Of the over 7000 SW forum members, less than a couple of dozen have actively complained & only 3 or 4 seem to have renewed their subscriptions. The majority of 3D CAD users would love backward/forwards compatibility but realize the impracticality of that dream.

from (the City of) Barrie, Ontario.

If you choke a smurf, what color does it turn?

 

[Heckler]

CBL,

Someone has to leave themselves open for the "slam" for making blanket statements or rants......Maybe I should let everyone know I'm also a SolidWorks user

 

[3dlogix]

In WF you can save files to previous versions. Have any of you had experience with this feature?

Most of our suppliers are on 2001, and may not upgrade as soon.

I would hate to manually "save as" files from WF to 2001 for a 1500 part+ assembly.

Steve

http://www.sprdesign.com