OT: T-FLEX

Hello Neil,

I here we go,..

For anyone interested in test driving and discussing T-Flex,..

..

thanks Paul catch up there soon I just looked through the Russian manual. I don't need to be able to read it to be amazed at whats there.... I definitely need to arrange to get a trial version :o)

I looked at T-Flex Parametric Pro a long time ago. It looks like a really good software for conceptors. You can build in any combination of parts or assemblies and then sort it all out later while still maintaining the parametric associativity.

The biggest thing I liked about them was their truthfulness in advertising. "This is a system designed around people making a lot of changes. If you don't make a lot of changes to your designs, then another CAD package is for you because they'll be more efficient at creating the initial geometry."

I take it based on this discussion that it is time for me to get another demo?

--Scott

swizzle, possibly, I am approaching this with an open mind. from the docs I have seen it does seem more complete than I might have imagined....there are a few things that are interesting to me anyway. there doesn't seem to be much info on the net however...not even in Russian...or at least not that I have found yet

neil

Paul. how long did it take to get a reply from T-FLEX? I hope they haven't been suddenly overrun with requests... BTW I don't want you to think you have been abandoned at your forum I'll get there as soon as I have something to look at ;o) have you made any test parts yet?

Neil and Swizzle,

Agreed, I'm curious what this tool has to offer and will take it slowly. I got the password this morning but just starting running it. First impressions,.. it has a modeless approach to modeling (combining part/asm/drawing), like UG, it's different. ..

When I ran the demo years ago, they had a video of their modeling approach. They modeled the components, the housing around it - with lid, dropped in some standard parts, and finished the design. Once the design was complete, they split up the model into the individual parts and subassemblies by defining what "features" belonged in their own part [file] in order to create a manufacturing BOM. What started as a "hybrid" assy/part turned into a typical top/down or bottom/up assembly that most users are familiar with from their typical mid-range MCAD packages.

And most astounding was that all the parametrics of the features transferred to the individual parts without error. The "new" parts remained in the same relative orientation within the assembly, and the assembly relationships were created automatically. What I don't know is if the relationships were intuitively accurate or just grounded/anchored in place.

Even more astounding is that after you finalize the [BOM] structure, you can make any modifications to any part/assembly and transfer those features to any other part/assy at any time in the same manner as was done originally. Needless to say, I was really impressed with the software.

--Scott

P.S. It's not like UG at all, but it is different.

swizzle why did you look at it originally and what turned you away? possibly you had it before parasolid was used - pre 1999?

OK - I have to ask the question

How Much is it? I see they say it is different for different countries - that gets me worried as I fear the £ price will be the same as the $ price and that will piss me off.

Does it all come bundled together or are there various modules you have to by to do drawings etc.

Jonathan

well I am still waiting for a reply from them...guess i'll wait until

AFAIK everything is in there but there are additional specialist modules for CAM,FEA and motion analysis. It seems to have the equivalent of cosmos express built in and also basic motion too.

OK well while I am waiting on the carrier pigeon here is another diversion for the free thinkers and adventurous Free Dimension

Paul, I have requested info twice now via online form and get no reply. Apparently my ISP is having problems delivering some email today but I am pretty sure T-FLEX are not returning my enquiries :o( or possibly it is getting spam filtered somewhere... Would you consider posting the English PDF manual on your forum for those interested? You must have experimented a bit by now but you have not said anything about it...whats up? neil

Hey great news I got a reply after all just now via different route....the previous replies were blocked by my ISP for some weird reason. Thanks very much Sergey :o)

Ok Paul catch up soon.

Management decided to go with a program they heard of before; and I wasn't about to fork over the cash to buy this just for my personal use.

After that, I more or less forgot about it. I remembered the name, but never bothered to keep myself updated with its changes.

--Scott

ok some information about download sizes for those contemplating a look. As at this date...

Docs from 'Manual' folder: PDF CAD manuals = ~60mb for intro,2d,3d additional PDF for addons = ~20mb older version help movies = 350mb Cam demo movies 2,3,5d = 250mb

----------------- total 680mb

Progams from 'English' folder T-FLEX CAD = 250mb other for: analysis,CAM,motion,CNC sim,viewer = ~240mb

------------------ total ~490mb

-------------------------------------- so total download everything 1.14 gb or just CAD relevant 310mb

OK time for some preliminary feedback IMHO these movies are not very useful and I am not sure I would even bother to download them. They are noted as being outdated and they are...some in fact go back to Oct 2000 although most are Feb 2001 and intended to accompany version

- but I did end up skimming through them. Why?

1. there are quite a few that cover the same material...or some of it over and over....
2. there are even instances of exactly the same movie but with a different file name
3. they are mostly too small to see unless viewed at 200%
4. a great number of the 241 dealt with coming from the 2d direction to

1. the material is noticeably dated and although the parasolid lineage and parallels to SW is evident I don't think it helps to sell the product today or necessarily helps me with version 10.
2. it made the 3d stuff look laboured and secondary to 2d which is not where things are at now
3. the content is not really structured and because the files are named by number it is hard to find something specific if you just want that rather than to sit through all of the reels.
4. the guy was beginning to drive me nuts and although both of us were well intentioned I was loosing patience.

I did end up learning quite a few things that I hope will be valuable as I delve deeper into T-FLEX but I didn't get a look at any of the appetising stuff that distinguishes it from the competition like the conics that got my attention in the first place.. ...so my recommendation (for what it is worth) is that T_FLEX should biff this part because it doesn't do credit to their product in the market of 2006. Sergey, sorry man you need to do some new help demos! probably in flash format at 640x480 or better 800x600.

The PDF manuals look much better so on to those next.

As a parting thought for today my impression is that SW have done a fairly good job of tidying up the work flow over the years but may have gone too far with making the GUI more pretty than functional and perhaps also make too much use of the FM...gotta say I still prefer simple icons :o) but then again these later were concerns about SW I already had anyway