CAD survey

From: Brock Hinzmann (SRI International)
Date: Monday, February 13, 1995

From: Brock Hinzmann (SRI  International)
To: RP-ML
Date: Monday, February 13, 1995
Subject: CAD survey
A few weeks ago, it was suggested we take a survey of what kinds of CAD
software packages people are using that seem to work well with
RP/SFFF/Holoforming. Since I haven't received any input on this for over a
week, I figure you have all moved on to other things. I received only a
limited response, so the results are not statistically significant. Some of
the responses were copied to the mailing list, so this may seem redundant.
Nonetheless:

Pro/Engineer was mentioned the most often, by 5 of the 8. Subjective comments
included: the best, but expensive ($20k/seat); very good; only 1 bad file
ever; 20% of our 3-D modelling, 8% of our STL; new to us.

Unigraphics mentioned 3 times. Comments: very good; 80% of our 3-D, 90% of our
STL; does not always trim esily.

SDRC IDEAS mentioned 3 times. Comments: good for solid modelling, but not as
good as Aries; less than 5% of our 3-D, only 2% of our STL; does not follow
the format closely

AutoCAD mentioned 3 times. Comments: decent, for the low cost; leaves holes,
although version 13 is better.

MSC Aries mentioned 2 times. Comments: the best for solid modelling; never had
a bad file.

Computervision mentioned 2 times. Comments: both reviewers said it was the
worst of the other packages they use.

CATIA mentioned 1 time; really like

Varimatrix mentioned 1 time; excellent for solid modeling, not good for STL

Others mentioned 1 time without much comment: CADKey and Intergraph, and
inexpensive packages: Microstation, Form*z


The topic generated a lot of other comments and sicussions, which leads me to
believe that many of the comments above should be taken in their proper
context, such as relative cost and the use of other pieces of software that
can overcome problems in one aspect of a CAD package, in order to take
advantage of other aspects. 

If you feel I can mine any other pieces of information from the survey, let me
know.

best regards,
Brock Hinzmann


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