Indeed, not everything is rosy with the 3D Experience. The Solidworks ecosystem is different from the CATIA ecosystem on which the platform was created. But it's progressing, not fast enough for my taste, but it's progressing. For example, we are impatiently waiting for a real video tool.
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For my part, I don't mind the economic model evolving. It is true that we will have to absorb the investment over 2 years. What I wonder about is the ever-increasing cost of the "Be item" in relation to the return on investment.
We are demanding on the performance of the products and it is very frustrating to use software with bugs and to pay full pot on the other side. Especially when we report a problem and are simply told that yes it is a bug that did not exist before and that we will have to wait a year for it to be resolved.
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You have to understand Solidworks: it's much easier to make people pay for needs they don't have than to make their existing software reliable so that it works as it should...
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Thank you @alexia.fernandes for the answer, which unfortunately does not really satisfy me:
Sort it out, keep the essentials, don't import all the history.
→ To maintain its products and ensure that its customers can operate a machine, which is already 20 years old, 10 years older, the complete history is necessary. It is essential to know who has what and in what condition (which version / revision). On the other hand, given the storage costs, many companies operating a data management system must certainly have set up a routine to delete working copies and keep only major revisions, at least during upgrades.
So sorting and cropping on the history... not always relevant in my opinion.
Work on the naming of these files.
→Again, not necessarily relevant. At least not for those who are already starting from a data management solution to migrate to 3DExperience.
Mourning the loss of SOLIDWORKS configurations. […]
→ Imagine a change that needs to be deployed to a whole family of parts...
Come in
- open a single file, make the modification once and then do a Ctrl+Shift+Q to rebuild all the configurations on one side,
and
- make the modification for as many files as a family of parts, with the risk of errors related to the repetition of a task that can be complex and which becomes boring after the 3rd iteration,
Even if you have derived a " mother " part to share a common geometry in several files, the configurations appear to be a real time saver.
Excuse me for doing it again with the increases, but they would like to make us pay more and more for a SolidWorks, because 3DExperience includes (whether we like it or not), but the second one would force us to cut back on the features of the first one!?
Another bad point for 3DExperience, from my point of view at least.
After being super excited when I discovered it, the more I dig deeper into the subject, the less convinced I am.
I came across this article while researching: Comparison between SOLIDWORKS PDM/Manage and 3DEXPERIENCE Works PDM (javelin-tech.com).
This North American dealer sums it up as follows:
If you're new to PDM and want a turnkey, cloud-based system that's easy to set up and implement, 3DEXPERIENCE Works PDM is the best choice for you.
If your company wants to have a more configurable system that you want to manage entirely on your own, we recommend a SOLIDWORKS PDM/Manage solution
So I wonder:
- What is the profile of the companies in which VISIATIV helps/has helped to deploy the 3DExperience?
- What is their background in terms of a solution for data management and what are the criteria that made them decide to choose this solution over another?
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Thank you for your comment and analysis on the deployment of 3DEXPERIENCE as a PLM tool.
I can see that you are interested in the subject, I invite you to get in touch with your sales representative who will be able to put you in touch with one of our Business Consultants who will take the time to go into detail with you on these technical subjects.
In addition, the majority of customers who will benefit from 3DEXPERIENCE from July will use the platform for the simple archiving of their technical data as well as the sharing of data with their ecosystem. The use will therefore be more basic than what you describe.
In any case, each customer can be accompanied free of charge by a VISIATIV CSM if they wish.
Hello
Don't forget the unclear thing about the 3D experience:
The included PDM part of the base looks ultra limited. If we want to make changes, have real workflows... then you have to go through the consulting box + additional fees for a plus/premium/TropLaClasse version (name that doesn't seem well defined for the moment because they just say "consult your reseller"). The cost is not too well defined either.
The basic PDM version of the 3D experience looks quite close to standard PDM (included in solidworks Professional or solidworks premium): a very limited tool allowing you to taste a PDM without really being able to use it (because not customizable enough).
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Hi all
In order to continue this conversation on the uses + new prices of the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, you will be able to follow this webinar organized on June 22 from 2 to 2:45 p.m.
Several topics will be discussed:
- What new features?
- What compatibility with current licenses?
- What pricing?
A Visiativ expert and Dassault Systèmes will be present to answer your questions!
Sign up for free now 
Have a nice day
Coralie
Hi all 
A new webinar on 3DXEPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS offerings will take place on July 11 at 11:00 a.m. for anyone who still has questions about the recent changes to Dassault Systèmes' offerings!
On the program:
- What new features?
- How compatible with your current licenses?
- Why cloud services?
You will be able to ask all your questions, our experts will be there to answer you
Free registration:
Hello Coralie,
The format of this webinar remains the same as for the first one?
To know if it is useful to participate in this one if you have already done the first one.
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Hello @Domino_Day ,
The content will be the same as the last one, so it won't be helpful for you to do it again unless you have new questions to ask
Hi all.
Will the 3D EXPERIENCE save us design time on Solidworks?
Example: Will a special machine with a design time of 300 hours of study decrease or increase?
Hello @OlivierH
Let's admit that 3D experience is more efficient because it is cloud-based and with better integrated features, we will realize that it is the chair-keyboard interface that is the most time-consuming.
Because the person who is in the chair for the special machines spends a lot of time gambling, finding the parts he needs to integrate and synchronizing with the other stakeholders.
So design time I don't think so! But on the other hand, the use of the new SW cloud and better integration with other tools and with reduced latency times should bring something.
