Alibre vs Solidworks

[spottiepop]

Hi All,

Now that Alibre has been out for awhile and if you were looking for a design software which would you pick and why? Price is not a issue on this question, just ease of use and learning curve.

spottiepop

[sanddrag]

Inventor. But if I had to pick between the two, Solidworks without a question.

[DareBee]

You would have to pay me an awfull lot for me to stop using SolidWorks

[vacpress]

if cost isnt an option(yeah right), solidworks without hesitation.. for many many reasons...

the downside to SW vs alibre is about a 400% price difference

[spottiepop]

So if I was looking at purchasing OneCNCXR2 as my CAM system does that even lean the favor toward SW even more? At this time I am open because I don't have a system and want something that works hand in hand. I know! I know! money is always an issue but I would much rather spend the extra if it leads to less head aches, less time to learn, etc. I was really looking for the advantages vesus the disadvantages of the two. I am open to suggestions!

spottiepop

[ger21]

If you download Alibre Xpress, they'll email you special offers on their full versions, usually around $500 off. For that price you can probably get OneCNC and Alibre for about the price of Solidworks alone. Unless you need the features that Solidworks has and Alibre doesn't, it's kinda hard to justify the extra few $$$.

[pstockley]

OneCNC will soon be able to read native solidworks files.

[spottiepop]

I had read on the forum that OneCNC works well with SW and on their web site they advertize as a SW partner. Are there any issues transfering files back and forth between Alibre and OneCNC? What are the features that seperate the two? Is it actually in the modeling or more in the bom and collaboration tools? I have the Alibre express, was one of the first 100,000 and have the extras but not what you are talking about I would assume. I do like the idea of spending $1500 - $1800 and not $6k for a design software but who wouldn't, the difference would buy alot of tooling and materials. I work with CAM at work and understand that end but need help with what bells and whistles that are really needed on the design side and what is just fluff.

spottiepop

[ChrisJ]

Hi Scottiepop,

I have Alibre and OneCNC. I haven't had any issues importing STEP or IGES files from Alibre to OneCNC with Alibre V8.2 or the latest version V9.0.

In addition to having the ability to model in Alibre, I also have OneCNC's modeling features in their Expert version.

Regarding your question, I believe Alibre is a sound 3D parametric modeler with all the basic and some advanced features. I have no experience with Solidworks, but I am pretty sure Alibre lacks many of the advanced features that Solidworks has. Not to say you would ever miss those features, but nonetheless it is not as feature rich as SW. This is my impression of course, nothing more.

Regarding your modeling needs, if you need a parametric modeler that can create drawings and/or a BOM's, than certainly consider SW or Alibre. If all you need is to model 3D parts and create toolpaths to machine, then do consider OneCNC Professional, since it will take care of both of these tasks nicely. OneCNC does have one advantage in that it is a Hybrid modeler and can create and manipulate surfaces in addition to solids. You would be surprised how versatile this feature really is. Modeling assemblies while simultaneously creating parts in OneCNC is also easily accomplished.

Just some food for thought.

Regards,
Chris

[DareBee]

IMO this discussion is more or less based on PART creation.
General tooling, die components, and part creation for CAM is easily accomplished in CAM software with modelling ability such as OneCNC or MasterCam.
SolidWorks really isnt a necessity of a machine shop, but is definately a requirement of a "design and machine" shop especially where working assemblies that interrelate are built.

[spottiepop]

Hi DareBee,

I was really looking at the design software for future growth and the ability to take what someone brings you on a napkin and turn it into something usable(BOM, 2D drawings,& collaboration abilities), not really a CAM systems strong point, at least not the ones i've worked with. I understand that turning out parts is a shops first priority, but it never hurts to look at the other side of the coin.

spottiepop

[DareBee]

Agreed Spottie.
We do a lot of design, complete automated equipment and sheet metal; CAM modeling is not an option for me. Sometimes a customer sends me a model of the finished part and I design the fixture around the part - much easier than the old way of making a generic fixture and trying to get the part to fit on it.
A lot of my customers use SolidWorks and a lot of potential customers contact me because I design with it.

I still feel that if all that is needed to be done is model A part for machining the integrated CAM modelling is more than capable.