freeform surface modelling

Hi everyone,
does pro/E wildfire 2 have freeform modelling capabilities like solidworks
2005, or do one need to buy the ISDX plug-in from PTC in order to upgrade it
for such modelling tasks?

thanks,
Gil Alsberg

 

in the first sentence I meant to ask "does pro/E wildfire 2 have partial
freeform modelling capabilities like solidworks 2005", the rest of the
paragraph is the same.

thanks,
Gil alsberg

 

Comparing packages is always a tough call, first because PTC has so many licencing
schemes which change from release to release. But also becuase they occasionally
do things like this:
http://www.ptc.com/appserver/wcms/forms/index.jsp?im_dbkey=24276
This advertises an ID bundle with ISDX for $5k which is like getting Foundation
Advantage with ISDX included for another grand. Plus, then, you've got other
surfacing functions that could be called 'free form', like Warp; other stuff, like
one under Advanced, called Free Form, may require an advanced surfacing module. Or
used to. Figuring out what comes with what licensing package is probably the
toughest thing to find out in all Proedom. Then, whether it's "like" anything in
Solidworks is another big question. We need a Consumer Reports article with
price/feature comparisons of major solid modelling brands to be well informed
consumers.

 

David, thanks for your reply, I'm aware of the Pro/e/ISDX bundle special
offer. but I was seeking for more specific information/comparison to other
packages, that as you wrote, would be very useful if available at some sort
of CAD magazine.

Cheers,
Gil Alsberg

 

I've played with a few of these modules and they really aren't much good:
what are you trying to achieve?

 

When you say "free form"; do you mean like the top side of what a cow drops
on the ground or simply defining shapes more complicated than boolean
combinations of solid primitives? I'm still getting my feet wet but ...

http://www.mcadforums.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=18778#18778

I don't know enough about SW to say it with any conviction, but I believe
that WF2 (without ISDX) has better shape definition abilities. Maybe Paul
Salvador will offer some thoughts on the subject; he's better qualified to
make comparisons than I .

http://www.caddigest.com/subjects/solidworks/select/cadcamnet_proe_vs_solid
works.htm
might also be of some help.

I'm generally underwhelmed by warp, deform, etc. tools; very limited
practical uses. What does impress me is a really good complement of
reliable geometry description / creation tools and analytical tools which
WF has (almost as good as Rhino's <G>).

=================================

 

Thanks Mike,
that gives me a bit of clue on Pro/E, I'll hope to gather more information
on that topic.

Cheers,
Gil Alsberg

 

John,
Did you got the chance to play with the ISDX package/module?
I'm trying to decide which modeller with parametric/history freeform
capabilities is most suitable for me (I'm designing jewellery and fine art
projects).

thanks,
Gil Alsberg

 

Have you tried VX to see if you like it ?

www.vx.com

VX has a demo that you can download along with numerous
..pdf files for learning the product.

jon

 

Hi Gil,
I'm an automotive designer, so probably don't have the same requirements
from my tools as you do. Just because it wasn't much use to me doesn't mean
it's no use to you. What I didn't like is the interface, as I had a lot of
trouble actually orienting and manipulating surfaces with it. A cheap
product I have seen used to surprisingly good effects is Nendo, I don't know
if you've seen it?

John.

 

thanks Jeff,
I'll look at those links you sent.
when I say freeform capabilities I mean like Rhino modelling capabilities
with the addition of parametric/history capability.

cheers,
Gil Alsberg

 

Not yet, Jon, one day I'll hope to try it.

thanks for your reply,
Gil Alsberg

 

Hi John,
yes automotive style shapes will be good. I haven't tried Nendo but it seems
like a subdivision modeller, where I was looking for a NURBS freeform
modeller like Rhino with the combination addition of history manager and
parametric sketching and featuring like Pro/E or Solidworks.

Thanks,
Gil Alsberg

 

Well, that might be the way to go, but Pro/e doesn't go that way. Pro/e goes the
way of "parametric/history capability" with some Rhino-type NURBS capabilites. But
history/parent-child/dependency/associativity comes first in Pro/e. It's
Engineering software, it goes by the numbers (which are so important in
engineering/manufacturing), but it allows much flexibility within this solid
foundation.

David Janes