Sheryl et al.,
I feel your pain regarding software costs. its getting ridiculous.
We looked (and I've used) a lot of the 3d software. I've run big jobs with
PDMS and Rebis (the latter i agree is good but usually needs custom add in
apps written. eg 3d_> 2d smashing, steel support elevation linking , bom->
material spec to purchase (data is incomplete for ordering) and these are
not easy tasks, complex software), but to do our own work, (smaller jobs) we
use CADWORX. I find it far cheaper, easy to use, ACAD based and flexible in
multiple areas,
eg. link to analysis, equpt, steel, generate isos, create specs (all the std pipe and fittings in library and lots more),
Not so great in translators,translators are becoming a huge issue.
http://www.cadcam.net/events.html PSEXHANGE (i looked ... its not even there
now but i saved the flier))
CAD IGES ACAD SW TRANSLATOR for $9000 US...... gulp, these guys gotta be
kidding.
Its 10 years since I used TURBOCAD and back then it wasnt very good.. flaky and full of deficiencies. . Sounds like its improved. Appreciate the tip.
bentley refuses to co-operate with any export capability... more foolish than they realise. We had to go back to an older version to get an export and even then only to parasolid .x_t They want to lock you into their product and wont acknowledge anything else exists.
Anyway take a look at CADWORX, its highly suitable for your needs, scale of operation and fully acad interfaced. The samples are good and typical.
And i have some similar RO skid jobs done on it. www.codecad.com
Altecheng@shaw.ca
001(780)465-9762
Fax/Msg(780)465-9762
-----Original Message-----
From: Michael Waugh [mailto:mike@waudesign.com]
Sent: Thursday, April 22, 2004 9:52 AM
To: PipingDesign@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [PipingDesign] Re: 3D Pipe Design Software
Hi sheryl:
You're welcome. BY the the way, the translators in IMSI seem to work very well, they also feature a batch translator tath I wind using because I can virtualy produce any of the file type I may happen to want. Of note, Microstation drawings that you probably may encounter with all the concrete heads. My experience with many of the add-ons for AutoCAD....frustration. And, upgrades.
FYI. Are you guys interested in Tampa Bay Water?
http://www.tampabaywater.org
They have real big big problems at thier desal plant. When last I read, only
two vendors remain. There may be time to jump into this if you think you
know the solutions. You guys are on the same biz.
regards
Mike Waugh
www.waudesign.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Sheryl Thompson <sthompson@spi-engineering.com>
Sent: Apr 22, 2004 7:57 AM
To: PipingDesign@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [PipingDesign] Re: 3D Pipe Design Software
Mike,
Thanks so much for your input! I appreciate the time you gave me concerning your issues (yep, cost for continuous upgrades hits home here, too!)
Due to project requirements, we have to be able to generate AutoCAD drawings as our final deliverables to our clients. Therefore, we will probably always have to have AutoCAD in house, tho we won't upgrade to EVERY new version they come up with, just cuz they never seem to get all the bugs out!
We realize that MOST of the components in our designs will probably not exist in a routine 3D library. But we were hoping that most of the PIPING would.
Again, thanks so much!
Sheryl A. Thompson
CAD Designer
Separation Processes, Inc.
2386 Faraday Avenue, Suite 100
Carlsbad, CA 92008
(760) 804-5777
(760) 804-5715 (fax)
sthompson@spi-engineering.com
----Original Message-----
From: mikebw_99 [mailto:mike@waudesign.com]
Sent: Wednesday, April 21, 2004 5:52 PM
To: PipingDesign@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [PipingDesign] Re: 3D Pipe Design Software
I would take a look at two options
Unfortunately, real improvements to AutoCAD come in the form of the advanced packages,Land Desktop, Architectural, Electrical, Building systems, etc. Add about #3,000 to the cost of AutoCAD.I have been a subscriber to Autodesk's subscription since version 14. AutoCAD, the subscription cost me about $350US per year for upgrades. I crossgraded to Inventor about 8 months ago, for about $1300. For me, that was a worthwhile investment, Inventor is far more powerful for 3d mechanical design and I was able to stay in the same family. Dont expect to see everything out there in the way of models, however. Expect to have to create these or import what you may have as a .sat file or similar, these work but are dumb models.
Here's a big catch, not backwards compatible. ie r8 will open in r7. Also, they will hook you for about $1200 on a yearly subscription in order to stay concurrent. Since v7, I believe they are just about ready to come out with V9 upgrading to v8 would have cost me another $2,000.
They have a Pro version, that has piping modules added to, add another $2500. Got the picture? For me, this has all wound being too much. Frankly, they must be drunk with the pricing. Autodesk has regretfully, priced me out of the market. I am just not in the world of spending $2,000 a year to stay concurrent, while at the same time I recognize the importance of doing so. Just me, but hold on to your wallet.
The folks I buy from were offering the latest R8 std, with AutoCAD Mechanical, AutoCAD for about $2000, but you have to buy a year subscription $1400 for the following year. This offer is extended to 2000i, which is a pretty good deal. http://www.incat.com. When you are done looking at these, you will probably still come out ahead versus Solidworks or others. Most of these start out at least $4,000. They do have a loyal following of AutoCAD bashers.
The 2nd is, look at ISMI's TurboCAD. It goes for about $800, It is very powerful, loaded with file translators and more powerful than AutoCAD in many respects, such as nurbs and modelling. You can expect to see in upgrades what you never see in AutoCAD, helpful software improvements. expect to pay about $200/year for upgrades. There are CNC modules available at resonable pricing. http://www.turbocad.com.
I am intent on sticking with TurboCAD as my mainstream software program and letting my past investments into Inventor and AutoCAD simply slide into oblivion for reasons stated above. TurboCAD offers a more reasonable path for me to follow from a cost standpoint.
By the way, these numbers are rough
Hope this helps
Mike Waugh
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Received on Thu Apr 22 14:35:00 2004
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