3D Modeling and ProE vs.

Solidworks
ProE and SolidWorks are two of the most popular 3D modeling applications used in the
industry today. Both have very similar tools and use the same tools in slightly different
ways to create 3D models.

ProEngineer was created prior to SolidWorks and was pioneering in the range of tools it
brought. It became the most prominent 3D modeling software in the late 1990's.
Engineers were finally able to view a part and rotate it on the screen. This created a rush
for others to try to mock this ability. ProE, being the first, did have a lot of features that
needed to mature over a period of time, just like AutoCAD and other 2D programs when
they first came out. The software was very graphics intensive and required a lot of the
computer's resources, which resulted in a slow and sometimes difficult to operate
interface. Also the original set up then involved sub-windows on the right side of the
screen.

ProEngineer evolved and a lot of the features were upgraded, and a lot of the bugs were
fixed. The software focused on performance and building upon what they already had.

Another group of engineers, however, believed that some inherent problems with the
ProEngineer existed and were not likely to be improved. This led them to develop
SolidWorks.

The primary difference between SolidWorks and ProE is truly the interface. The main
focus of SolidWorks was to try to make the tools more intuitive and user friendly.
SolidWorks focused on functionality and efficiency. As both applications progressed,
each in their own direction, they became further distinct and unique.

Other 3D modeling software appeared, too. These included I-DEAS, Unigraphics (now
called Siemens PLM NX), AutoCAD, and CATIA. SolidWorks seemed to be the low-
cost solution and was readily adopted by the industry.

When asked what software is best, the answer generally is that it depends on the
application. If there is a tremendous model which has thousands and thousands of parts in
an assembly, then it is generally recommended that ProE is the solution. If you are more
interested in user friendly and more intuitive applications, then SolidWorks is the way to
go. Both are equally useful for simple, straightforward parts. SolidWorks has a much
easier interface and has quicker tools, while ProEngineer has more complex tools and
custom sub-programs that can be applied.

Cost wise, SolidWorks is clearly the winner and is generally preferred by small
businesses. Larger firms that prefer custom sub-applications and custom software
integrated into their 3D applications prefer ProE. Both have really advanced engineering
and helped to move us forward into the 21st century. What used to take years to design in
2D and all the various amounts of checking that needed to be done is now very simple
and straightforward with these modern 3D tools. Automobiles, airplanes, large industrial
machinery, and all sorts of mechanical engineering applications have all benefited from
the advent of 3D design, which was pioneered by ProEngineer.

Read more:
http://www.brighthub.com/engineering/mechanical/articles/12050.aspx#ixzz13dqdk57D

The CAD or the computer aided design process is the enrichment of the traditional
manual design process by using computer software and hardware extensively. By using
computer the whole design process becomes much faster and robust.

The output of a computer aided design process typically is 2D and/or 3D geometry like
curves, surfaces and solids. But often the CAD geometry also contains data like material
properties, dimensions, tolerance and manufacturing process specific information.

A typical computer aided design process has the following steps:

• Conceptual system design: Initially, a very rough CAD model of the system is
being created without considering the strict dimension control. The main purpose
here is just to visualize the product idea.
• Freezing the concept: By reviewing the conceptual system the concept is being
frozen. And thus the system level assembly is being finalized.
• Detail component design: The detailed CAD geometry of the individual
components is then created with appropriate dimensions and tolerances.
• PDM: Product data management is the database for the CAD geometry and the
related documents. In simple term, PDM helps systematic access and revisions of
CAD data.
• CAE: The detailed CAD geometry is then used as input for computer aided
engineering (CAE) or finite element analysis (FEA) to know whether the
geometry will sustain the loading condition or not, if not then required
modification is done for the CAD geometry and so on.
• CAM: Once the CAD geometry passed FEA, it then used as input for the
computer aided manufacturing for generating NC codes. This NC codes are fed to
the CNC machines for manufacturing the components.

How Does CAD Work?

