• 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.

0000.creo.ui.small 0000.inv.ui.small 0000.nx.ui.small 0000.sw.ui.small

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

0000.inv.RMB.marking.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.

0000.sw.RMB.mouse.gestures

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.