Inventor - Pro-Engineer

[hydromech]

Hello All...

A straight forward question...

Ignoring performance and other "stuff"...

I am very proficient with Inventor Pro 10...I am starting a job on Monday(20th March)at a place that uses Pro Engineer...how will I get on???

I am of the opinion that if you can use parametric solid modelling software and you can "think" in 3D space, you can use most other modelling software... Am I right???

Is it just a matter of getting to know the software or am I in the brown smelly stuff?

Thanks in advance

Adrian

 

[jeff4136]

> how will I get on?

Depends on aptitude and attitude. High school kids all over the world are learning it. Empty your head, get the basic tutorials and jump in. IMO trying to muddle thru doing it like you did in brand X is a sure way to nothing but frustration. Company offering any training? That's the fast track but there is ample training material available, especially if you have access to PTC's KB, to get you rolling right along.

 

[dgallup]

If they are using WF2 and have a good setup with all the config.pro settings, etc. already configured it won't be too hard. Where I see most beginners struggle is getting the program properly configured. The basic concepts of extruding, sweeping & revolving 2D sections to create solids are pretty universal. Learning the user interface is the biggest hurdle. Let us know how you get on after a few weeks.

 

[jeff4136]

Good point, but I think that if you've been around CAD for a while the hardest part is de-programming yourself, getting all the little voices out of your head.

It's a system that you either work with or fight. I imagine if you can't quit fighting it it's a real nightmare.

If this is the same fella ...

http://www.mcadforums.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=2226

... worrying about the reinforced notion of "smelly stuff" might be a problem.

 

[hydromech]

Thanks All...

Early feedback...

PRO-E is very functional and much more powerful than Inventor...exept, it cannot draw polygons!

As long as the config settings are setup well, its all OK.

I am booked on a training course...however I have been told that the tutors on these courses can teach you how to use PRO-E, but if you want it to do something a bit special forget it...they dont know how to use it to design things...monkey see...monkey do...???

I will report back soon...

Thanks again

Adrian

 

[mechbull]

PRO-E is very functional and much more powerful than Inventor...exept, it cannot draw polygons!

you can draw any shape you want but until wildfire 3 there was no automatic way of doing it

pro-e is a bigger stickler on creating parent child relations

failure mode will most likely drive you to suicide but other than that its great

 

[hydromech]

That is what I mean...there is no button for a polygon...not in WF2 anyway.

It would be a bit crappy if it couldn't make a polygon would it not?

 

[jeff4136]

> no button for polygon

The most common, hex, is easily done with construction circles. Get someone to show you how.

A tip re section in general; you can save them for re-use. Moderately handy.

> but if you want it to do something a
> bit special forget it...they dont know
> how to use it to design things...
> monkey see...monkey do...???

This is where access to PTC's Knowledge Base (Maint contract req'd) comes in handy. They have hundreds of Suggested Technique articles covering basic thru advanced techniques. I, being self taught and working without the benefit of more experienced co-workers, found it indespensible.

Another thought that comes to mind re "stumbling blocks" is knowing what functionality is available with and without extension modules. Applies to some rather experienced users as well as newbies. If you're working with Foundation Advantage you'll have to learn to filter the info that applies to extension modules; AAX in particular.

 

[looslib]

But how hard is it to write a routine to create a polygon? Other CAD packages have that capability, why can't Pro/E provide basic shapes as part of the sketcher tool set?
Drawing a hex from multiple circles or a single circle are both possible, but WHY? How much easier would it be if there was a polygon shape as a part of the tool set.


"Wildfires are dangerous, hard to control, and economically catastrophic."

Ben Loosli
Sr IS Technologist
L-3 Communications

 

[jeff4136]

> but WHY?

They have to hold back a few easy ones so we feel properly stroked when they toss the bone. <G>

Good question tho'. Wonder how many enhancement requests have been submitted for a 'gon sketch tool?

 

[Guest0527211403]

My solution to the polygon dilemma is a mapkey that calls up a sketch I have in a library folder. I don't have the dialog box, but I only use it for hexagons anyways. I can't recall having to make a nonagon lately

 

[Hora]

Subscribe to JKG. Once you created your polygon, save the sketch into a libry and then use/modify it. Maybe because you can save/retrive any sketch PTC didn't improve this functionality. And besides... I saw many different ways to create a hexagon with sooooo many dimensions and so difficult to modify that I can't belive my eyes. You only need two dimensions for your hexagon. Somemtime is a good exercise for your brain to create some simple gemetric forms with minimum dimensions.

-Hora

 

[dgallup]

What is JKG?

 

[Hora]

JKJ is from JustKeepGiviner, out top rated ProE guy from this forum.

-Hora

 

[JohnAndrews]

WF3 has a Sketcher Palette with standard shapes, and you can add your own:

http://www.ptc.com/appserver/wcms/relnotes/note.jsp?&im_dbkey=26456&icg_dbkey=826