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Solidworks vs. ProE

Look at the new Solid Edge; direct editing offeatures onimported dumb geometry - direct editing of features without going back to feature tree!UG has certainly stepped out ahead of all others.


A few years back I used Solid Edge on a number of projects and saw glimpses of where UG was headed with this product. Their blue-dottechnology for surfacing was great, but it is nothing compared to having the ability to import an IGES, STEP, etc... and begin making direct alterations to features. Feature-tree be damned, for basic solid extrudes, UG has made the tree a useless appendage, and in doing so has greatly simplified the designprocess.


I have no doubt that if UG is aggresive in promoting their product they will turn the industry over. I can't see how any large company would continue to throw money into the PRO-E black-hole after seeing how far UG has advanced their product.
 
I'm curious as to how that UG direct edit software compares to the co create stuff. Siemens purchased UG so I guess it will live on.
 
The issue of UG's survival is a very silly premise. If they did nothing more than lived off their CAM sales (another area where they've stepped ahead of all others)their future is secure. As far as other software with direct edit capabilities; there are a few others, one of whichis owned by Solidworks. Comparing any of them to a mainstream 3-d engineering software package is about on the same level as assuming UG survival is based on being owned by Seimens.


done, done, done... (I'm closing this conversation PRO-E style) done, done.
 
Still this technology - direct modeling - IMHO is aimed for manufactures wich suffer with neutral formats most.

basicaly half of those direct modeling options are now included in Pro/E. They are hidden behind awfull functions, but they exist. Take an Offset tool in consideration - Expand surface, Offset surf with sketch + extra drafting on the sides, replace, etc.

This all is now available in Pro\e. Hence, I am far away to prise its "ease of use", `couse there is none:)))

I suppoose from two years from now, there will be available extra module - similar to warp or ISDX - which inside let user play with geom on not "history" driven way.
 
"half of those direct modeling options are now included in Pro/E. They are hidden behind awfull functions, but they exist. Take an Offset tool in consideration - Expand surface, Offset surf with sketch + extra drafting on the sides, replace, etc."


YOU MISSED THE BOAT; NONE OF WHAT YOU NAMED IS NEW TO SOLID EDGE; NOR, FOR THAT MATTER SOLIDWORKS. TRY LOOKING AT THE DEMOS ON UG'S HOME PAGE.
 
well it is possible I might miss some docs, but I thought I`ve all movies and read all docs introduction of Synchronous Technology related.

if there are anything I could miss - please insert those links here. I will take a look on them.

still - maybe those movies do not show everything - only flat or simple surfaces are modified there. Non of complicated roundings or patterns or shapes are introduced there. All I saw there is a simple Extand surface(solids) dressed up with nice interface and ease of use.

But, I still expact to be supprised by this "revolutionary" tech. Till this moment I am not.
 
Done, Done and Done kind of funny... At least in Pro-e you can hit enter or middle mouse button.


In SW you have pretty much all the same button pushing for the same things but no enter or middle mouse.And don't get me started on using the delete keyin SW.... Everything is "select right click and delete"


I use both softwares every day (8+ years for both).


Pro-e has it's faults butSolidWorks just plain sucks.
 
Metoo:

Interesting... I never thought of that.

as far as solidworks and all that.... I would say solidworks sucked bad before 2006 and is more anoying some of the limitations like top down design etc.... she has come far in the past 3 years we all must admit.

I'm just annoyed at the die hard solidworks fans that loved that sh*t before then.

Sketcher is a little slow without intent manager yet... and there is a lot of room for improvement for both dogs.


Edited by: design-engine
 
I like the analogy of DOGS, as they say You can't teach Old Dogs new tricks.


FIREWILD-


I love the reference for the no middle mouse for SW. How fast you guys forget that....... how long did it take for PTC to stop needing to hold down the Ctrl button and Left click to zoom in and out, Ctrl button and middle button to spin, Ctrl button and right click to drag........THAT WAS UP TO Pro2001. In-fact remember all those corny MAPKEYS that can be customized ----- to limit all the EXTRA"button pushing for the same things ".


SW has always used the "middle" button/scroll = Middle button to spin, and scroll button to zoom.


I'm not a die-hard anything anymore. I was one of the guys that made fun of "RE-Invetor" in past. I know that one week of Inventor and Solidworks for Basic/Essentials - combination of Detailing and Advance Modeling for another week ----MADE me Dangerous in the 3D modeling world.


I've gone to Waltham, Mass 4X, and a lot of in-house training by PTC rental consultants from Pyramid, Advanced Design, Inc........
 
Hey there.
I am working at an engineering firm, and we are trying to decide whether to switch to solid works, or alibre - but by the sounds of it ProE is actually the best one. I have used AutoCAD for the last 3-4 years, and i am the first one at the company to do the 3D modeling for them. we design lots of spherical shapes, and do lots of 3D curves, we also work closely with a lot of other companies and so need to be able to import/export various file-types. could someone please let me know which one they suggest? i would REALLY appreciate it!
-Thanks in advance!
 
The only reasonable way to go is to take a few of the typical jobs you will be doing and have someone come over to do it in the CAD they are offering. They can have the exercise a few days in advance but they have to do it on site and without prepared models on a "virgin" computer.


Let them model the part and then ask for some modifications like you would have to do also. If you need precise dimensions or parameters or workflows on certain items then ask for it and check them afterwards.


That's the way we did it back in the 90-ties for our first CAD and again 10 years later when we had to switch (because of "discontinued"). We had some bigmouths going flat out this way.