From what I've seen of 3D, the debate may not be there!
Kind regards
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We are in the process of starting to deploy 3DEXP in our company and I think there will be some time to add to the basic design time of a machine because of the management of the 3DEXP...
And the bugs are coming little by little, we must not forget that 3dEXP is under development and that there is nothing stable at the moment.
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Hi all
You can find the replay of the webinar on 3DEXPERIENCE!
Sorry for the publication delays... If you have any questions, feel free to ask them directly on the conversation! Our experts will answer you 
Have a good day, Coralie
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Thank you Coralie
EDIT: It must be missing a bit, right?
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@OBI_WAN I'm disappointed that in question 3 of the poll you didn't ask to add a line
- Loss of time due to spitting out the software
There I'm sure that many people will have ticked the box that goes well^^
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Indeed I think there must be a problem, I'm looking to put you a new video format!
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Hello Coralie,
It would be good because we are still a little hungry.
Stupid question: the 3D experience is only integrated into Solidworks from the 2021 version?
What do we do if we are in the 2020 version?
Another stupid question: the 3D Experience is integrated anyway as soon as you are under maintenance (SW standalone versions) right?
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Hi all
I give you the video of the replay:
Hi all
It's also my turn to make my contribution!
As a mechanical design provider, I have been using the 3DX platform for a year.
Verdict: In 2024 I stop this subscription and uninstall the software!
I have a pretty strong opinion on this tool but I'll try to be constructive anyway!
The undeniable advantage is the integrated PLM tool including all available collaboration functions. Of course, there are still all the constraints and rigidities that the system imposes in terms of working methods, but this disadvantage is intrinsic to all PLM systems.
Where I started to be resilient was when I bought the license. A license consists of several roles (e.g. Manager, Viewer, Designer...) each role will of course earn you an extra ticket! As a designer you have to count at least 4 roles, otherwise it doesn't work...
Then we are sold a magic tool that can do everything, or almost! On my platform I have no less than 50 applications! Honestly, is this really necessary? I must have used 8 at most over a year! There is a calculator application, a kind of "Paint", a kind of "OneNote", a web browser, a drive, all the chat and sharing functions such as "Teams" and so on. Each of its applications is much less intuitive and functional than the originals! We feel like we've gone back to the 2010s, when we added overlays and other jailbreaks to our phones to get an OS, certainly unique, but completely messy!
The updates are regular (maybe too much) but surely useful! and compatible with several Solidworks vintages. whew! On the other hand, I haven't tried to manage several projects with a different year from solidworks!
The concept of "Bookmarks" replacing that of "Dossiers" seems powerful but clearly under-exploited. The search tool is quite badly done, the results are not very readable and much too slow.
SLOWNESS is precisely what defines this platform! However, I am connected to fiber optic networks with a dedicated workstation and the latest updates installed. However, the slow opening of windows, loading times, refresh times, file openings, searches... Each "click of the mouse" makes you lose seconds which at the end of the day can be counted in minutes or even hours!
I have touched on the subject of confidentiality several times. Where is the data stored? On which servers? duplicated how many times? In which country? With what type of certification? I was always told not to worry about it, but I never got a real answer!
The integration with Solidworks needs to be completely reviewed! it works but it's LEEEeeeeeEEEnt! So much so that I activate the 3DX module in the morning, I load everything locally, then log out of the platform to work! I only reconnect in the evening to rebalance everything on the server. It's really DIY! For the Solidworks work environment, we all know our creation tree on the left, it is completed with some 3DX icons but above all we add a specific 3DX pane on the right of the screen in which we manage, searches, bookmarks, files... in short, everything! The display is so badly thought out that you have to stretch the shutter to hope to see anything in it! Creation tree on the left, with duplicate info with the disproportionate pane on the right, I let you imagine the workspace that remains in the middle! Knowing that the majority of designers have a double screen... It's a real shame not to have developed a specific window.
On Solidworks, everyone knows how to make a part, an assembly, a plan. We are only starting to get to the heart of the matter with: configurations, derived parts, parts inserted into another, virtual components, reference replacements, family tables, custom toolboxes, ... and so on! Guess what? with the 3DX the "technical support" advises you to forget all this because the platform manages it very badly...
We will also have to forget about the task scheduler, supposedly replaced by an application but never equalled! On an American forum I finally managed to find a trick to reactivate this good old planner and thus avoid generating export bundles one by one.
The management of CAD data and its revision is very good, but what about the management of all the files with which we really exchange and communicate? I'm talking about PDFs, STEP, edrawing and other DXF and DWG ... They are just as important, but not natively managed by the platform. You will have to find tricks to use a derived format converter, or a sharing folder. In short, tinkering for what seems to me to be the basis of data management!
For my subscriptions I voluntarily have my ass between 2 chairs, Solidworks at one distributor, 3DX at another. Suffice to say that the technical support of the 2 resellers is not, or not yet, trained or effective on the subject!
And as usual, we will try to sell you training in exchange for a technical solution!
In conclusion, 3DX will certainly soon be mandatory but, in my opinion, for the moment it is not up to scratch and is not usable in the industrial world! It is a tool that could be powerful if it focused on the CAD aspects. But if you want to do everything, you don't do anything right!
I think we always need more users to report bugs, to find tips, to propose modifications... in short, to optimize and stabilize the tool. For my part, it was done for a year, but today I throw in the towel!
Passionate about CAD, mechanics and everything that revolves around this universe, having to pay a subscription to participate in the development of a tool that is still counterproductive, is incompatible with my activity.
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