If Solid Works is so good... 1

[smokehouse]

Why isn't everyone using it??
I see this issue hashed out quite a bit and people always say to go with SWX.....HOWEVER....
A great many people still use autocad.

If I was going to purchase a design package for plastic injection molds and sheet metal dies, which one should I go with?? SWX or Acad?

 

[looslib]

Each industry has there own preferences and situations.
Do you do the finished part design and the molds and dies or are you only designing and building the tooling?
If only the tooling, What design package is used to design the finished parts?
If you are doing the machining on the tooling, Do you want a single vendor for CAD and CAM or separate vendors? Separate vendors can lead to finger pointing when something goes wrong.

As for the company I work for, we don't use either Acad or SWX, we are split between Pro/E and Unigraphics by corporate business sectors. Some are all Pro/E and the others are all UG. Ben Loosli
CAD/CAM System Analyst
Ingersoll-Rand

 

[IRstuff]

Rarely does a company buy anything simply because it's the "best." One consideration is what was used before. Backward compatibility is sometimes more important than a number of operational improvements. IF you already have hundreds of drawings in Pro/E or UG, unless you have an infinite backroll, you'll use what's been used before simply because the cost to convert is too high. Translation programs are not 100% perfect, which means that you'll incur unknown costs.

The second consideration is what your customers and suppliers are using. Sort of pointless to have the best software package that no one else is using and have to fight conversion errors. TTFN

 

[MadMango]

One reason for everyone not using SolidWorks is hard to define. Factors such as software cost and hardware upgrades is one contributor. Others are learning curve and cost of training (either hands-on or classes). Sometimes it's as simple as not wanting to go through some sort of change in mind set. Some people would not want to switch providers from 2d AutoCAD, and prefer to stay with Inventor. Some people find that Inventor does everything they need it to do, some people find that SolidWorks does what they need it to do.

Kind of like cars. A Geo Metro is going to get you from point A to point B just as well as a BMW 540i. For some, the Metro is all they need, for others they prefer the BMW. And there are still others that prefer motorcycles, and other that need the capabilities of a SUV.

As you know your needs, the best thing to do is to get the vendors of the software you are considering to come into your place of business and give you a demo. Be prepared to ask them though questions, and have them work with your data (very important). After you do this, you should be able to distill your choices down to 2 products. At this time you'll want to get 30-day trails of the software and test drive it yourself. Then you can safely make the right choice for the way that your company works. "The attempt and not the deed confounds us."

 

[smokehouse]

I guess the reason I'm asking this is because I'm very comfortable with the 2D program we have now..We have 10 years of archives in house at this time with this program.

But lately several customers are pushing hard for SWX. On one hand it sounds like SWX is the only game in town...On the other hand ppl say to use what works best..

IRstuff sez, "Backward compatibility is sometimes more important than a number of operational improvements."
I tend to agree with him.

Owners and operators of 3D programs tend to be smug.

 

[MadMango]

If you are happy with your 2D program, and it does everything you require of it, then there shouldn't be a reason to change platforms. I wonder why your "customers" are pushing for SolidWorks? Are they really pushing for SolidWorks, or for your company to be able to work with there native 3D files? I suspect the later, and they probably use SolidWorks.

You can get into 3D CAD without spending too much money, you know, just to test the waters. I would suggest that you look into Alibre Design. It goes for $495USD, and from what I have heard, it is every bit worth the price.

http://www.alibre.com/

Depending on the size of your company, you should be able to swing the cost ($500 is our bi-monthly Office Depot bill). If you get it, you could then work with your customers to see what neutral file format (.IGS, .SAT, etc)translates the best between their system and Alibre. Then, after you begin to see some ROI, you might consider moving up to a more mid-range 3D CAD program ($3k-$4k price range). "The attempt and not the deed confounds us."

 

[skills]

Just a thought and maybe it will help you. I have used a program the last couple of months called Paralogix 2.03 by Advanced 3D Science

http://www.a3ds.com.

I believe the new version 2.1 is supposed to read native Solid Works files as well as other generic file types. I am now a drawer or modeling nut, so I really don't have a lot of experience with all the programs out there; but, for my purposes Paralogix is better and more productive than most I have tryed, but won't mention. If you check them out it may be that your Solid Works compatability concern is not a problem. Paralogix is $496 level 1 and $1295 for level 2. Level 1 is limited to 50 features/file whereas level 2 has no such limitation.

 

[jeanpaul]

You know everybody choose his soft for his suitability. If you work with midest assembly and part very weird. For exemple plastic ones, SW is a good choice(at least to design them ). If your use more "agricultural mechanism", you could try more simpler soft. If you design airplanes or cars try Catia...

 

[Mandrake22]

jeanpaul,
Easy there pal, I use Solidworks daily for "agricultural mechanism" and have upgraded from "simpler soft". What "soft" do you use and what to you design with that "soft".

 

[dsi]

smokehouse:

The one thing that really sticks out is the fact that your customers are requesting the SolidWorks format. It seems pretty obvious that both applications are suitable for your product since you are using AutoCAD and some of your clients are using SolidWorks. From this, I can only suggest that you take a look at this situtation from a business/sales point of view. The question you really need to ask yourself:

If your clients really want the SolidWorks format, what is the cost of not providing them with what they want?

Can they find another supplier that can give them the format they desire? If they spend time converting the AutoCAD drawings to SolidWorks for their use, it is costing them extra money. If they can find a supplier that gives them SolidWorks models, they may decide to go with a competitor, even if it costs them a little more.

Happy hunting... DimensionalSolutions@Core.com
While I welcome e-mail messages, please post all thread activity in these forums for the benefit of all members.

 

[jeanpaul]

I am using daily SW, it is a good 3D modeler, and the surface tools are becoming better and better. If you design parts and assembly without strange shapes, perhaps you could try a simplier soft.
I have used a lot ProE and I think that SW his a very good challenger.

 

[smokehouse]

MadMango,

I got the Alibre site up and even got some dialoge going with their home office..This looks like a pretty good program alright.
It runs almost exactly like SWX at 500 bux. What it will NOT do is split the part for mold design.
Without that capability, a mold designer is SOL I'm afraid..

But then maybe there is a way to "fool" it on the splits..possibly make 2 different parts. One core and one cav, then do extrudes to surrounding steel??

Doe this sound doable?

 

[MadMango]

I couldn't tell you Smokehouse, I've never actually used it, just read the sales-speak on it. "The attempt and not the deed confounds us."

 

[Mandrake22]

smokehouse,
Were you able to get the drawing templates to work? I wasn't able to. I understand that the "Pro" version has sheet metal but the web site doesn't seem to mention anything about a "Pro" version. I think it costs +/-$1200 USD.

 

[smokehouse]

Mandrake22,
I didn't get the demo. Only studied everything on their site and had dialoge with a rep.
Yes there was an addon for sheet metal.
There is the sacred cow of associativity --- so if the drawing templates don't work then what good is it?
Maybe that's one reason it's only 500 bux instead of 5000?