Anyone here use Pro/Engineer CAD?

[Jolane]

Okay, I am trying to learn Pro/E Wildfire by using a tutorial book supplied by the company I will going to work for in a week. I finally got Pro/E up and running, took forever to install, and the license crap is a pain (network license, have to VPN in, etc).

In playing with Pro/E so far I HATE it. I am a very experienced Solidworks user, and love it, so this is painful. Hopefully someone can help me out in learning Pro/E.

Problems:

1. Can't figure out how to lock dimensions so they don't change if I drag a corner of a sketch. I can change the dimensions manually by double clicking, but that does not lock them, even though they are no longer soft dimensions. Is there a way to keep them from changing (unless double clicked)?

2. I can't add any dimensions. I see that you have to use the middle mouse button to add dimensions, and I cannot for the life of me figure out why my middle mouse button does not work. I also can't rotate the models with the MMB. I have tried changing the function of this button in Windows Control Panel, to no avail. I have a wireless Intellimouse Explorer 2.0 (with side scrolling also). Any ideas on how to get this to work? Without being able to add dimensions, this will be useless.

 

I greatly appreciate any help. I really do not see any advantage with Pro/E at this point. Solidworks is such an easy to use, fast program. The methodology makes since, very Windows like. Pro/E on the other hand requires lots of mouse clicks of various buttons in the correct order just to do something simple. What a PITA!

 

Thanks again,

Joshua

[Drax240z]

All I can tell you is that pro/E is very powerful, and very crappy to use. I've useda lot of CAD software and while pro/E has a lot of neat things about it, it takes 10x longer to model something than it does in Inventor/Solidworks/etc. It's a major pain in the ***, but the more 3d modelling software you use the easier it is to learn new ones... and pro/E is still used in certain industries, so it does look good on a resume.

 

Personally I'd never use it if I had a choice of another software package.

[EvilRufusKay]

From my understanding Pro E is one of the only solid modeling tools that allows interferance / tolerance numbers to be checked on moving parts. I have never used it but this is what I had heard from a fellow engineer. Good luck with the new job!!

 

Rufus

[Jolane]

Thanks Guys.

Drax,

You confirmed what I suspected, that it will take MUCH longer just to model something in Pro/E than it would in SW. I do not expect the learning curve to be quite so bad from a modeling and design standpoint, but it does look like it will take a while to learn the quirks. I have used SW for ~6 years and am very proficient with it. I was hoping Wildfire would be very similar, guess not. It should look good though on a resume, although it does seem that less and less companies are using it anymore, and are changing to SW. Maybe I can get them to change... From what I have seen so far, I would never pick to use it either, especially considering that the design work this company does will never come close to using the fancy features of Pro/E. It is way overkill for their needs.

 

Rufus,

I did not realize that Pro/E had that capability. I have seen a little of Pro/Mechanica, and that looked neat. What I saw was some gears meshing, and the reactions on other components (such as a cam follower on a cam). I am not sure SW can do those sorts of reactionary mates yet. Maybe an add-in can.

 

The new job should be interesting. I like my current job, but feel that my skills will be better used at this new place (although I may never get to use my skills if Pro/E takes all my time...haha). I hope to learn Pro/E to some level such that I can reasonably compare it to SW. Then maybe I can convince them to change based on the outcome of a comparison. I do know that this new company has no idea of what SW can do, nor what they actually need in a CAD package. I think they only use Pro/E based on reputation.

 

Joshua

[Moridin]

This is what I've heard:

 

ProE - powerful, hard to use

SW - pretty easy and a bunch of features

 

This is what I've learned from experience:

 

AutoCAD - a bit of a learning curve only decent for 2D stuff

CADKey - extremely easy to use and supposedly has a ton of support for FEA

and other stuff

[BrandonsZ]

I hate Pro-E Wildfire, Ive used it for over a year now after coming off Autodesk Inventor with autocadd 2004, which by the way is the best darn software on the planet for modeling. I have 1 year experiance in Inventor (expert ruler of the universe in inventor and autocadd 2004, 6 months in Solidworks (not an expert but good enough), and my first love was SDRC IDEAS, but inventor has them beat hands down. PRO-E sucks sucks sucks. I am pretty fast in it now though and I think it's on the level with IDEAS although the drafitng is pretty lame, it's ok, it's better than my experiance with solidworks drafting which was a severe pain in the butt in my experiance.

 

Anyway, Pro-Mechanism will do amazing things I've heard but of course you wouldn't bother to use this unless you have an unlimited budget for analysis (like in mass production of seriously expensive crap).

 

I used SW 2001Plus and it was buggy as heck. Autodesk Inventor is far far superior to SW for everything, and nearly never crashes unless you are tring to do something stupid.

 

#1.

