Inventor vs. Solidedge vs. Solidworks, which one is best?
Inventor vs. Solidedge vs. Solidworks, which one is best?
(OP)
I design and build special machines and automated assembly machines currently with AutoCAD 2000. I am researching 3D packages (Inventor, SolidEdge & SolidWorks). Does anyone have any advice on which one is the best for my application and where I can get 3rd party evaluations?
RE: Inventor vs. Solidedge vs. Solidworks, which one is best?
The very feature that CAD programs like SolidWorks or Inventor should be strong in (creating documentation) is the very feature that they are the weakest in supporting.
RE: Inventor vs. Solidedge vs. Solidworks, which one is best?
The other issue with the assemblies in Autocad from Inventor would be all the intelligent data from the model (parts lists, auto balloning, weight, and other custom properties that you could currently carry into the drawing from the model)
This topic has been discussed at great lengths in many places. It is a hard decision (but you have to do it or get eaten by the competion)
You can get evaluation copies from the software people and do an eval of your own. You also need to get them to do a demo (and have them use parts like you would use, not the scripted demos they have). Give them an autocad file of a tough part to model and see how it works. I am an Inventor user that recently test drove solidworks for 6 weeks (and went back) Make sure everyone you are talking to is using the latest of each (solidworks 2004, or Inventor R8). Both have some new stuff and it would not be a fair comparison.
Pricewise, with Inventor you get the latest Autocad mechanical (2004DX) and the latest Mech Desktop with the package. The price will be very attractive until Jan 1 (when you can no longer buy an upgrade from Acad 2000 and you will need to get a NEW seat). I'm not 100% positive about the Jan 1 upgrade date, so talk to your reseller.
You can read the comparison at great length on many different sites (and the CAD magazines too). Just do some searching.
Good luck
RE: Inventor vs. Solidedge vs. Solidworks, which one is best?
I'll just say one thing. Like DesignerMike, have some of your parts to take to the Resellers and have them model them for you and take them through to the drawings if needed. Of course also get the eval copies and test drive them yourself...otherwise you will be using other's opinions which tend to get slanted from time to time.
Alan M. Etzkorn

Product Engineer
Nixon Tool Co.
www.nixontool.com
RE: Inventor vs. Solidedge vs. Solidworks, which one is best?
If you compare SW and SE don't get caught by comparison telling you that SW does 10 things that SE can't and things like that. Because I went through this and beside EDrawings and ExpressWorks SE can do as good as SW and many times SE does it better.
As DesignerMike said do your own evaluations and comparison, and make your VAR work for you in showing you what they can do with some of your parts. And insist that you want to see how they do it, Don't go only with what they tell you.
Good luck
Pat
RE: Inventor vs. Solidedge vs. Solidworks, which one is best?
Maybe it is just the lack of training in the respective systems. If you have driven a Yugo for ten years, you can not expect to jump in a ferrari and have it handle the same way.
I'm sure they are all good systems with their respective strengths and weaknesses. You will have to make your own decsion based on what seems most intuitve and has the most features you will use, not on biased hyperbole.
Personally, I would pick SW based on my experience so far, but this is just my bias showing through as I am not a big fan of Autodesk.
Ray Havermahl
Independent Engineering Labs
www.ielinc.com