Five Things You Should Know About 3D CAD Software (cont.)

3. CAD Software shouldn't make changes hard to deal with

Change is a fact of life, and changes to CAD models can,and do,occur throughout the design cycle.The key to avoiding wasted time is to manage change by managing your CAD data effectively. Doing this requires visibility into data file structures, and having reliable mechanisms for automating design updates.

Solution: “Controlled ” Changes
Today’s powerful 3D CAD software packages give you tools for examining your data hierarchies,and let you be selective in specifying automated updates.This way,you can easily turn off associativity, for instance, to keep a change local, and avoid updating other models.

4. You shouldn’t have to hit a functionality ceiling

3D CAD soft ware should put a full set of design tools in your hands,regardless of whether you’re making plastic toys or race car engine blocks.But if you’re forced to stop and step outside your application for help either with analysis,or manufacturing constraints,or other issues, you not only waste time and potentially introduce data translation errors, but you stifle the creativity that ’s the catalyst for your work.

Solution: Uncompromised Design
The ideal 3D CAD soft ware integrates a robust geometry kernel with a complete repertoire design and analysis applications – all accessible within the original CAD application.

5. Maintenance shouldn’t break the bank

For 3D CAD soft ware, maintenance should mean more than adding security patches.It should include installing new applications,upgrading to new versions,migrating to PLM systems,and even integrating with business planning and financial processes. And maintenance can ’t be kept a low priority, because your CAD software is directly responsible for the quality and competitive differentiation of your products.

Solution:Complete Maintenance Support
High-quality CAD soft ware simplifies installations by permitting web-based downloading, and eases new integration with powerful tools for migrating to more complex applications and systems.