• A CAD software package and sometimes a graphics card must be installed there
in your computer for a typical CAD system to work.
• The heart of a CAD software package is its graphics kernel.
• Another important part of the CAD packages is the GUI. The GUI is used for
getting user input and displaying the CAD geometry.
• Most of the times, the mouse and the key boards are used as input devices
however, the little unknown devices like: tracker ball, digitizer etc are also used
sometimes.
 • As shown in the above picture, the input from the input devices go to GUI, the
GUI then send the input to the graphics kernel in suitable form. The graphics
kernel generates the geometric entities and signals the graphics card to display it
through the GUI. This is the explanation of the working of a CAD system in a
simplest form.

Conclusion
The basic difference between the CAD package and the other software package is that the
CAD package has to handle large amount of graphics data and thus the graphics kernel
explained in “How does CAD Works?” section is very important. The computer aided
design process dicussed under the "What is computer aided design?" section are the
outline of the process and may vary from situation to situation.

Read more:
http://www.brighthub.com/engineering/mechanical/articles/67118.aspx#ixzz13dsAUKzZ

Once you enter sketcher mode of UG NX6 you will see a GUI like this (click on the

image to enlarge). Notice the “Sketch Tools” panel, you see there
are many icons (like line, circle etc.) over there. Most important of them are:

• Line: By clicking this icon you will be able to draw line entities. You can either
click on the screen or enter the point coordinates, or specify the distance between
two points to draw a line in Unigraphics sketcher mode.
 • Circle: This UG sketch tool is for creating circles. You have the option of either
specifying a center and diameter or three points on the perimeter to draw a circle.
• Arc: For creating and arc in Unigraphics sketcher mode, click this icon. Like
circle, you have two options: specifying centre and diameter or specifying three
points.
• Profile: For fast sketching in UG, use this tool. This is a combination of line and
arc. You don’t need to click different icons in between.
• Trim/Extend: These icons are used for trimming or extending lines or curves.
• Dimensions: You have separate icons for different types of dimensions. Click
suitable types of dimension icons. For example, you may go for horizontal
dimension, vertical dimension, angular dimensions, radial dimension, etc.

Alternatively, you can click “Inferred Dimension” and select any entity; UG will decide
a dimension type depends upon the entity geometry. For example, if you select an arc,
UG will give Radial dimension and if you select line it will give parallel or horizontal
or vertical dimension.

• Constraints: Apart from dimensions you need to give geometric constraints to

make any UG sketch fully constrained. Various geometric constraints are
available by this icon. The procedure is: Click on entity/entities then click on the
“Constraints” icon. Unigraphics will show all the possible geometric constraints
between the selected entities. Select any one of them. For example if you hit
“constraints icon” and select two sides of a polygon, you will get geometric
constraints like: parallel, equal, perpendicular, etc.
• Inferred Constraints: If you want Unigraphics to suggest geometric constraints
while creating the entities then click the “Inferred constraints” icon and set what
all the constraints you need. Next time while creating entities you will see the
possible constraints adding up automatically.

Conclusion
The Unigraphics NX6 has an important and easy-to-use sketch tool. Profile, Inferred
dimensions, and Inferred constraints are some of the functions available with tho UG
NX6 sketch tool that will help you speed up your sketching.

Read more:
http://www.brighthub.com/engineering/mechanical/articles/34681.aspx#ixzz13dsPTg5p

Reverse Engineering & Designing is the process of transforming an

innovative idea into a new product and testing it for various conditions
before actually manufacturing it. It includes the virtual creation of a
product and the product data management activities related to
manufacturing engineering, product support and re-engineering. The
model, which is a virtual mock-up, has the ability to replace many
early physical prototypes, and provide flexibility in design changes and
in viewing the concept before mass production. Our CAD capabilities
cover multiple requirements from legacy conversion and turnkey
design services, to re-engineering detailed and complex surfaces.

The conceptual design process of product is that of repeated iterative

synthesis and analysis. This process is greatly facilitated by the use of
high performance computers, as are the routine analytical calculations
that have to be performed. However, the synthesis procedures which
are necessary to initiate and refine the design present a much greater
challenge.

We provide services in the area of reverse engineering, configuration

design, analysis, and product design optimization analysis. Our
engineers have worked with the best software tools available for
analysis and design.

A R DIGITECH is a company focused in the areas of developing and applying latest

CAD/CAM/CAE technologies, including:

• 2D to 3D
• Product Design
• Reverse Engineering
• Digitizing