 

Get a correct mouse driver. Go online and find the correct mouse driver for your brand mouse. The default driver in windows sucks for everything but ms products.

 

#2.

 

Learn to be dissapointed with Inventor, learn patience with it's considerable unstability expecially with large operations or on assemblies on the order of 200 parts plus.

 

#3.

 

I hope your new company has knowledgeable support staff without a proper setup you're going to be hating life for the first 6 months.

 

#4

 

It's ok once you get the hang of it. Drafting is reasonably mannored, you will learn many work arounds. Here is a cheat list.

 

 

MODELING:

ADD Description

ADD Number

ADD Material (Edit->Setup->Material->Assign)

SET The Folder For Check-in

 

Assembly:

Edit the part/Assembly for the assembly dialog

 

Tools->Environment to turn off 3-D Tolerances

 

SUPPRESS <-> EDIT->RESUME

 

Change to WIP, Pending

-Go to Workspace

-F2

-checkin

 

"Compare Status"

 

Update all other parts that are not necessarily changed when it won't let you check in.

 

EDIT->SETUP->UNITS

 

TOOLS->MAPKEYS->NEW Don't Forget to Save to Config.pro on drive and locally.

 

Right-click Promote/Demote for changing from WIP to Pending in commonspace

 

ADD A SECTION

-IN MODEL

Tools->Model Sectioning

Cross Section Tab -> NEW (name it a letter "A") -Done-

for offset, pick a datam and then sketch.

 

-IN DRAWING

ADD VIEW [GENERAL, FULL, SECTION] -DONE-

X SEC TYPE [LOCAL, TOTAL XSEC} -Done-

VIEW BNDRY [Add Breakout, Erase Outer, Chose Xsec, Retrieve, XSEC NAMES] (Chose letter)

 

EDIT->REGENERATE DRAFT

 

RELATE LINE TO VIEW

ADD LINE, SELECT LINE, EDIT->GROUP->RELATE TO VIEW, SELECT VIEW

 

MAKE A SIMPLIFIED REP

VIEW->VIEW MANAGER RIGHT-CLICK->REDEFINE

 

ADD A TABLE

TABLE->INSERT->TABLE

 

EDIT->MOVE ITEM TO SHEET

 

BLANK PARTS IN VIEW

View -> Drawing Display -> Component Display

 

DUPLICATE OBJECTS (WORKSPACE->RIGHT CLICK)

 

~ISO = -45deg H, 35deg V

 

FIX MODEL -> FEATURE -> REDEFINE -> FAILED FEATURE

 

DATUM ON DIM

RIGHT CLICK DATUM Bubble "IN DIM"

DOUBLE CLICK FEATURE

CLICK DIM

 

BOM Balloons

Table->BOM BALLOONS - SET REGION (select table) - CHANGE TYPE->CUSTOM BALLOON 0,1,2. - ALT SYMBOL

 

FIX TABLE

TABLE->REPEAT REGION->FIX INDEX->FIX REGION

 

Remove item from table: Sort order = 6

 

Electronic File

Import as an assembly, check for component locations

Save a copy... Shrinkwrap level 8 do not fill in holes to the C:drive

Object->Import from workspace

Remove old part in master assy (unless it's new then keep it in an empty assy.

Check in assy with new part.

Check for associations.

 

MECHANICA->MODEL

IPS

MAT'L

LOADS -386 = 1g

CONSTRAINTS

 

SETUP EVERYTHING

Then Analysis

 

HIGHLIGHT VIEW, EDIT->MOVE ITEM TO SHEET

 

Options->Security->remove check box for "make hidden markup visible..."

Options->General->"Allow starting in reading layout", "Automatically create canvas..."

 

800-477-6435 hotline look in help to find code.

 

@O for hiding the dimension

 

 

Good luck.

[BrandonsZ]

#2 wildfire not inventor.

[Drax240z]

Well we use 5 seats of inventor in my office and it's as buggy as hell and we can't wait to get rid of it and switch to solidworks. (which we've all used in the past) I think you'll find that the masses are going the solidworks direction and for good reason in my experience.

 

How you think inventor is the best cad software on the market is so beyond me!

[BrandonsZ]

I think you have a either pre-inventor 7 or they screwed it up in 8, because 7 had no problems.

[Zhadman]

I'll take my copy of SolidWorks 2005 over anything (that I've used so far). I started using AutoDesk products in 1990 and... I'll never go back. LOL

[Jolane]

Wow, thanks for all the responses. I am with Zhadman on this, I would take Solidworks over anything else I have ever used. I have a number of year experience with Autodesk products. I have not used Inventor though, started using SW before it came out. SW2001 was buggy, but SW2003 Plus is great. The drafting is cake, as is the modeling and assemblies.

