Alias vs. the rest!

[jcb]

I've been using Studio for 4 years, but am I using dead-end software when I should be using something else?
I'm pretty happy with Studio but is it going to be outdone by :
Pro-E or CDRS, or something??. How does Studio score over these packages?

thanks,
John

[elroyjetson]

The answer depends a lot on what you are doing with the software, and for whom. I don't know if you are an Industrial Designer, or surfacing specialist, or what, but I assume you're not an engineer or you wouldn't be using AW to begin with. For creating class-A surfacing, there are only two other products that are comparable to Alias, which are CATIA and IsemSurf. To be fair, I haven't seen CDRS in a couple of years, so I don't know what they may have improved. As a designer, Alias simply blows these other products away because of its powerful tools, history, and intuitive interface. For Alias users who are not really pushing the high end of surfacing, it is possible to get the same results from a product like ProE, although it will be much more painful to acheive.

When it comes to engineering, however, Alias has its obvious limitations. The 2D tools are terrible, nothing is parametric, and you can't create solids. A well-constructed Alias shell can be used in virtually any other package successfully, but if you spend a lot of time creating engineered details then maybe you'd be happier with another software.

Another consideration is the software the rest of your company is using. There used to be tremendous pressure for the designers where I worked to learn CATIA because it would have "streamlined the process", never mind the fact I would have committed suicide after suffering through using that product for a week! The sad truth is, a lot of companies only need about 80% quality from their designers. If integration with the engineers outweighs absolute quality where you work, then ProE or CDRS might be the ticket. If you're looking for 100%, though, you'd be disappointed.

Just off the top of my head, here are some Alias features I don't think I could live without:

Marking Menus
Blend Curves
clean topology - controlling the degress and number of spans in U and V is a must for good surfacing
CV manipulation
interactive evaluation tools
continuity analysis
curve curvature analysis
Align tool
powerful import/export features
extensive history

One software you might keep your eye on is Think3. They are far from Alias for surface quality, but are rapidly improving. It's got the best integration of surfaces and solids I've seen, plus global deformation. And it's really cheap, though not anywhere near an industry standard yet.

[stratacosmos]

I am more or less aware that Alias Studio Tools is probably the best CAID tool out there, but which program for a decent price comes close. I often hear that Rhino is the most similar to Alias, and then there's the new Ashlar Vellum range of products, as well as SolidThinking.

I currently use ElectricImage Universe which has a very powerful modeler based on the ACIS kernel but to be honest it needs a bit of work and the surface tools are not up to scratch yet. I need a dedicated CAID tool so I can complete more complex surfaces.

Any tips?

[elroyjetson]

Well, that's the rub. To get complex surfaces that you can control, you need a high-end modeler, at least this has been my experience. Gestel's product is decent, as I recall, but the workflow was cumbersome. Ditto Rhino, although Rhino has become much more of a standard than SolidThinking. If a dedicated CAID tool that can do complex surfaces is what you need, and cash is a problem, then you already know you'll have to make do with a lower-end package. For $0, plus the annual maintenance fee of $2500, Think3 looks like a really strong all-around product. IMHO, it handily beats SolidWorks. It gives you surfaces, solids, global deformation, voice interaction. If that's still too much $$, then you'll have to accept the pain of working in a product like Rhino for the time being. It's still possible to create good surfaces, but you'll be pulling your hair out doing it.

[rpawlick]

Back to the original question. You've already gotten some insightful remarks to your question. I'm just going to add a couple of comments myself.

I have used CDRS extensively, that is up until about 6-7 years ago, when Ford stopped using them, and switched to Alias. You'll find that if the bigger companies are using a particuliar software product, this cascades down to tier 1,2,and 3 suppliers. Just last year GM signed Alias' largest software purchase agreement.

Regarding Alias being a dead product... They've just saturated the market, and are having a tougher time finding new customers.

If your working in a firm with no dependence on customers who use Alias tools. Then you can afford to be flexible. CDRS, is a decent modeling tool, forget the rendering and animation side. I do give the development crew alot of credit for competing with Alias for so long, with 1/10 the staff.

Regarding the other tools; Pro-E, Catia, UG, SDRC, etc. I agree with the other comment referring to a six foot length of rope being needed after a week or so.

Good luck in your quest, this is a question that needs evaluation periodically.

Rich

[stratacosmos]

but lets put this into perspective.... alias $9000 ish or whatever.
Rhino... $750 ish

For the extra $8000 I could get a freelancer or an engineering company with pro engineer or something to work out the rest.

By the way, nobody has mentioned Ashlar Vellum Cobalt.

[roctane]

It all depends on what you are doing and what you want to achieve.

Alias for automotive design and freeform surfaces in product design is still the best package for conceptenal work.

For surfacing in serial production or absolut quality (I do not like "Class-A") maybe Icem has the better software.

BUT! It all depends on the user and modeller. The software is just as good as the user and when you are talking about surfacing work it all depends on the user.

The software is just the tool. None of the software makers invented maths new!

In general you have to find out what you are expecting from it. Pro-E is a solid modeller and Alias is a Surfacer, so why comparing them???

There are some hyper-modellers out and they all do have the same problem with surfaces. Single span surface to generate inside any solid modeller is quite impossible, because you can not (or hardly) edit the surface.

Which software to choose just depends on what you are doing....

[jsnurfer]

You are absolutely right, for me I m still student for Industrial

[joojaa]

Alias works lika charm in conjuction with the new pro/e and catia etc etc...

eg if you change the modell in alias your modell will update in proe! no sweat with all the things on top of the proe history working themselves out... (also it notifies the proe operator of the change immideately if he so wishes)

can rhino do that?