SolidWorks to SolidEdge Relearning Curve 2

[Gstoner]

Does anyone know of any information that can help me 'retrain' myself. I've used SolidWorks (03 thru 07) and find myself at a new company that uses SE(V19) So far, I've found it extremely frustrating to change to a new software. I've used SW, Mech Desk, and Inventor without problems, but SE seems to just work completely different. I'm looking for a 'translator' or something that could help me learn SE better (and faster!)

Before anyone asks: No, the company is not going to switch software and no, I can't find anything about User Groups closer than 3 states away (I'm in NC)

 

[KENAT]

At a previous employer we had people come from Solid Works and learn Solid edge without much trouble but this was a few years ago (2000-2003) in the UK.

At my current place (created by merging several other companies) one of the merged companies used SW and some users still complain.

I don't know about a tranlator but "I get it" has online traiing for SE, we're trying it out on some interns I don't know how much better it is than just the SE tutorials.

If nothing else, have a go at the relevant tutorials.

KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...

 

[beachcomber]

They aren't that much different but I know how frustrating it can be - I went the from SE to SW for 6 months and it drove me mad.
I would say generally in SW you create a plane, then your sketch profile and then decide what you are going to do with them.
In SE it's the other way round - you decide what feature you want and then select the plane to generate the profiles for it, which are then absorbed into the feature itself.
However, with SE you do get a choice. If you feel more comfortable you can create a plane, put a sketch on it and then generate the feature. These will then be shown as seperate elements in the feature tree. Experienced users will not usually work this way.

Follow Kenat's advice and do the tutorials. This will at least show you the basic procedures.

bc

 

[KENAT]

It's been a while since I looked at it but this is the training I mentioned.

http://www.myigetit.com/vault/assessmentinfo.aspx?id=12

KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...

 

[donyoung]

bc,
[...]
If you feel more comfortable you can create a plane, put a sketch on it and then generate the feature. These will then be shown as seperate elements in the feature tree. Experienced users will not usually work this way.
[...]
sure they will it has some advantage. You can combine some
otherwise seperate sketches into one to make your design
intent a bit clearer and then create the features out of
it. Sure, the sketch must not be 'overloaded' and as usual:
it depends on the task at hand.

dy

 

[beachcomber]

Hi Don,
I was thinking on the lines of simple protrusions, cuts and revolves.
More complex features WILL require seperate creation of planes and sketches and that's a method I always use myself for sweeps and lofts.
As you say, it depends on the task in hand - and that's what I like about SE - you have the choice.
I was trying to point out one of the different ways that SE works compared to SW - hopefully I haven't confused Gstoner !!

I think it's just a matter of practice, and eventually you work out your own preferred methods, as I did when I switched to Solid Works.

bc

ps. Happy New Year to everyone.

 

[johand]

be lucky that you can learn so many different softwares...
For me the SE tutorials did the job.

johan

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Gstoner, I feel your pain. Several years ago I had a side job which involved using SE (evenings and weekends) for a couple of months. I also found it extremely frustrating. The learning curve for me was made steeper due to using SW daily in my regular job.

The tutorials definitely helped. Being patient, keeping an open mind and being willing to learn are the main things which will help you. Having a friendly mentor at the new company would also be a big asset. Just don't p!$$ him off by complaining about SE.

 

[PatCouture]

"Just don't p!$$ him off by complaining about SE."

Good piece of advice! Each time I got someone with SW experience starting to use SE, most of the time they always start by "With SW I do it this way..." That is the most annoying thing. Please for at least a week with SE just say what kind of feature you want to accomplish (to your mentor if you can have one) and listen carefully to the way it works with SE. Then if after using it you still don't like it then you can start to complain.

I'm sorry I think I'm just venting a little bit

From my part, once you get to know how it works with SE and you get the feel of it's "mentality" you can then start to have a lot of fun using it.

Patrick

 

[KENAT]

Star CBL for "Just don't p!$$ him off by complaining about SE."! You must have read the OP on my recent thread!

As to the OP, thread562-208631 and the FAQ I made from it may be of use.

KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...

 

[Gstoner]

Ok, 3 months with the new software. Mostly just have the stuff that normally just doesn't get used very often still cropping up as 'issues' Some of them seem to be the stuff that the tutorial exercises don't cover.

For the most part, I have noticed that SW, Pro-E, Inventor, and Mechanical Desktop all seem to speak English. Even though it's more like New York, Texas and London versions of English, they all do the same stuff the same way with the same logic behind it. It may be called something different, or grouped with a different toolbar, etc. SE, to me, seems to speak Spanish I'm not having the same problems as when I started, but the learning curve seems to involve forgetting other CAD systems first, THEN learn SE.