I did get my MS mouse working last night, I needed a new driver (had V5.0, needed V5.2 I guess). Now Wildfire is working as it should. It is definitely different. I know that I will pick it up quickly, but it will always be much slower than SW considering how illogical the approach is. In the end, it will work, but I just don't understand why people like it. Maybe they have never seen any better, maybe they have never played with SW?

 

Thanks again everyone,

Joshua

[Zhadman]

I teach/tutor SolidWorks on the side and my experience introducing individuals to use the program has been bitter-sweet. Many of my students are making the transition from AutoCad to SW and have a difficult time de-learning some of the AC mentalities. Solidworks approaches design differently than AC (or any Autodesk products) and this is often the biggest hurdle in the path of any individual attempting to learn how to use it's features and functions (to maximum effect). SW, perhaps because of its parametric design, is much more intuitive and efficient than AC and free's up the designers time and mental powers for more 'design-oriented' tasks. But, like anything else, it takes time to learn.

 

I'm not going to say that its BETTER than any other solid modeling product on the market, but for me it has been a great tool. I use v2004 and soon will have v2005. It's affordable enough also that I can purchase a copy for personal use.

[Drax240z]

2005 is nice, but 2006 isn't far off now.

[Zhadman]

2005 is nice, but 2006 isn't far off now.

 

True... but I'll let my company purchase it.

[BrandonsZ]

Zhadman,

 

Inventor is extreamly similar to solidworks. Mechanical Desktop sucks eggs if you are used to anything else, but it grows on you I've been told especially when you get into writing scripts. (BTW you can write scripts with PRO-E although I secretly hate PRO-E it's not that bad.)

 

Put it in your config.pro

 

Try this one.

mapkey wht @MAPKEY_NAMEWhite screen backgound;@MAPKEY_LABELWhite-screen;

mapkey(continued) ~ Select `main_dlg_cur` `MenuBar1`1 `View`;

mapkey(continued) ~ Close `main_dlg_cur` `MenuBar1`;

mapkey(continued) ~ Select `main_dlg_cur` `View.cb_view_advanced`;

mapkey(continued) ~ Close `main_dlg_cur` `View.cb_view_advanced`;

mapkey(continued) ~ Activate `main_dlg_cur` `psh_util_colors_sys`;

mapkey(continued) ~ Select `color_scheme` `MenuBar2`1 `MenuScheme`;

mapkey(continued) ~ Close `color_scheme` `MenuBar2`;~ Activate `color_scheme` `Scheme2`;

mapkey(continued) ~ Activate `color_scheme` `OK`;

 

Or

 

mapkey blu @MAPKEY_NAMESets screen to old Pro-E style;

mapkey(continued) @MAPKEY_LABELBlue-screen;~ Select `main_dlg_cur` `MenuBar1`1 `View`;

mapkey(continued) ~ Close `main_dlg_cur` `MenuBar1`;

mapkey(continued) ~ Select `main_dlg_cur` `View.cb_view_advanced`;

mapkey(continued) ~ Close `main_dlg_cur` `View.cb_view_advanced`;

mapkey(continued) ~ Activate `main_dlg_cur` `psh_util_colors_sys`;

mapkey(continued) ~ Select `color_scheme` `MenuBar2`1 `MenuScheme`;

mapkey(continued) ~ Close `color_scheme` `MenuBar2`;

mapkey(continued) ~ Activate `color_scheme` `UsePreWFColScheme`1 ;

mapkey(continued) ~ Move `color_scheme` `color_scheme`2 28.949153 0.036506 ;

mapkey(continued) ~ Move `color_scheme` `color_scheme`2 28.876141 0.073012 ;

mapkey(continued) ~ Move `color_scheme` `color_scheme`2 28.803129 0.109518 ;

mapkey(continued) ~ Move `color_scheme` `color_scheme`2 28.693611 0.109518 ;

mapkey(continued) ~ Move `color_scheme` `color_scheme`2 28.620600 0.109518 ;

mapkey(continued) ~ Move `color_scheme` `color_scheme`2 28.547588 0.109518 ;

mapkey(continued) ~ Move `color_scheme` `color_scheme`2 28.474576 0.109518 ;

mapkey(continued) ~ Move `color_scheme` `color_scheme`2 28.401565 0.109518 ;

mapkey(continued) ~ Move `color_scheme` `color_scheme`2 28.328553 0.109518 ;

mapkey(continued) ~ Move `color_scheme` `color_scheme`2 28.219035 0.073012 ;

mapkey(continued) ~ Move `color_scheme` `color_scheme`2 28.146023 0.073012 ;

mapkey(continued) ~ Move `color_scheme` `color_scheme`2 28.073012 0.073012 ;

mapkey(continued) ~ Move `color_scheme` `color_scheme`2 28.000000 0.036506 ;

