Comments on: Alibre’s $99 Deal Is Good for PCB Design http://factoryswblog.org/2009/08/17/i-like-alibre-design-deal/ Merging modern software development with electrons and metal Thu, 08 Jul 2010 19:38:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Tony http://factoryswblog.org/2009/08/17/i-like-alibre-design-deal/comment-page-1/#comment-4392 Tony Thu, 07 Jan 2010 05:52:44 +0000 http://factoryswblog.org/?p=331#comment-4392 For PCB modeling work, I think I like the direct modeling approach best (e.g. CoCreate, VX, KeyCreator, SpaceClaim) instead of the classic parametric approach (e.g. Alibre, SW, SE, Inventor). But I need more experience before I can say that with conviction. I also hope to take a deeper look at 3D in PCB EDA programs; I suspect it's not even close to what you can do with 3D MCAD, but, again, I have to spend the time to find out, so don't hold your breath waiting for a post on this. And, sometime I'd like to play with motion simulation. I'm curious to see how much work it is to set up. And, if I ever get my desktop CNC mill put together, then I'll need some kind of affordable CAM software (for solid modeling to gcode; I'll probably use the Linux EMC project to interpret gcode and control the mill). For PCB modeling work, I think I like the direct modeling approach best (e.g. CoCreate, VX, KeyCreator, SpaceClaim) instead of the classic parametric approach (e.g. Alibre, SW, SE, Inventor). But I need more experience before I can say that with conviction. I also hope to take a deeper look at 3D in PCB EDA programs; I suspect it’s not even close to what you can do with 3D MCAD, but, again, I have to spend the time to find out, so don’t hold your breath waiting for a post on this.

And, sometime I’d like to play with motion simulation. I’m curious to see how much work it is to set up. And, if I ever get my desktop CNC mill put together, then I’ll need some kind of affordable CAM software (for solid modeling to gcode; I’ll probably use the Linux EMC project to interpret gcode and control the mill).

]]> By: Alex http://factoryswblog.org/2009/08/17/i-like-alibre-design-deal/comment-page-1/#comment-4389 Alex Wed, 06 Jan 2010 06:50:03 +0000 http://factoryswblog.org/?p=331#comment-4389 I ended up going with the 'Standard' edition. I really wanted SolidWorks or Inventor of course, but it was too expensive for my employer. Sometimes I wish I'd got the Pro for motion simulation, but it's not critical to any designs I've done with it yet... motion would be more for eye candy for showing off a mechanism to people. I ended up going with the ‘Standard’ edition. I really wanted SolidWorks or Inventor of course, but it was too expensive for my employer. Sometimes I wish I’d got the Pro for motion simulation, but it’s not critical to any designs I’ve done with it yet… motion would be more for eye candy for showing off a mechanism to people.

]]> By: Tony http://factoryswblog.org/2009/08/17/i-like-alibre-design-deal/comment-page-1/#comment-4365 Tony Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:02:29 +0000 http://factoryswblog.org/?p=331#comment-4365 Yet another special offer: VX is offering <a href="http://vxstore.vx.com/department/special-offers-4.cfm" rel="nofollow">VX Innovator for $195</a> (North America, India, Africa only) until August 31. Innovator is also worth a look; for example, it looks like it has better surfacing abilities than Alibre. Yet another special offer: VX is offering VX Innovator for $195 (North America, India, Africa only) until August 31. Innovator is also worth a look; for example, it looks like it has better surfacing abilities than Alibre.

]]> By: Tony http://factoryswblog.org/2009/08/17/i-like-alibre-design-deal/comment-page-1/#comment-4364 Tony Tue, 18 Aug 2009 19:34:54 +0000 http://factoryswblog.org/?p=331#comment-4364 I'm using the free version of Eagle PCB; it's a good match for what I do. For a full time PCB designer, Altium could be nice, especially after its recent price cut, but at about $4,000 it's way too much for my personal use (or for my job). I'm not interested in using illegal hacks. Sometime I'd like to look into Altium's 3D capabilities more (along with some other mid-range PCB software), although I doubt it's anywhere close to a real MCAD program. Also, Altium is very FPGA-oriented and is pushing their unified design process (do your whole design in Altium). I'm a skeptic -- to put it briefly, just like with NI & LabView, there is a lot more innovation going on outside their unified systems than inside. I’m using the free version of Eagle PCB; it’s a good match for what I do. For a full time PCB designer, Altium could be nice, especially after its recent price cut, but at about $4,000 it’s way too much for my personal use (or for my job). I’m not interested in using illegal hacks.

Sometime I’d like to look into Altium’s 3D capabilities more (along with some other mid-range PCB software), although I doubt it’s anywhere close to a real MCAD program. Also, Altium is very FPGA-oriented and is pushing their unified design process (do your whole design in Altium). I’m a skeptic — to put it briefly, just like with NI & LabView, there is a lot more innovation going on outside their unified systems than inside.

]]> By: Petar http://factoryswblog.org/2009/08/17/i-like-alibre-design-deal/comment-page-1/#comment-4361 Petar Tue, 18 Aug 2009 07:35:41 +0000 http://factoryswblog.org/?p=331#comment-4361 Can I ask a question: What PCB Software do you use. Most of this things that you need to do with MCAD can be done with Altium Designer: Importing STEP models on footprints, Importing Board shape from STEP and DXF, Importing shape of the case and checking it's interference with components and board... Can I ask a question: What PCB Software do you use. Most of this things that you need to do with MCAD can be done with Altium Designer: Importing STEP models on footprints, Importing Board shape from STEP and DXF, Importing shape of the case and checking it’s interference with components and board…

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