software choices
Joe Champelli
mechanical design. We do sheet metal work, rapid prototype development,
small parts and large complex assemblies.
The move from AutoCAD solids to MDT was a fantastic leap for us, meaning we
have found it to be very helpful and we are now looking at taking our solid
modeling "to the next level".
There are some in the company who would like to look at other software
packages, names that have come up are SolidWorks and CATIA. I know very
little about CATIA, can anyone offer an opinion on the pros and cons of
CATIA?
Thanks,
Joe
M. Kevin Nelson
with. Very big, very powerful, feature rich and NOT for the casual user.
Then there's CATIA V5, the PC version. I've seen it, but not played with
it. It seems to be an "also ran" in the midsize solidmodelling market.
Raging debates erupt every few days on the discussion groups for the two
(mainstream?) solidmodellers, SolidWorks versus Autodesk's Inventor. Check
out the SolidWorks discussion group at "comp.sci.solidworks" accessed
through www.solidworks.com and other places, and the Autodesk Inventor
discussion group "autodesk.inventor.support" accessed through the Adesk
server "discussion.autodesk.com" or dig around their "Point A" website "
www.autodesk.com/pointa " for a link.
If you already use MDT, then you ought to get the 30 day trial of Inventor
from your reseller. But also compare it with Solidworks.
G'luck
Kev
"Joe Champelli" <joec...@dontsendmecrap-lvcm.com> wrote in message
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Jack
feature rich. I recently switched to SolidWorks, cost reasons, and have
been very impressed with its capabilities. SW seems to be a bit less
"professional" in its user interface but the proof is in the model, as they
say. I have not found a part I could not make. Unless you are doing
advanced surfacing, etc., save some money and go with SW
"Joe Champelli" <joec...@dontsendmecrap-lvcm.com> wrote in message
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Michael Groszek
> CATIA is the biggest baddest ....well, it's the stuff they design airplanes
> with. Very big, very powerful, feature rich and NOT for the casual user.
> Then there's CATIA V5, the PC version. I've seen it, but not played with
> it. It seems to be an "also ran" in the midsize solidmodelling market.
Also UniGraphics is a big and bad one. Used in the aerospace industry.
samuelG
witnessed on Usenet. CATIA and Unigraphics are the best high end CAD
programs on the market bar none. If you have never used them how can you
comment?
But then again probably coming from 2D CAD jockeys that think AutoCAD is a
CAD program instead of an electronic drawing board.
--
Samuel G McCammond
Galilee Engineering Design Services
sam...@galilee.co.za
http://www.galilee.co.za
Aircraft Structural Designer
CATIA user
"Michael Groszek" <mi...@dingoblue.net.au> wrote in message
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Matthew Taylor
"samuelG" <sam...@ncomglobal.com> wrote in message
news:a1ptgt$1uvd$1...@nnrp01.ops.uunet.co.za...
> Well these two comments seem to be the dumbest responses I have ever
> witnessed on Usenet. CATIA and Unigraphics are the best high end CAD
> programs on the market bar none. If you have never used them how can you
> comment?
Saying they are the best bar none, rather depends on precisely what you want
to use them for don't you think?
Matthew
samuelG
Computer Aided Design, FEM Analysis, Collision detection and CNC integrated
machining i.e. the complete design to manufacturing solution within one
package. Not comparable with a 2D drafting package like AutoCAD.
>CATIA is the biggest baddest<
to me to be uttered by two users that don't quite understand the
sophistication of other programs on the market, whatever the usage.
--
Kind Regards
Samuel G McCammond
Galilee Engineering Design Services
sam...@galilee.co.za
http://www.galilee.co.za
"Matthew Taylor" <matthew....@NOSPAM.mtaylor.co.uk> wrote in message
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Matthew Taylor
> Simply saying they are the best CAD programs for MCAD, which includes,
> Computer Aided Design, FEM Analysis, Collision detection and CNC
integrated
> machining i.e. the complete design to manufacturing solution within one
> package. Not comparable with a 2D drafting package like AutoCAD.
> >CATIA is the biggest baddest<
> >Also UniGraphics is a big and bad one<
> Can you honestly defend these statements from the two posters? They appear
> to me to be uttered by two users that don't quite understand the
> sophistication of other programs on the market, whatever the usage.
I'm not in any way trying to defend their views. All I'm pointing out is
that there is never going to be just one product that is the best for
everything. Otherwise there wouldn't be as many products on the market as
there are now.
Although Catia & UniGraphics might have many desirable features, & arguably
superior overall to the other products on the market does not mean that
there is nothing they can't do.
If you need a particular specialised fetaure that is not in these products,
it would be stupid to choose them over another product that does have the
feature you require?
I agree with what you said in principle, I just think that you could have
worded the statement better. ;-)
Matthew
Michael Groszek
> Well these two comments seem to be the dumbest responses I have ever
> witnessed on Usenet. CATIA and Unigraphics are the best high end CAD
> programs on the market bar none. If you have never used them how can you
> comment?
> But then again probably coming from 2D CAD jockeys that think AutoCAD is a
> CAD program instead of an electronic drawing board.
Sorry, you interpreted me wrong. With regards to UG and CATIA I meant
"big and bad" in a positive way.
Even from my limited AutoCAD experience I know that it is pathetic when
you pop out of two dimensions. It is an overated drafting program that
has been lamely developed as a solid modeler.
Michael Groszek
>
> Can you honestly defend these statements from the two posters? They appear
> to me to be uttered by two users that don't quite understand the
> sophistication of other programs on the market, whatever the usage.
I hope you read my previous post. I have seen the sophistication of
these programs even in my limited exposure to real life engineering (3
months at aerospace manufacturer (Hawker de Havilland) and currently
another 3 months at an aerospace designe firm (GKN Engage))
DJ
Is there a way to run a mathematical equation (in my case subtract 1) from
an
attribute in a block which exists several times in a drawing? The attribute
is a different value in each block. Furthermore, I don't need to do this on
every instance of the block in each drawing, just in certain areas of it.
The drawings are maps of CATV designs. The blocks are amplifier info charts.
Our import program (Lode Data) always inserts a certain value one higher
than it should. There is no way to change the program to insert the correct
number.
And second, is there a way to add a digit to the end of a value using
attedit? In this case, how do I globally add a foot ( ' ) symbol to the end
of a string in one attribute. Is there a variable I can set?
Both questions pertain to the same block. I've attached the dwg. First
question is about tag T402, second is about tag T406 of the block.
James Wilson
in given blocks into Excel where you can more easily manipulate them.
After that you can send your changes back into the drawing.
I don't have their web page handy, but a web search should come up with
it. For about $100 it's a steal!