mapkey(continued) ~ Move `color_scheme` `color_scheme`2 27.890482 0.073012 ;

mapkey(continued) ~ Move `color_scheme` `color_scheme`2 27.780965 0.073012 ;

mapkey(continued) ~ Move `color_scheme` `color_scheme`2 27.634941 0.073012 ;

mapkey(continued) ~ Move `color_scheme` `color_scheme`2 27.488918 0.109518 ;

mapkey(continued) ~ Move `color_scheme` `color_scheme`2 27.342894 0.109518 ;

mapkey(continued) ~ Move `color_scheme` `color_scheme`2 27.160365 0.146023 ;

mapkey(continued) ~ Move `color_scheme` `color_scheme`2 27.014342 0.182529 ;

mapkey(continued) ~ Move `color_scheme` `color_scheme`2 26.831812 0.182529 ;

mapkey(continued) ~ Move `color_scheme` `color_scheme`2 26.649283 0.219035 ;

mapkey(continued) ~ Move `color_scheme` `color_scheme`2 26.466754 0.255541 ;

mapkey(continued) ~ Move `color_scheme` `color_scheme`2 26.320730 0.255541 ;

mapkey(continued) ~ Move `color_scheme` `color_scheme`2 26.174707 0.292047 ;

mapkey(continued) ~ Move `color_scheme` `color_scheme`2 26.065189 0.328553 ;

mapkey(continued) ~ Move `color_scheme` `color_scheme`2 25.955671 0.255541 ;

mapkey(continued) ~ Move `color_scheme` `color_scheme`2 25.882660 0.219035 ;

mapkey(continued) ~ Move `color_scheme` `color_scheme`2 25.809648 0.146023 ;

mapkey(continued) ~ Move `color_scheme` `color_scheme`2 25.627119 0.109518 ;

mapkey(continued) ~ Move `color_scheme` `color_scheme`2 25.554107 0.073012 ;

mapkey(continued) ~ Move `color_scheme` `color_scheme`2 25.481095 0.073012 ;

mapkey(continued) ~ Move `color_scheme` `color_scheme`2 25.371578 0.036506 ;

mapkey(continued) ~ Move `color_scheme` `color_scheme`2 25.225554 0.000000 ;

mapkey(continued) ~ Move `color_scheme` `color_scheme`2 25.152542 -0.036506 ;

mapkey(continued) ~ Move `color_scheme` `color_scheme`2 24.970013 -0.109518 ;

mapkey(continued) ~ Move `color_scheme` `color_scheme`2 24.860495 -0.109518 ;

mapkey(continued) ~ Move `color_scheme` `color_scheme`2 24.787484 -0.182529 ;

mapkey(continued) ~ Move `color_scheme` `color_scheme`2 24.714472 -0.182529 ;

mapkey(continued) ~ Move `color_scheme` `color_scheme`2 24.677966 -0.182529 ;

mapkey(continued) ~ Move `color_scheme` `color_scheme`2 24.641460 -0.219035 ;

mapkey(continued) ~ Move `color_scheme` `color_scheme`2 24.604954 -0.219035 ;

mapkey(continued) ~ Move `color_scheme` `color_scheme`2 24.568449 -0.255541 ;

mapkey(continued) ~ Move `color_scheme` `color_scheme`2 24.531943 -0.292047 ;

mapkey(continued) ~ Move `color_scheme` `color_scheme`2 24.458931 -0.292047 ;

mapkey(continued) ~ Move `color_scheme` `color_scheme`2 24.385919 -0.292047 ;

mapkey(continued) ~ Move `color_scheme` `color_scheme`2 24.349413 -0.328553 ;

mapkey(continued) ~ Move `color_scheme` `color_scheme`2 24.276402 -0.328553 ;

mapkey(continued) ~ Move `color_scheme` `color_scheme`2 24.203390 -0.328553 ;

mapkey(continued) ~ Move `color_scheme` `color_scheme`2 24.130378 -0.328553 ;

mapkey(continued) ~ Move `color_scheme` `color_scheme`2 24.057366 -0.328553 ;

mapkey(continued) ~ Move `color_scheme` `color_scheme`2 24.020860 -0.328553 ;

mapkey(continued) ~ Move `color_scheme` `color_scheme`2 23.947849 -0.365059 ;

mapkey(continued) ~ Move `color_scheme` `color_scheme`2 23.911343 -0.365059 ;

mapkey(continued) ~ Move `color_scheme` `color_scheme`2 23.874837 -0.365059 ;

mapkey(continued) ~ Move `color_scheme` `color_scheme`2 23.838331 -0.365059 ;

mapkey(continued) ~ Move `color_scheme` `color_scheme`2 23.801825 -0.365059 ;

mapkey(continued) ~ Activate `color_scheme` `OK`;