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Alibre software?

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ttx

Mechanical
Jan 21, 2002
193
Hi,
We are currently using Pro/E R2001.
We are considering switching to Solid Works or possibly one of the lower end CAD packages (read-not getting raked over the coals for maintenance costs).
Does anyone have any experience using Alibre software for commercial mechanical design?

Thanks in advance,

JW
Tactex Controls Inc.
 
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No experience here, but try this thread to contact those that have: forum859

MadMango
"There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home."
Ken Olson, president, chairman and founder of Digital Equipment Corp., 1977
Have you read faq731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?
 
I tried it about a year and half ago and performance was a real issue. It slowed to a snails pace if you started adding more than 15 features.
 
I have toyed with Alibre, but have never done any real work with it.

In short, it is very similar in look and feel to SolidWorks, especially early SWX like 97. Alibre does not have NEAR the depth or maturatiy of SWX. It is a nice basic solid modeler, but SWX is more advanced.

Here is how I percieve these packages:
ProE: set the standard, but very un-user friendly.
SWX: 90% of the capability of ProE, lower cost, and much more user friendly.
Alibre: 50-75% of the capability of SWX, lower cost, and about equal for user friendliness.
 
Oh, yes I agree wit Rocko that performance in Alibre did seem lacking.
 
If you are interested in Alibre, remember that it is in its infancy. Where as SolidWorks is starting to mature and therefore develop higher end functions, Alibre is at where SolidWorks was 3-4 years ago, but gaining fast. So features and performance are somewhat lacking now, this may not always be the case.

I have stopped comparing feature for feature product specs. The CAD market is still moving so fast and changing so quickly, the real criteria, to me anyway, is support of all this change. I've found Alibre to be much better at tech support than Solid Works. Considering the features Alibre has now is suitable for most of what I do, the price is right, and the suport is superb, I chose Alibre. Now I'm waiting anxiously for new and convenient features to be added and making sure I put in plenty of enhancement requests along the way.

--Scott

For some pleasure reading, try FAQ731-376
 
Thanks to those who replied.....
I will watch the development of this software through the Alibre forum.

cheers,

JW
 
Why not save a few bucks more and use &quot;RaceCAD&quot; ? It has pretty much the same features <grin>
 
Ha ha. RaceCAD. Good one....

More like, exactly the same features, well, not exactly, but yes they do look and act the same, but that is not uncommon in todays world, blah blah blah....



-----------
Mr. Pickles
 
But only the Russian version.............



Remember...
&quot;If you don't use your head,
your going to have to use your feet.&quot;
 
Another word of caution. In the early days of most CAD systems service/support is usually better than the mature guys. But everyone matures eventually and is faced with the same size, overhead and business ecconomics problems. So be careful of assuming service/support will continue at its current level.

Also, though I have not really looked this software at it myself, I assume from your comments that support is free(?) right now. That will not continue for ever. In the early days you sell more new licences than your installed base. As you mature and have a large company going, your installed base is larger than your new sales (and now they have all kinds of bitches and complaints, because the honeymoon is over). Thus cost of enhancements and support, let alone pure publication and distribution of updates, become a much larger percentage of your costs. Therefore you have to charge for them or you go under. Typically your VAR is going to be the front end of support and he is the least able to absorb this for free (I know, I've been there). So he has to get a cut of the support cost to fund this. (Anyone remember Daisy Systems....?)

3/4 of all the Spam produced goes to Hawaii - shame that's not true of SPAM also.......
 
It is not very comforting that the most complex models in Alibre's gallery are &quot;STEP files imported from Pro/E or Rhino etc...&quot;


It is as if, they are admitting that they cannot model complex assemblies.

Finally, if you use the logic of &quot;buy cheap&quot; a good choice would be &quot;LegoCAD&quot;, since it is free.
 
