Pro/E WF2 translators and CATIA V5, IS IT worth buying.

[texaspete]

Hi all, I am a Pro/E Design house. We specialize in Automotive Exterior designs. Hear my problem. All my customers feel that we give good products (design and engineering) for their money. BUT! they want me to use CATIA V5 for the next project. I have been in contact with PTC sales and we are discussing the CATIA V5 integrated translator. I think I can get it for $5,000. I would like to ask all questions.
Is the translator worth it?
Are there problems importing CATIA V5 or Exporting to CATIA V5?
If I am force to purchase CATIA V5 I will be force to train all my users - that's expensive and not to mention the problablity of design errors. (You known gap clearances, uniform wall thickness for parts, etc.) These guys / and ladies have all develop sucessiful techniques in 3D model building and drawings and the most valuable is this- they are very qood a "Feature redefine and failure mold repairing". I will loss all this.
I was told by PTC that only 3d models are exchanged - not drawings. That ok, my customers employess know has the ability to scrutinize our work. It will allow them to dimension as they want.
The last question. I have noticed that CATIA has NUMERIOUS revisions or Build Codes, Example, Release 11, 12, 13, 14 and I think 15 is about to come out. IS the translator sensitive to which release I can import or export?
All replies are appreciative.

PS I was on CATIA v3 and V4 from 1985 thru present.

Texaspete

 

[looslib]

Depending on how many designs you need to translate to CATIA, you may find it easier and cheaper to sub-contract the conversion.

I used to work in the automotive industry where we did work for all of the manufacturers. They all wanted our data in their respective 'native' format. We used UG for Ford, Saturn and GM work. We used PDGS for Chrysler work. We then converted the files to Catia or PDGS for Chrysler and Ford. For Saturn we used Perot Data Systems to do the translation.


"Wildfires are dangerous, hard to control, and economically catastrophic."
"Fixed in the next release" should replace "Product First" as the PTC slogan.

Ben Loosli
CAD/CAM System Analyst
Ingersoll-Rand