SW2004, Splines still SUCK!!!

Pro/e does not use ACIS (although, it does have ACIS import/export), it uses the same kernal it always has (granite, just got that name a few years ago).

Why do other tools, like SW, not take advantage of other parasolid features, I would think that is a limitation of the developer or the choices they make in utilizing those features, customer demands, market direction and of course cost. Since SW indirectly owns ACIS via it's parent company, Dassault Systemes, I can guess that the decisions to utilize and promote parasolid functionality maybe a contradiction to their future interest or a partial reason or unwillingness for SW Corp to move faster with implementing more surface tools from parasolid, for SW? And this may also be a waiting game for SW Corp to see if they can break away from parasolid, or shifting to ACIS, while maintaining the speed and functionality the SW users are use too? IMHO, I still think parasolid kicks ass but I'm sure the line between of speed and functionality is becoming a blur so... who knows...when the timing is right, and if ACIS saves SW Corp money and it does not have a adverse effect on it's users as well as give them what they need...?

It all comes back to their user base and most SW users do not need or will ever need surfacing... so what is the incentive for SW Corp?? Money and competition are the major driving influences and also new users requesting more surfacing tools are the only hope for users who have been requesting more surfacing tools.

Over the years, I just do not see SW Corp as a front runner to innovation. Yeah, they are better than AutoDe$k, but becoming similar over the years.. also they're a company they have been true to it's intention, to be a mainstream design tool and just a bit more at times. (mainstream = typical = average = general = conservative = the average levi wearing 9-5 joe...) Unfortunately, SW has been trying to be everything to everybody and in some ways loosing touch with the mainstream, which is still a huge market and that is where tools like Inventor (surfacing is limited but they are trying) have focused and another reason why (read, no competition) SW has not pushed enough with surfacing. Now, with Pro/e adding more ISDX surfacing to it's foundation package and SolidEdge pushing it BlueDot functionality.. as well as other inexpensive tools adding parametric and relational surfacing,.. the hope for adding more parametric curve and surfacing tools into SW will most likely be shifting towards the needs of SW users in need of those tools.

So, finally, there are other mainstream, inexpensive and evolved modeling tools which are again being innovative leaders and pushing relational or parametric driven curves and surfacing with more ease of use, control and manipulation functionality... so there is hope in the forseable future...

..

TheTick wrote:

Reply to
Paul Salvador
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"Since SW indirectly owns ACIS via it's parent company, Dassault Systemes, I can guess that the decisions to utilize and promote parasolid functionality maybe a contradiction to their future interest or a partial reason or unwillingness for SW Corp to move faster with implementing more surface tools from parasolid, for SW?"

The tools that you think exist in Parasolid are not there. If the tools were in Parasolid then SolidWorks Corp. would have implemented them by now. SolidWorks is without a doubt a leader at early innovation of 3rd party software components. That you think the proper high-level tools somehow exist in Parasolid ignores all common sense. Specifically you ignore why so many companies have chosen the ACIS kernel and have put up with Spatial when the ACIS kernel left a lot to be desired, several years ago. Why do you think innovative companies like IronCAD chose ACIS first ??? Why was SolidWorks originally built with ACIS ??? The answer is the it's a more complete solution with higher level tools but up until a few years ago ACIS was not robust enough. ACIS is probably still not quite as good as Parasolid at solid only modeling.

IMO, Solidworks Corp. was caught out when Autodesk hired D- Cubed to work on ShapeManager and both SolidWorks and D- Cubed development have suffered.... BADLY !

"but I'm sure the line between of speed and functionality is becoming a blur so... who knows...when the timing is right, and if ACIS saves SW Corp money and it does not have a adverse effect on it's users as well as give them what they need...?"

For the last year or more Spatial has mainly worked to shore up ACIS and make it more robust and make it faster. Very little work seems to be done on new features. IMO, this is so that installing ACIS in SolidWorks and CATIA will not cause regression.

"It all comes back to their user base and most SW users do not need or will ever need surfacing... so what is the incentive for SW Corp??"

How bad does it look that $995 Concepts is a more versatile modeler than SolidWorks and surfacing and solid tools work very well together in Concepts ?

Concepts can be downloaded for a test drive at:

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Why put up with the low level surfacing functionality of Rhino or the poor surfacing tools in SolidWorks ?

How bad will it look when in the second quarter of next year Alibre and IronCAD implement more of what's in the ACIS kernel ? Hopefully PTC will keep losing their ass and find away to include ISDX II with Pro/E Wildfire at no charge. If this happens the shit will really hit the fan because Pro/E will suddenly become a major bargain. If PTC manglement had any brains they would already be doing this instead of continuing to loose their ass and sink in red ink. What a mess.

"SolidEdge pushing it BlueDot functionality..."

There is a new release of SolidEdge do out soon and it looks to have some very strong mold design tools and can do stuff that SolidWorks can't.

See:

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This new version of SolidEdge will be targeted toward mold designers / mold shops because it now has *more* innovative features that most other products don't have. IMO, UGS PLM Solutions knows that the game is over and that SolidEdge is going to have to be a real bread winner for them and compete and win against SolidWorks, Inventor, etc. in more situations.

"So, finally, there are other mainstream, inexpensive and evolved modeling tools which are again being innovative leaders and pushing relational or parametric driven curves and surfacing with more ease of use, control and manipulation functionality... so there is hope in the forseable future..."

What you wrote above is beyond obvious. What doesn't help is so few SolidWork users (yourself included) don't understand what the real issues are with Parasolid and why ACIS needed to be in SolidWorks yesterday.

Anyone who thinks that SolidWorks Corp. can make the surfacing that is in SolidWorks work properly without outside help is in serious fantasy land.

jon

Reply to
jon banquer

I don't think anyone cares anymore how confused you are. Or how full of clueless BS.

Try actually learning something about 3D CAD, CAD/CAM or CAM systems someday.

Reply to
Cliff Huprich

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