Never take demos for the real thing.


Alex
 
Both Solid Works and Pro-e are about $5,000.00


There's no wayI would everbuy SW unless you were forced into it by a customer.


Another tibit for SW lovers. Try putting a negitive number into a SW sketch. Example: move a circle to the other side of a centerline. Nope can't be done, delete the dimension drag the circle and re-dimension it. in Pro you don't even have to re-enter sketcher to do this just RMB and edit the feature,enter the negitive number and regen.
 
When you get them to show you a demo using parts like you create. Have them create the drawings too and show you what happens when the parts change (features deleted or redefined more so than just changed in size).

One of the things that you want to make sure of after you pick a CAD system - get someone with some long term experience with it to give you a list of best practices. Also, have them explain the why of the best practices. As new users of whatever CAD you pick, you will make snarled messes that you end up having to clean up later. What would be good, is to have someone help you reduce the mess making.

My general opinion is Solidworks is easier to learn, but Pro/E gives you more control. That increased control means you are faster once you learn it, but it does take a while to learn and is less obvious about how to do things. Solidworks will let you get away with not constraining your sketches. This is a quick way to have big messes. (there are some times it is really nice, but before the design is done, it should be constrained)

Also, I think most people who think they know how to use CAD and create good models don't think long term or big picture enough to not leave a lot of messes. (I'm sure my models probably look like messes to others but at least I name most of my features)


RANT:

I'm using Solidworks again after a few months of Pro/E and my happiness level has fallen again. (And I am self taught at Solidworks and only have a few months experience in it compared to my years in Pro/E...very frustrating to know there should be some button that does what I want if I only could remember what it looked like)

I did learn something new - when you have an assembly with a concentric mate, the direction matters. If you change something else, it may fail your mate constraints because the concentric mate direction is no longer valid. Mates in Solidworks assemblies drive me batty because I don't understand what causes them to start failing in many cases (see above example - I moved a nut from one side of a plate to another and then the connector that was also in the plate moved and started to fail. A definite WTF moment.) Adjusting to the philosophical difference that all mates are solved at the same time rather than in the order that components are assembled is a constant struggle for me.

The other struggle is after years of hitting middle mouse button to be done or stop sketching whatever, Solidworks doesn't accept that command....it's almost as good as some of the times I have tried panning and zooming Word documents with the buttons I use for Pro/E. It takes a bit for the brain to figure out what the fingers are doing.
 
defiantly don't get Alibre. You would never get a job after learning that. The truth is Solidworks and Pro/E are quite similar.Solidworks is behind on quite a few things and Pro/E is behind on some interface issues. If you ask me go with Pro/ENGINEER.From my observation a designer who learns solidowkrs first seldom makes the jump to Pro/ENGINEER because of intimidation.Learning solidworks after mastering Pro/E is easy.Pro/E jobs are more elite and probably pay 10 to 20 percent higher. Solidwokrs users are more like mac enthusiasts. They love it because it looks better. I am unclear how solidowrks upgrades if your company needs more as it matures other than converting to Catia.
 
Quick question - Do you think Management gives a sh*t what platform you use? Do you think China cares if you can use a negative number (be real - you don't use a negative number when you sketch on papaer - obviously you too went to a PTC class - how much did that cost?)
You guys should just read the jokes ---- I swear, this thread always open up every 6 months. I was wrong - every 3 months-you guys are too funny!!!<?:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:eek:ffice:eek:ffice" />

Solidworks is like your little sister. She's easy.



possible relatives?:

solid edge- the neglected sister that just can't seem to get a break?
catia- the rich uncle with the nice car that only hangs around a few places?
pro-e- the dad that still wears the plaid stretch knit clothes, but is sure he is cool?
UG- the brother that always comes in second?
OSD- the hippie sister without a care in the world?
inventor- that neighbor that always is making something in the garage, but never quite finishing it?
maya- that flirty neighbor always showing off
3dmax- the hot shot cousin that gets all the best jobs

hyperbole of course...

Seriously, someone should 5S all of the CAD tools nad be real LEAN! It does not matter which platform you run --- The bottom line is DESIGN INTENT! We don't have designers and drafters detailing our design anymore, we as engineers design, detail, and coordinate........ we now only have 3 days to do all of that, so if it takes 3 weeks for PTC, 2.5 weeks for Solidworks, 2.8 for Inventor....... we might as well sketch it on a napkin and fax it to China - and in 3 months we will get a mold made out of recycled steel...... again a mold that would take a year to fabricate here at 8x the price. I have a feeling that a "baloon" drawing with tabulated values will suffice in ACAD LT rather than Family Tables..... Why bother with that iso view, when the Chinese won't be using a programmed CNC, therefore a DXF will suffice, rather than the favored IGES for Pro Users, STEP for SolidWorks and "RE-Inventor" design transfer. Since these are the big 3 CAD packages - just like the big 3 in the automotive industries - It Does Not matter which system these auto designers use ---- All 3 are Laying Off workers!

I guess if we did not discuss this topic every 6 months ---- then we would argue why so and so used mylar and ink, while so and so used velum and #2 pencil :)

My Advice - Focus on the DESIGN INTENT, be efficient (without requiring a paid on-line assesment test). God knows we would not be able to handle it if John Deere announce they will be swithching to Solidworks from Pro-E, almost like switching to the plastic junk tractors:)

Seriously, folks, It's great to drive a loaded Cadilac (Pro-E) with Mechanica included -BUT- with the gas prices, I would drive a Yugo (CADAM or CADKEY) as long as I have a job!
 
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