Solid Modeling Recommendation (long read)

[Leehound]

I build many things related to the Investment Casting Industry (Wax Dies, jigs, straightening and inspection fixtures. I have been in this niche market for 32 years. My shop has transitioned from doing work for many foundries to now I am dedicated to just one foundry.

This last year I started to do a lot of modeling for this customer and I told them that I will stop producing any item when I turn 65 (3 1/2 years), but would be willing to continue modeling. So now they are really wanting me to start transitioning to doing all of the modeling for them.

I am sure they could hire someone cheaper than what they pay me. But that 32 years experience is getting more valuable. They want to build a library of items that can be shown to inexperienced shops for proper tool design. Unfortunately, this industry is losing a lot people with many years of knowledge to retirement.

OK, all this blathering is leading to my point.

My customer would like me to start using a Solid Modeler that can give more info on the hardware that goes into a Die (bolts, dowel pins ejector pins ect. ect.) I am currently using Mastercam X9 and although I am extremely fast using it (cant beat muscle memory), I know there is functionality that it is missing.

My first thought is Solidworks or maybe TopSolid.

I want to be able to bring a bolt or dowel into a model and have the modeler generate all the drilled holes for that bolt. Is that even possible? But more importantly retain a list of all the hardware that goes into it.

My customer is willing to help pay for whatever I choose. But I hope the learning curve is not too steep.

Thanks, for any thoughts on this.

[gcode]

I want to be able to bring a bolt or dowel into a model and have the modeler generate all the drilled holes for that bolt. Is that even possible? But more importantly retain a list of all the hardware that goes into it.

Yes.. SolidWorks does this
I believe it would require the Professional license
The modules you'd need are ToolBox and Smart Fasteners
You would also need training..
I got a lot of training the SolidWorks 20 years ago and didn't get to use it much
for the last 10 years so I've lost much on my SW skills, but I do know it can do what you want.

[Leehound]

I want to be able to bring a bolt or dowel into a model and have the modeler generate all the drilled holes for that bolt. Is that even possible? But more importantly retain a list of all the hardware that goes into it.

Yes.. SolidWorks does this
I believe it would require the Professional license
The modules you'd need are ToolBox and Smart Fasteners
You would also need training..
I got a lot of training the SolidWorks 20 years ago and didn't get to use it much
for the last 10 years so I've lost much on my SW skills, but I do know it can do what you want.

I can get the Solidworks Pro for $5500.00. I think the price is fine, but the real question is how long will it take to become proficient? I am hearing that the training is really expensive. Is it possible to learn it without training? Decisions, decisions.

[neurosis]

Is it possible to learn it without training? Decisions, decisions.

I started using Solidworks back in the early 2000's.  I was self taught. I just went through their provided tutorials.  It is possible.

My experience has been that if you are self taught, and get a chance to work with someone who's had training, you'll wish that you had the training.

[gcode]

I can get the Solidworks Pro for $5500.00. I think the price is fine, but the real question is how long will it take to become proficient? I am hearing that the training is really expensive. Is it possible to learn it without training? Decisions, decisions.

I took 3 semesters of SW at a local community college about 23 years ago
Back then it cost $60/semester.
Training from your dealer would be expensive, but there are lots of options out there for SW training
as it is a very popular software

[TSmcam]

TopSolid can do that and more. I started out using Solidworks, but I never really liked the workflow, or the interface. Just my opinion, and I just didn't really gel with the software.

I ended up becoming the local TopSolid reseller, and started using it for modelling. I felt way more comfortable with TopSolid from the start, and really like it for modelling and assemblies.

[Leehound]

TopSolid can do that and more. I started out using Solidworks, but I never really liked the workflow, or the interface. Just my opinion, and I just didn't really gel with the software.

I ended up becoming the local TopSolid reseller, and started using it for modelling. I felt way more comfortable with TopSolid from the start, and really like it for modelling and assemblies.

