MAC and PC

You've all heard the rumor that Bill Gate's house was designed on a
Mac. For the past few months I have been searching for Mechanical
Engineering CAD programs for the MAC. I have not been able to find
any, they just do not exist. I was able to find out something very
interesting to the users of Solid Works Though. The mechanical design
and engineering for the Macintosh has been designed on Solid Works.
Remember, solid works does not run on a Mac. It only runs on a PC.

George Hobart

 

I think the point was that Macintosh is using PCs / Windows to design their
hardware. Using the competitors product to get yours out. It really is a
funny thing when you think about it.

 

Here's the article on Architosh used on the Gates house but what does it
matter what design software was used or on what computer?? There are
many architecture design software tools which could have helped design
that house.

http://www.architosh.com/news/1999-07/0730-gateshousemac.phtml

And, yes, there are many different design tools which have been used too
design Apple products. SolidWorks has recently been used. But, there
have been many tools used, Pro/e, UG, Vellum, Alias...
So,.... what is your point.... that SW Corp and other Windows/Unix
mechanical design tools are not willing to compile their code for OS
X? If they do not have enough mac users, and mac programmers, they are
not going to port them, it's that simple. I'm sure there are many users
who what to see their favorite windoze or unix program on OS X.

I agree there are not a lot of engineering tools on the mac but there
are engineering design tools, 2D and 3D or CAID, which are on the mac...

Cobalt - http://www.ashlar-vellum.com/
VectorWorks - http://www.nemetschek.net/
Concepts3D - http://www.concepts3d.com/
SolidThinking - http://www.solidthinking.com/

MathWorks
MatLab
Mathematica

Otherwise, there are a lot of 2d/3d architectural tools (SketchUp 3D has
one the the kewlist interfaces) on the mac and many 3D animation/studio
tools used on the mac.

http://www.macreviewzone.com/html/reviews/magazine/software/draw_cad.php
http://www.caddigest.com/subjects/macintosh/features_macintosh.htm
http://www.additive-net.de/software/bereiche/macos.shtml

...

 

Actually in school we were running C++ on unix machines through a module
that was Windows running within Unix. The same can be done on a MAC with
the right software.

 

Just as an aside with some more information on Apple. Apple has used
at least a couple different CAD programs in the past, depending on
what was being done. The 2D CAD program PowerCADD by Engineered
Software was used for some things. Ashlar's 3D solids program now
called Cobalt using ACIS, is on the Mac & PC, but doesn't rival
SolidWorks for features & ease of use based on my limited use.

I have no doubt that the actual Apple computers were designed on
solids software for a long time, but what preceeded SolidWorks, I
don't know. Maybe ProEngineer.

I love both PowerCADD and Solidworks, and my Dell M60 and my Macs. 2D
still has its place for pure design brainstorming, quick shop changes,
field sketches and accurate illustrations with complete artistic
control of all elements in a drawing for publication.

SolidWorks will work, albiet slowly, in emulation with what is now
Microsoft's Virtual PC on G4 Macs. I'm hoping the new VPC due to be
released shortly with the next new updated G5 PowerMacs will get that
emulation speed up to where Solidworks editing and management issues
are practical on the Mac.

Bo

 

Meaning... running under a emulator such as X-windows or... Virtual PC,
Wine, SoftMac, Blue Label,...

Emulators are not very efficient but they are an alternative.

...

 

Where on earth did you get this bit of misinformation?

When I was at Apple (98-99), I saw not hide nor hair of SolidWorks.
We designed on H-P and Sun Unix workstations, using UniGraphics and
Pro/E, working around "A" surface geometry generated by Alias. SW
simply does not have the capability that Apple needs.

I'm still in touch with friends there, and as of January 2004, they
were still doing it the same way.

 

Depends on what group.. but from a few people I know there, they have
been using it recently (not a lot of users).
For layouts or sheetmetal, you don't need class A (you can get close
w/SW or with add-on's).
And, as you know, if need be, you can export your Parasolids to UG and
directly manipulate the data there.

...

 

I had forgotten the terminology. I know that it wouldn't be an ideal
situation, but possible.

 

(Bo Clawson) wrote in message

Ahhh.... PowerCADD ..... my favourite 2D program - Still nothing
close on a PC ! I went PC for solidworks in 1997, no regrets (and I
was a real mac zealot!) But I WISH powercadd worked on the PC. (also
anyone remember swivel 3D ... awsome for quick n dirty 3D ..
solidworks only just caught up with its limited mates in 2004 ...
swivel had these in 1989 !)

OK I have an old mac too and also the brilliant Softmac running on the
PC ...
http://www.emulators.com/softmac.htm
(a great site for pc secrets too)
but its not quite the same as having native software. mark UK

 

Interesting on all sides.

A plugged in exec. noted to me the other day that Unigraphics may have
to be sold becasuse of U.S. anti-trust issues. Wonder who would buy
it?

Bo

 

Mark, if you haven't tried PowerCADD 6 on the newer G4s or G5 desktop
with new enhancements all over the board, it might be worth looking at
as PowerCADD has become even better in so many areas.

I still prefer PowerCADD for the ability to literally sketch in the
field where my quick work in 2D really flies so I can get in measure
and get out in a hurry.

I must say that moving dxf files to and from Solidworks is effortless.

Bo

 

It is possible that sub contractors are using SWX.

 

(George Hobart) wrote in message The mechanical design and engineering for the Macintosh has been
designed on Solid Works.....

This is not true. Since approximately 1999, The Apple design studio
has been using Alias Studio for concept design and design approval
(ID). They implement production design (ME) with Unigraphics, which is
now called NX (combined UG and SDRC).