Software choice question

3D Design
1

Hello everyone, I was recently launched on a new project and I would like to have your opinion on a choice of software.

I work on Autocad and to put it simply, I make adjustments to production lines. I would like to switch to 3D software.

Basically, I receive 3D models of machines (mainly in .step) that I implement in buildings (made on Archicad). I also need to create pipes of different sizes.

I would also like to be able to modify the structure of the building (or model it in a basic way). Typically, I would have to be able to change the height of a platform and be able to change its size.

For the moment I have identified the following software:

AUTODESK INVENTOR
SKETCHUP
AUTOCAD 3D
Autocad Plant 3D (available in LT)
NAVISWORKS

If you have any opinions on these or if you have other ideas, I'm all for it.

Thank you in advance.

2

Hello mgsvinc,

For my part I work on SolidWorks 2022 SP4, (Which is more dedicated to mechanics, but you can also work on structures in Building also make DWG to open in AutoCAD).

I worked on Inventor 10 (It's not bad for mechanically welded structures too). On the other hand, it is good for DWG work.

As for your question and your tasks, which you carry out on Autocad, which is very good for the building, it is also a good "electronic or virtual" drawing board, for my part I would lean towards "Inventor" because it is "AutoCAD", they go very well together.

Especially for my part too, forget "SKETCHUP".

Autocad 3D, for me it's not real 3D, so choose "Inventor" in this case.

Autocad Plant 3D (don't know)

"NavisWorks (Don't know either).

For my part, I would also lean towards SolidWorks, because I know it well. But it may also depend on what you could do with SolidWorks, which is a very good software, you can draw everything with it, with the others too, but I tried it remains too complicated...

Here is a link on small video on Solidworks:=> #1 What is Solidworks - learn Solidworks in 3 minutes - (beginner tutorial) - YouTube
and this one: =>Terminology around a building in Solidworks - YouTube

and again this one: => What's New in SolidWorks 2020 - Structure System - YouTube

There you go, especially before you choose checked your exact need for you and the company.

Well I did more ADVERTISING for SW, because it's very user-friendly ... (I don't work for SW)... But here you will find more SolidWorks users.

Good luck.
@+.
AR.

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3

As just said @A.R here we find mainly Solidworks users because the site is created by a SW reseller.
Solidworks can indeed make 3d and iso piping plans.
Plan3d seems to be made for that too.
Before investing, I can only advise you to ask for at least a demo and if possible a trial license (1 month to try it out).
And above all, compare the different solutions for your profession and your use.

Sketchup actually forgot about it, I have a client who makes his implants on it, it's a horror to recover later.
Otherwise Inventor and Solidworks are equal on many points and Autocad 3D is well outdated in my opinion.

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4

Hello @mgsvinc

Welcome to our professional forum

Personally, for this kind of manipulation, I used REVIT MEP two years ago, which has the advantage of communicating quite well with autocad if necessary.
Hello

It seems to me that for the implementation within the building it is better to start from a solid 3D drawing of the building beforehand, especially for everything that is fluid, ventilation, energy in the broad sense.

Neither Inventor (and similar) nor Solidworks are really suitable for anything building or layout larger than 100 m².

On the other hand, if you are used to Solidworks or Inventor or the fake 3D of autocad 3D, you should plan a very good training in REVIT, because you have to get into the logic of the software.

That said, autocad has been used for 25 or 30 years in architecture and you have to weigh the pros and cons for your installations.
If they are still made in new buildings (which would surprise me) then REVIT is to be looked at closely.
If you work in old buildings you will probably get architectural plans either paper (yuck) or computer files that are likely to come from autocad.
In any case, you will not escape a laser salpining at least to connect you on the theoretical levels.

There is also Archicad but I attach a small comparison between revit and archicad.

So you just have to see if your implantations are recurrent or episodic and also what is the degree of complexity of what you are installing. If you are setting up a complex assembly line or if you are setting up a few machines with little infrastructure around them (fluidics, etc...

In short, define all cases well over how many years. If it's a one-shoot then no revit or archicad.

Kind regards

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5

Hello everyone and thank you for your answers and advice

@Zozo_mp
Regarding Revit, I think it's too complex for my use (I don't do BIM at all) and I'd like to stay on a "more classic" design software. I'll look anyway. On the other hand, Archicad could really be a good option, but I'm still afraid that it will react badly to importing several .step files

I would also like to point out that my implementations will be recurrent, quite complex (a lot of machines and networks) and also in the long term.

I also heard about another software: Plant design management system. Has anyone already had the opportunity to work on it?

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6

I don't think Solidworks is an option for me, it's really too focused on mechanical design for my need. I've also heard that it's not the ideal software for importing .step files and I may have a lot of them on the same space. I may be wrong, I'll dig into the subject (thanks for the links @A.R )

@A.R and @sbadenis may I ask you what's wrong with Sketchup? What is the problem in terms of locations?
I hear a lot of bad things about Autocad 3D as well but I don't really know why...

7

Hello mgsvinc,

For my part, Sketchup is too complicated to simply draw, I tried I didn't like their mode of drawing at all, or maybe I didn't understand... Here is no other remark on this subject...
Good luck with your choice of software, following the advice of Zozo_mp whom I salute.
@+.
AR.

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8

For my part, the Sketchup exports to Solidworks file with facets, very heavy, basically unusable.
It is not a real 3d software but a representation so all the mechanical 3D software SW, Topsolid, Catia... will recover a very heavy and unusable file. (or very unusable)

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9

Hello sbadenis,
Thank you for your explanations in more detail.
Have a good day and have a good weekend.
@+.
AR

10

In addition to what is said above.
The advantage for Inventor is that it is developed by the same publisher as autocad, and that in its use, autocadians are easily found.

In addition, the Autocad Inventor compatibility is almost perfect.

See even with the Factory Design Utilities module where you do machine implementation (example) on autocad, and you get the 3D in Inventor (however it's not magic, there is preparation).

You can also retrieve dwg blocks and manage them as 2D blocks in inventor. Create bindings for AutoCAD-side and updated changes in Inventor.

If you have experience and organization on the Autocad side, you can easily retrieve them in Inventor.

On the inventor side, you can easily set up modeling production automations using iLogic and much more (ipart, iconstraint (automatic positioning, etc.).
In the "Suite" version (Product Design & Manufacturing Collection) you have access to Autocad (all versions), Inventor, 3DSmax, Fusion Factory, Design Utilities

What should make you choose another tool is surely compatibility with your customers.

If your problem is the budget, look at Fusion360, you have a free version (for lobbyists) you can take the time to test this version which is limited. The same editor as Autocad, in the modeling equivalent to Inventor or SW with a slightly different philosophy all the same.

The switch to a pro version will be necessary and you have a good base to do modeling almost on par with SW or inventor, it all depends on how far you push the production and modeling automation. AutoCAD and Step compatible. Automation in python.

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