Hope I don't have to COMPLETELY empty my head to fit SE in But I'll find out.

On a side note, the company I work for just got bought. So the CAD system that everyone uses may change anyway. Murphy says that it will be a system I haven't even heard of yet.

 

[KENAT]

Funny, I always found Pro E to be the one speaking Spanish;-).

I learnt SE & Pro E about the same time. I had formal training on Pro & taught myself SE (with a lot of help from the other users). I found SE a lot simpler to learn.

I don't actually remember the feeling of Pro E being in a different language, just that back then every command was burried in a pull down and if you didn't do everything in the correct order you rapidly got lost!

As mentioned in my other post some of the people here still have trouble transitioning, but then I've got another who sits right next to me who has no real problem, even though he probably used Pro as much as the guy having trouble and is well in his 50s like that guy. Weird, one's fine and one just can't get his head around it.



KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...

 

[T1936]

Hi,

I am in exactly the opposite position, spent the last 4 years using SolidEdge and am now transitioning to SolidWorks. I can say I have had the exact same reaction to it, I find SolidWorks very frustrating to use. I know exactly how to accomplish a task in SE, but when I try to model something similar in SW I am immediately frustrated in the "flow" of how to accomplish a task. SE is a very intuitive program, everything seems to be on an icon in front of you when you are going through the steps to create a feature. SW seems to bury stuff out of site in menus and I find I have to open help files often to find where something is. (try dimension the length of an arc in SE and then in SW, in SE it is a simple button, in SW it is a secret code...)

Drawing in 2D in SE is simply a pleasure, where in SW, forget it. We have made the decision to actually use SE for our 2D work, and SW for 3D. SW actually expects you to use an Autocad simulator for 2D work. I have never used Autocad and ain't going to learn it now!

That said, I believe SolidWorks is more powerful and does seem to offer more functionality, but the transition from one to another is a painful process...

-T

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

"SW actually expects you to use an Autocad simulator for 2D work"
Say what!!! The 2D Emulator is an add-in which was introduced to ease the transition for ACAD users. Many SW users don't even know it exists. If it has been activated on your system it can be de-activated via Tools > Add-ins.

I have to state though, that I believe the default 'flow' of SE would be easier for a user, without previous 3D experience, to learn.

 

[T1936]

The Autocad simulator (DWGEditor) is what was recommended to us by our VAR after showing them what we require in 2D drawings. We produce parts to be laser cut that start as a 3D model, but require extensive work in 2D prior to sending to the laser. The resulting shapes being cut can't be practically modeled in 3D.

What we have found works best is to generate the 3D model, create a drawing, save it as a .DWG and use SolidEdge 2D to do the editing. Its a real pain. I find it hard to believe that we are the only ones who require 2D editing of the drawings, but I have posed this question several times and it seems most users are simply creating dimensioned drawings and leaving it up to the machine operators to create the necessary files.

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Ah, I see ... and understand why you would not want to use DWGeditor.

From what I remember of SE there is very little difference from SW in sketching ability, but obviously you know your product, have done the research and found what works best for you.

I am intrigued though, as to what sketch elements and/or 3D features you find difficult to create in SW. Can you post an image?

 

[Gemnoc]

T1936, your workflow seems convoluted to me (no offense meant). When you say you produce parts to be lasercut, are you talking about sheetmetal parts? One thing I like about SE over SW is the fact you can save a flat pattern as DXF directly from the 3d modeling environment. No need to create a 2d drawing first then exporting to DWG.

It's one of the reasons I recommended SE over SW to my superiors last year.

Of course, if it's not sheetmetal you make, simply disregard what I said...

[Trivia] DWGEditor, supplied with SolidWorks, is actually a rebranded version of Cadopia Intellicad, an Autocad clone based on software from the Intellicad consortium. But Bricscad, another Intellicad-based software, is much closer to the Autocad UI since its version 8. Both sofwares are sold less than 10% of the cost of a regular Autocad licence.[/Trivia]

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Gemnoc,
I'm very pleased to report that SW2008 is (at long last) also able to do that.

 

[Gemnoc]

Good news for SW users. It's been there in SE for a long time, and it was in Inventor too.

How are you acclimating (if it's even a word) to the new ribbon bar Office 2007-like interface? I've seen lots of complaining about it on some blogs and forums.

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

I think the word you after is "acclimatising".

I've not seen the Office 2007 interface, but if you mean the new Command Manager, I hardly use it. I'm finding that the 'S' shortcut menu in combination with the LMB and RMB context menus are faster and more efficient.

Most of the complaining was a knee-jerk reaction to the fairly major (and sometimes unnecessary) UI changes. SW just tried to do too much in one version jump.