help me choose 2

[ARenko]

We're looking into going to solid modelling, and I'd like to bring in a few companies for some demos. We design downhole tools for the oil industry. I'd be interested in FEA, animation, and fluid flow as well, whether as a comprehensive package from one company, or whether the 3d will import easily to other programs. Where should I start? Any advice when analyzing different programs? What are the major differences between some of the major programs?
TIA,
djv

 

[Standing]

Before you call in Pro/E or PTC please read thread thread559-52852 in the SolidWorks form. “Is Solid Works is being sued by Pro E” Please note what the TheTick says about the letter C. Put this question to the SolidWorks form, you will get lots of comments. Also there have been a lot of questions about this issue in the SolidWorks form.

Bradley

 

[shaukii]

Try the Program called ADINA (Automatic Dynamic Incremental Nonlinear Analysis) very powerfull FEA Program. You can get a 900 node light version for Demo. Let me know how it worked.

Shaukat Khan, Design Engineer
skhan@alumni.ucalgary.ca
Lethbridge, Canada

 

[djw2k3]

Hi djv

I think you will always hear different views from different users about a 3D package

The only thing I can recomend is make the sellers work for the cash you are going to fork out.

If you are going to buy a 3D package and and FEA with fluid flow you are really going to be spending some cash ;-)

djw

 

[knobhead]

Sounds like a toss-up between Pro E and Solidworks to me.

Excessive accuaracy is a sign of poor breeding. -Socrates.

 

[Standing]

knobhead,
Sure if you are on an unlimited budget. That includes training hours as well as dollars.


Bradley

 

[elifer]

Considering your need (if i've got it right) for a good 3d package integrated with FEM, you have the choice of two levels: 1st the big boys : UG , CATIA , PRO-E; 2nd level: SolidWorks and SolidEdge. As I am working the CADCAM field for over 18 years, I can afirm safely that the capabilies are converging rapidly. So what's the difference? First the pricing policies of the vendors ( and here look well at the long term usage costs) and second the interface.Depending on the prior experience of the users and their opennes to changes, one can learn to use eache and every software in about 2 weeks hands-on.

 

[iaguy]

You should also look at CoCreate. They are not cheap, but they have good modelling accuracy and export models to FEA and have their own FEA addin.

Budget 10-20 K$ for software plus another 2K per user for training. You can get away with a pretty cheap computer now, not like a few years ago when I paid $22,000 per unix workstation to run the software.

iaguy.

 

[sc]

If it is not too late, you could send the various software companies a sample job and ask them to give you a demonstration based on that particualr job.

This gives you a good base line for comparisons and it also shows you if they are willing to put in the effort to make the sale and commit to your company.

regards
sc

 

[PSE]

I would agree with sc. If you are looking into software, make sure you throw a real test at it in order to see the results. It can be amazing to see how quickly both a program and the sales rep can founder once you go outside a "canned demo". Also find out if there are user groups in your area as they can be good resources of information including problem work arounds.

Regards