Sheet Metal Design without the rest

[eschille]

Sheet Metal Design without the rest

I would like to see the Sheet Metal Design module sold separately from the other stuff in the Alibre Design Professional package.

Sheet Metal Design, like regular Part Design, has to do with defining the geometric properties of an object. This is a different genre of design than stress analysis (Algor DesignCheck) or photo-rendering (PhotoRender) or fabrication (FreeMill) or internet publishing (ModelPress) or even data management (Repository).

While there are some users who will appreciate every extra feature, many will only use 1 or 2 of them. However, nearly ALL Alibre users bought it for its CAD capability. Since Sheet Metal Design is very CAD-like, if it can't be built into the base version of Alibre, at least it should be offered independently of the other, not-so-CAD-like, offerings.

I'd like to have sheet metal capability within Alibre but I'm not willing to buy Algor along with it when I already have dedicated FEA tools - same goes with rendering. Milling and the rest are a low priority. The $495 upgrade price could be much lower if the big ticket add-ons were optional.

PhotoRender is offered as an add-on for those who need it, why not do the same with Sheet Metal Design?

 

[Mibe]

Re: Sheet Metal Design without the rest

I would like to see the Sheet Metal Design module sold separately from the other stuff in the Alibre Design Professional package.

Sheet Metal Design, like regular Part Design, has to do with defining the geometric properties of an object. This is a different genre of design than stress analysis (Algor DesignCheck) or photo-rendering (PhotoRender) or fabrication (FreeMill) or internet publishing (ModelPress) or even data management (Repository).

While there are some users who will appreciate every extra feature, many will only use 1 or 2 of them. However, nearly ALL Alibre users bought it for its CAD capability. Since Sheet Metal Design is very CAD-like, if it can't be built into the base version of Alibre, at least it should be offered independently of the other, not-so-CAD-like, offerings.

I'd like to have sheet metal capability within Alibre but I'm not willing to buy Algor along with it when I already have dedicated FEA tools - same goes with rendering. Milling and the rest are a low priority. The $495 upgrade price could be much lower if the big ticket add-ons were optional.

PhotoRender is offered as an add-on for those who need it, why not do the same with Sheet Metal Design?

Are you actually complaining about the lowest price tag in the industry, by far? :shock:

 

[eschille]

Re: Sheet Metal Design without the rest

Are you actually complaining about the lowest price tag in the industry, by far? :shock:

That's just the point. Alibre is making inroads into the CAD market because it is a low cost alternative to mainstream packages. People buy it to save money. So, if there's a way to save more by letting people buy what they need without the fluff, then all the better.

This is the Enhancements forum. The post discusses an opportunity for improvement. It's not that radical and idea - PhotoRender is sold separately, why not do the same with SheetMetalDesign?

 

[jwknecht]

Sounds like a legit request to me. Those of us that purchased AD when it was offered for $495 had the repository and later sheetmetal design (without all the rest). I later upgraded to Pro, recognizing that I had better get to that level due to the way AD was being marketed. I am happy with Pro and feel assured that I won't miss out on future enhancements (in case they offer some enhancements only to Pro). But, I could see where some may just want a basic CAD package plus Sheetmetal. Since Sheetmetal is not technically an ADD ON and is built into the core interface menus, I doubt we will see it happen though...

 

[Cameraman]

I can see both sides . . . we are still evaluating whether to buy AD, but if they offered a package that included the Sheet Metal module for price between AD and AD Pro, we would probably buy that for at least some of the guys (but we would still buy some seats of Pro as well) . . . however, the more different packages that Alibre offers, the more work is it to support those packages.

As it is, I view it much like buying a car . . . most of the good add-ons only come in packages . . . and if it does what they say, it will still be a good value at $1,100 . . .

Regards,
Greg

 

[cclark440]

more different packages that Alibre offers, the more work is it to support those packages

I do not see how. It seems all of the assistants can handle all of the packages now.

I agree with the different packages. Alibre should take the next "revolutionary" step and let the user build thier own packages. For instance I would really like to have the VisualNastrans Motion simulation software, but I am not about to pay for the entire Expert package. I do not need anything else in that package.

here is the package I would choose.
Alibre (Part, Assembly, SheetMetal, Drawing) Photorenderer, Part Library, VisualNastrans.

 

[Anonymous]

When I was looking at purchasing Alibre one year ago I asked about purchasing Alibre design basic and adding only the sheetmetal option. I was told that this was possible and I almost purchased it but then I opted for the more expensive Alibre Professional so that I could get the Algor FEA also. If you ask them they might sell you the basic version with sheetmetal for slightly more. Sheetmetal by itself is not necessarily usable because you need to be able to make drawings (dxf files for laser cutting) and use some features from the basic part design menu from time to time. The BOM is also a nice feature to have for larger sheetmetal assemblies. Why don't you ask them to give you a quote for Alibre basic with the sheetmetal add-on?

 

[eschille]

Re:

Why don't you ask them to give you a quote for Alibre basic with the sheetmetal add-on?

Thanks lenitech. That's a good point...just ask. That's kinda what this post is about. I don't need the extra module at the moment but was hoping to spur discussion so it will be available when the need arises, like maybe after version 8 comes out.