- Autodesk Suite Introduction
- NX Introduction
- Rhino Introduction
- Solidworks Introduction
Comparisons
Concept modelling paradigms
Polygon – 3D Max
Subdivision – Modo, Autodesk Tsplines, Rhino, Creo Freestyle
NURBS – Alias, Rhino, ISDX
Sculpture /creative/character – 123 Sculpt, Maya, Sculptress, Zbrush
Parametric
Features and history – Creo, Inventor. NX, Solidworks
Direct – Spaceclaim, Creo, NX
Assemblies and Top Down project management
Comparisons
Dominant 4 platforms; Autodesk Inventor, Dassault Solidworks, PTC Creo and Siemens NX.
Click image to enlarge
These images show the UI for the part modelling environment. NX is the odd one out as it doesn’t use the ribbon menu interface but the other 3 are pretty similar.
Workflow
Creo
Creo is over reliant on Ctrl to collect elements. The use of MMB to complete commands and features greatly reduces mouse travel and hunting for acknowledgement ticks/crosses. File naming convention still has legacy to it’s Unix roots which is restrictive and loosing window focus is a little annoying.
Concept generation and development is accomodated though the ISDX freeform modelling module and the Freestyle subdivision modeller.
Engineering drawing are long overdue a shake-up, particularly BOMs – luckily not one our common tasks.
Inventor
Inventor a very efficient workflow efficient interface with its RMB Alias inspired marking menu shortcut menu
Tsplines subdivisional modelling included in 2015 (demo) is an excellent concept generation tool in the parametric environment similar to Creo’s Freeform
Autodesk products: Inventor, Alias, 3D Max, Maya, cloud based Fusion design suite, Sketchbook Pro, 123 free tablet based design suite, Mental Ray, Mudbox, Showcase,
NX
This is the interface I have had least experience with but initial observations show up the least generic interface which will hamper transition times.
Solidworks
SW is quick and easy to get things started and for the basics and when selling to new users this gives it a head start. As soon as you move to more complex forms there is little difference to other packages and limitations start to show.
Unlike Inventor or Creo you have to choose up front whether your is a protrusion, cut or surface.
The automatic appearance of the shortcut menu on feature selection is a workflow strength, there is also a very efficient RMB Alias inspired mouse gestures shortcut menu.
An over reliance on numeric input rather than drag handles, fillets is a classic example which also has limited preview. The splitting of core primitive volumes into protrusion, cut or surface as separate features with no option to change is verbose.
2D spline generation and editing is very smooth, 3D splines need a few glitches sorting – certainly not to the level of Creo Curve Thru’ Points or ISDX curves.
Surface manipulation is a little long winded with no extrude cut or merge – merging intersecting surfaces needs two trims and a knit.
Concept generation and development is a significant limitation.