time for a change

Our company are figuring a switch to a 3D CAD program, I were wondering how solidworks copes with PLM and raytracing?

Wev'e also considered solidedge and inventor.......

Reply to
tea boy
Loading thread data ...

PLM - In short yes they are available and they can be implemented using the API. If you get more specific as to which PLM you may be able to get a more indepth answer.

RayTracing - this is also kindof a generic question. PhotoWorks uses Mental Ray as it's rendering engine so......whatever that means for you.

Directly from the MentalImages web site

"mental ray is the world leading, Academy Award=AE winning, high performance, photorealistic rendering software. It produces images of unsurpassed realism for digital content creation and design in the areas of entertainment, product design and data visualization, including such applications as visual effects for motion pictures, full-length feature animations, content creation for computer games, Computer Aided Design (CAD), product design and styling, architectural design, lighting design, fluid flow simulation, seismic data studies and medical imaging.

mental ray features the most advanced, patented and proprietary ray tracing and rasterizer algorithms. It supports 32-bit and 64-bit CPUs and Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) and parallel computer architectures, including networks of computers, for maximum performance. mental ray is the first rendering software that combines the physically correct simulation of the behavior of light with full programmability for the creation of any imaginable visual phenomenon.

mental ray is available as a standalone product and in the form of a library for integration into software products..................................... mental ray has been integrated into Softimage|3D and Softimage|XSI, Autodesk 3ds max and VIZ, Alias Maya, Side Effects Software's Houdini

5, SolidWorks PhotoWorks 2, and Dassault Syst=E8me's CATIA V4 and V5 products. A number of translators and translator plug-ins allow for using mental ray in conjuction with various 3D modeling and animation front-end systems. "

The last paragraph prettymuch puts most cad systems on the same playing field.

and some examples

formatting link

any questions?

Corey

tea boy wrote:

Reply to
CS

Hi Paul As another UK based engineer I can understand your problem, i went through the same process back in 1997. Now i am Solidworks user of getting on for 10 years so i suppose I'm a little biased but this is what I did back then to evaluate new CAD systems.

1=2EGet the backing of your management. Seems obvious but some CAD sellers will try and go directly to your directors with finicial incentivies about their software, but the software might not address your organisations needs. 2=2EGet a team together consisting of a number of design engineers , production engineering, IT and accounts. Write a specification of what your company wants NOW from a CAD software and where it expects to be in 5 years bearing in mind the IT requirements, any downstream systems your trying to communicate with CAM, MRP, long term finicial commitments (annual maintenance contracts are normally approx =A31000 per seat, this is why you need accounts on the team). 3=2ECome up with a test which involves a typical design problem for your company. Use one you've already done so you can see the time reduction. Come up with a score sheet which covers all aspects of what you require the software to do. 4=2EGoto an exhibition get contact details for your CAD seller and contact them telling them your requirments and give them a copy of the test in advance and the criteria they will be working to. DO NOT be swayed by a CAD reseller that just wants to do their standard demo, some will try! 5=2EArrange dates for the trials, but dont have all the different CAD resellers come in on the same day. Show them around your organisation, explain what you manufacture, you'll soon work out if they have any engineering knowledge or if they are just salesman. Then get them to do the their presentation of how their software will address the test you have given them and then allow them to do their standard presentation in front of your team. Get each member of your team to mark the software and then dont discuss the presentations amongst yourselves until you've seen all of them. 6=2EOnce you've seen all the presentations get your team back together and go through the results. Remember your looking for the best CAD programme for your company not who did the slickest presentation. 7=2EChoose a system. Now you need to check you've got the best reseller for the product. You will need some after sales service like training, upgrade support, consultancy ensure the reseller can offer these services. Get your reseller to give you the numbers of some companies they have already sold to and ring them, even go and visit their sites. 8=2EFinally present your proposal to your board and cross your fingers.

I would strongly urge you to include a PDM system in with your CAD choice. 3D modellers create a lot of files. Now at the beginning it seems like a lot of money to get a PDM system as well, but in 5 years time trying to find that file you did 5 years back can be a nightmare if you dont. Once you have a sytem you'll be looking at 3 months to be up and running 110%. Now this includes all the IT infrastucture, training, file transfer etc. If you want it quicker you'll have to pay for the reseller to put an engineer onto your site to go through the process. If your looking at more than 6 seats I'd strongly recomend getting some consultancy advice here. Its true that most of the products like Solidworks, Solidedge, Inventor will work straight out of the box but they will need setting up to work the way your organisation does.

For a list of Solidworks users I've found in the UK see

formatting link
please contact me if you need any further help. regards Ken

tea boy wrote:

Reply to
Ken Carpenter

Reply to
TOP

PolyTech Forum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.