SolidWorks
SolidWorks software is the world’s first three-dimensional CAD system developed based on Windows. It can fully capture design intent and guide design modification in the entire product design work. In the assembly design of SolidWorks, you can directly refer to existing parts to create new parts, so whether you use the “top-down” method or “bottom-up” method for assembly design, you can improve efficiency.
Use characteristics:
SolidWorks Premium provides powerful and easy-to-use features that can automate tasks, streamline workflow, and quickly define and verify the shape, fit, and function of designs. As part of SOLIDWORKS product development solutions (covering design, simulation, sustainability, technical communication, and data management), SolidWorks Premium also provides specialized tools to support innovative design, which can help efficient design decisions.
SolidWorks is biased towards mechanical structure design. This software is easy to learn and has high drawing efficiency. In the field of mechanical structure design, because the structure of many products is too complicated and diverse, 3D software is often only evaluating product shape, checking assembly interference, and calculating individual part structures It is often used in force analysis, weight estimation, etc. The design of specific schemes and general assembly drawings relies more on 2D software.
Pro/Engineer
Pro / Engineer is the CAD / CAM / CAE integrated 3D software owned by PTC Corporation of the United States. It is the earliest application of parametric technology and plays an important role in the current 3D modeling software field, especially in the domestic product design field .
Use characteristics:
Pro / Engineer first proposed the concept of parametric design, and used a single database to solve the problem of feature correlation. The so-called single database is that all the materials in the project come from one library, so that each independent user is working for a product model, no matter which department. In other words, any changes in the entire design process can also be reflected in the relevant links of the entire design process. In addition, Pro / E uses a modular approach, users can choose according to their own needs, without having to install all modules. Pro / E’s feature-based approach can integrate the entire process from design to production to achieve concurrent engineering design, which can be applied not only to workstations, but also to a single machine.
Compared with Solidworks 3D software, this software is a little more difficult. This software is mostly used in the mold industry. Because the mold industry involves some surface modeling and more complicated structural processing, this software is just good in performance and ease of use. There is a relative balance, and all engineers in the mold industry like to use this software.
Mastercam
Mastercam integrates 2D drawing, 3D solid modeling, curved surface design, voxel blending, CNC programming, tool path simulation, and realistic simulation. It provides an ideal environment for designing part shapes and can design complex Curve and surface parts.
Use characteristics:
Mastercam has powerful surface roughing and flexible surface finishing functions. Its reliable tool path verification function can simulate the entire process of parts processing. In the simulation, it can not only display the interference and collision of the tool and fixture with the processed parts, but also truly reflect the actual situation in the processing process. At the same time, Mastercam has low requirements on the system operating environment, and can obtain the best results in processing operations such as modeling design, CNC milling machine, CNC lathe or CNC wire cutting.
Unigraphics NX
The development of UG (Unigraphics NX) started in 1969. It is an interactive CAD / CAM (Computer Aided Design and Computer Aided Manufacturing) system with powerful functions that can easily realize the construction of various complex entities and shapes.
Use characteristics:
Using UGNX modeling, industrial designers can quickly build and improve complex product shapes, and use advanced rendering and visualization tools to maximize the aesthetic requirements of design concepts. A big advantage of UG is the synchronous modeling, which makes the operator feel very convenient during the modeling process, especially when modifying after the modeling is completed, there is no need to consider a lot of parent items like Pro / E Item relationship.
CATIA
CATIA is Dassault’s flagship product development solution, supporting all industrial design processes from pre-project stage, specific design, analysis, simulation, assembly to maintenance, and has gradually become the most commonly used product in the world since 1999 development system.
Use characteristics:
CATIA has advanced hybrid modeling technology, whether it is solid modeling or surface modeling, under the intelligent tree structure, the product can be easily and quickly modified repeatedly. Even in the final stage of the design, major changes need to be made, or the replacement of the original plan is relatively easy.
AutoCAD
AutoCAD software was first developed in 1982 for 2D drawing, detailed drawing, design documents, and basic 3D design. It has become a popular drawing tool internationally. It can be used for automatic drawing without knowing programming, and can be used in many fields such as industrial drawing, engineering drawing, electronics industry, clothing processing and so on.
Use characteristics:
Although AutoCAD has powerful graphics functions, the table processing function is relatively weak. In actual work, you can first complete the table in Excel, copy it to the clipboard, and then select Paste special in the edit menu in AutoCAD environment AutoCADEntities, after confirming, the table will be converted into AutoCAD entity, explode to explode, you can edit the lines and square characters, which is very convenient. Starting with AutoCAD 2017, the system provides powerful new tools for creating and editing centerlines and center marks. You can access the Center Mark and Center Line tools from the Notes ribbon tab. At the same time, a new three-dimensional graphics subsystem is provided, and the stability and performance have been improved.
Therefore, CAD is a common two-dimensional drawing tool. In the true sense, it can convert between hand-drawn drawings and electronic drawings. As long as you know CAD in the mechanical industry, it means that you will not be starved in the future.
Cimatron
Cimatron is a product of the well-known Israeli company Cimatron. It has two product lines, namely CimatronE and GibbsCAM. Whether it is designed for manufacturing or generating a safe, efficient and high-quality NC tool path for 2.5 ~ 5 axis milling, they are all Provides the ability to handle complex parts and complex manufacturing cycles.
Delcam
The Delcam software series spans application areas such as product design, mold design, product processing, mold processing, reverse engineering, art design and engraving processing, quality inspection, and collaborative management. It is widely used in industries such as aerospace, automobiles, ships, household appliances, light industrial products and mold manufacturing.
Edgecam
Edgecam is an automated numerical control programming software developed by Planit in the United Kingdom. It can be integrated with today’s mainstream CAD soft data components and achieve barrier-free data transmission. Give full play to the association between the entity and the tool path, such as the geometric characteristics of the entity (such as height, depth, diameter) are modified in the 3D software, only need to update the tool path without re-editing. It provides a complete solution for milling, turning, turning and milling and other processing methods.
Autodesk Moldflow
Autodesk Moldflow, as part of Autodesk’s digital prototype solution, provides an easy-to-use tool that enables it to simulate and evaluate design solutions and optimize processing before processing and manufacturing, reducing potential design errors, shortening product development cycles, and reducing Development costs.
The above is the introduction of the relevant characteristics of ten commonly used software. As a designer, you must master a basic design software, and 3D modeling is also essential today. So, which software do you use most? How do you feel about using it?