I do want to look into TopSolid. Are we talking similar price range? How is the training handled?

Thanks

[YoDoug]

TopSolid can do that and more. I started out using Solidworks, but I never really liked the workflow, or the interface. Just my opinion, and I just didn't really gel with the software.

I ended up becoming the local TopSolid reseller, and started using it for modelling. I felt way more comfortable with TopSolid from the start, and really like it for modelling and assemblies.

+1 for TopSolid. After using it for a few years now with the built in PDM, I couldn't imagine going without any PDM.

[YoDoug]

TopSolid can do that and more. I started out using Solidworks, but I never really liked the workflow, or the interface. Just my opinion, and I just didn't really gel with the software.

I ended up becoming the local TopSolid reseller, and started using it for modelling. I felt way more comfortable with TopSolid from the start, and really like it for modelling and assemblies.

I do want to look into TopSolid. Are we talking similar price range? How is the training handled?

Thanks

If you are just looking for modeling I would expect the cost to be comparable. As for training, they do training in Chicago, or online. They also have tons of online tutorials. We had a few of our designers/programmers do online training and they said is was good training. They got a lot out of it.

[TSmcam]

TopSolid can do that and more. I started out using Solidworks, but I never really liked the workflow, or the interface. Just my opinion, and I just didn't really gel with the software.

I ended up becoming the local TopSolid reseller, and started using it for modelling. I felt way more comfortable with TopSolid from the start, and really like it for modelling and assemblies.

I do want to look into TopSolid. Are we talking similar price range? How is the training handled?

Thanks

As Doug pointed out, the cost is comparable, and they have various options for training. The tutorials are good, and I believe there are some new online options as well.
I can't really help as I am in a different country, but contact TopSolid USA, and they will help.

[byte]

I want to be able to bring a bolt or dowel into a model and have the modeler generate all the drilled holes for that bolt. Is that even possible? But more importantly retain a list of all the hardware that goes into it.

Yes.. SolidWorks does this
I believe it would require the Professional license
The modules you'd need are ToolBox and Smart Fasteners
You would also need training..
I got a lot of training the SolidWorks 20 years ago and didn't get to use it much
for the last 10 years so I've lost much on my SW skills, but I do know it can do what you want.

I can get the Solidworks Pro for $5500.00. I think the price is fine, but the real question is how long will it take to become proficient? I am hearing that the training is really expensive. Is it possible to learn it without training? Decisions, decisions.

You can do the same kind of generating solids at coordinates in Mastercam as you can in solidworks, I spent all day creating a demo for x9 as a proof of concept.

">

[Leehound]

[quote="Thee Byte™" post_id=17018 time=1634014026 user_id=50]

You can do the same kind of generating solids at coordinates in Mastercam as you can in solidworks, I spent all day creating a demo for x9 as a proof of concept.
[/quote]

That's definitely something I could use. What C-hook were you using?

[neurosis]

I want to be able to bring a bolt or dowel into a model and have the modeler generate all the drilled holes for that bolt. Is that even possible? But more importantly retain a list of all the hardware that goes into it.

This gives a basic example showing how this works in TopSolid. This is more about how to filter the process but it gives you an idea of how it works.

">

[byte]

[quote="Thee Byte™" post_id=17018 time=1634014026 user_id=50]

You can do the same kind of generating solids at coordinates in Mastercam as you can in solidworks, I spent all day creating a demo for x9 as a proof of concept.

That's definitely something I could use. What C-hook were you using?
[/quote]

This is the SolidEditor chook, It is a new product, I new when I read your post that this was something you could use.
This is brand new technology nobody has yet.  :w00t:

[Leehound]

I want to be able to bring a bolt or dowel into a model and have the modeler generate all the drilled holes for that bolt. Is that even possible? But more importantly retain a list of all the hardware that goes into it.

This gives a basic example showing how this works in TopSolid. This is more about how to filter the process but it gives you an idea of how it works.

">

Yes, Exactly what I need!