solidedge versus solidworks

What to choose?
Solid edge or solidworks?
And why?
I need it for design of consumer packaging and machine design.

 

As far as performance for the kind of work you want to do, you could
probably flip a coin. As far as 3rd party solutions that can
economically extend the functionality of the software and make its
implementation easier you should choose SolidWorks, hands down. And the
Visual Basic API makes it highly adaptable. As far as support,
SolidWorks is good . . . can't speak about Solid Edge. This newsgroup,
however, is free. Solid Edge's forum is for paying subscribers only.

I DO have issues with SolidWorks Corp continuing "strategy" of releasing
software long before it's ready for prime time. Just recently, with the
release of Service Pack 2.1 is there pretty universal justification to
move to SolidWorks 2004 (I'm not saying there was no justification
previously -- just not universal justification). And SW2004 was
released WHEN? (They should be ashamed.)

Mark 'Sporky' Stapleton
WaterMark Design, LLC
www.h2omarkdesign.com
Charlotte, NC

 

We do consumer packaging (thermoforming) and we use solidworks. What
specific questions do you have?

 

Solidworks support multiple configurations of parts and assemblies, SE does
not! UG does have support, but it is an add-on package called "Fission" or
"Fusion". If you may ever require this function in your solid modeler as
is, then there is only one choice.

Keith

 

I could be wrong, but my understanding is that Solid Edge DOES support
configurations at least for assemblies. I don't know whether they take
a similar approach to SolidWorks enabling assemblies and parts to be
controlled by spreadsheet-type design tables, but at least I think your
blanket statement is probably not entirely correct, if it's correct at
all.

Mark 'Sporky' Stapleton
WaterMark Design, LLC
www.h2omarkdesign.com
Charlotte, NC

 

Sporkma is right, SE does support configurations.
I (have) work(ed) with both and both have there strong points.
Try to figure out what your suppliers or customers use.
because exchange is still a big issue.

Bert

 

I am only replying what I was told via an UG salesman at the Machine and
Design show one year ago in Chicago. They attempted to move me to UG with
this add-on for that technology. If SE now has those tools in a newer
release or if a value added support company has that functionality for sale,
that is good for both SE and SW. When a competing software company does
something better than your company, the better tools and functionality tend
to become the norm.

Keith

 

So much for believing software salesmen . . .

 

A colleague of mine has a favourite saying that "The difference between
a used-car salesman and a software salesman is that the used-car guy
knows when he's bullshi++ing ..."

The point about data exchange is, however, a very valid one. Using
the software your customer(s) use guarantees feature-level exchange
of data (within compatible versions etc.) That said, there is always an
argument for only sending them a 'dumb' file, to ensure that you keep
control over the history!

BTW, Solid Edge is advancing rapidly in the complex surfacing arena,
and has just announced its Mold Design extension at NDES in Chicago.
We bought 2 licences of Think-3 a couple of years back for its free-
form surfacing capabilities, but never got to use the damn' thing (just
couldn't get started with it). The new RapidBlue surfacing tools intro-
duced in SEv14 meet all our needs, and local toolrooms tell us that the
data output is very 'clean' when input to CAM.


R.H. (Rick) Mason
MASCO Design Services Pty Ltd
Oyster Bay NSW Australia

 

Hi,

I am not clear of SolidEdge. I think SolidWorks 2004 is better than
Pro/E in designing ability with surface enhancement and multi-solid
ability.

For metal shi+, hehe, ability, SW is a little weak than Pro/E but it
is enough for most most work.

I heard that EDS would like to sell UG and SolidEdge, and UG do not
pay more attention to SolidEdge.

Regards,

Raymond