Thanks again for the replies.
And yes, I do realize that the SW and Pro/E forums may not be the best place to discuss Alibre however, I was (am) interested in insight from other industry professionals - people using the higher end systems.

cheers,

JW
 
I tried Alibre and found it to be lacking for MY needs. Please note that I need more surfacing features and better control of lofts and sweeps (pump design), which is outside the majority of the needs of many designers. Alibre was very easy to use, just like the IV, SW, and SE programs out there. It was definately tied to the internet more, as in the fact that everytime you logged onto the program, it let Alibre know. In fact, the support guy actually can type you messages similar to IM. Pretty freaky at first. Anyway, I took a look at them because of their claim to pay you if you couldn't design something in Alibre versus SolidWorks, etc. The program couldn't and of course they didn't.

Anyway, I think it would be a cheap way to go, but after living the pain of Inventor (3 years behind SW) and various bugs here and there, I finally gave up and switched to SW. They've got their act together. Bottom line: if you can live with minor glitches and don't need the additional features, give it a shot. Otherwise, save yourself some headaches and pick a mature program.
 
I think it all depends on what you NEED. If you can't afford the appropriate tools for the work you are trying to do, then you are underfunded and in the wrong business. Sorry, but that's the way it is. A major reason why most companies go under eventually. If all you NEED is something like Alibre, then fine, go get it if it fits you budget. But you should look very hard and logically at what you are trying to do, the market you are trying to compete in and your future growth needs.

3/4 of all the Spam produced goes to Hawaii - shame that's not true of SPAM also.......
 
Remember Alibre's focus was not CAD but Collaboration! Also i know of several people who took there challenge like HomemadeSin did above and they never paid them. It does not have the capability yet to design the majority of industrial design products.
 
I have to say that if a CAD company is making cash promises like that, it's kinda tacky (specially when they don't come through with the money). Makes me suspicious in the first place and I would probably avoid them. Makes them sound like they are desperate. Come on, folks, we are in the professional software market here, not selling used car for crying out loud. I would make a formal complaint for false advertizing and it serves them right. It also sounds suspiciously to me like the &quot;collaboration&quot; band waggon didn't take off like their business plan dreamed it would and now they are trying to retrench and get into the mainstream CAD market in hopes of fending off the investors. Hmmmm.... doesn't look promising if that is what is going on.

3/4 of all the Spam produced goes to Hawaii - shame that's not true of SPAM also.......
 
I believe the rules for their challenge were somewhat 'biased,' if that is the correct term.

Check the rules out here:

Especially prohibitive are these:
4. Models may consist of no more than 500 parts.
5. Entries cannot require features which Alibre Design 6.0 lacks, such as surfacing, Boolean operations, fold/unfold of rolled/formed sheet metal parts, cabling, etc.
7. Entries for which Alibre can provide a working solution, which may include changes in assembly or subassembly structure, are disqualified.

I think #7 basically says if Alibre can come up with ANY SORT OF WORKAROUND, the entry is disqualified.
 
Arlin,

That's pretty much the jist of the challenge. I had a part that I could make in Solid Edge. I sumitted to Alibre because I couldn't make it. They came back with a close approximation. If I were to manufacture the part they sent me, it wouldn't work. But, because it looked correct and was close enough, I didn't win the challenge. More or less, it took so long to prove that it wasn't accurate enough that I just gave up.

In other words, Alibre was able to make the part, just not to my specs. Because it could make a part like it, I didn't win.

In the end, I still bought Alibre. Basically, that part is not what I typically do and therefore I found it just to challenge Alibre. For the most part, Alibre fits my needs and my budget. It's a perfect match for what I do.

--Scott

For some pleasure reading, try FAQ731-376
 
JNR,
I agree with your comments on getting the proper tool for the job - and evaluating future growth and target markets.
You may or may not be interested to know that we currently use Pro/E 2001 and are resisting upgrading to the next release.
Our company has made a concious decision to switch to SW - the question is timing.
The Alibre ad pops up in Machine Design every couple of months - thought that I would look into it. Basically, I am not surprised with the comments so far.

JW
 
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