Positive experience with ProDesktop Express Free Solid modelling.
Posted by
glee@i...
on 2003-08-19 18:19:48 UTC
(Cross posted to CCED and Sherline CNC. Any further discussion to be at
Sherline CNC)
I'd like to share with the group my recent success with ProDesktop Express
8.0. (PTC.COM) I had evaluated this software more than a year ago, as a
possible program to teach the students on our robotics teams. At the time,
there were several things that I could not get clear in my mind. This
prevented my making much progress.
Recently, I became aware the schools program offered by PTC, in which
teachers can take the course to learn the product and can then give
non-expiring licenses to all of their students. I contacted PTC to see if
our robotics team and homeschool would qualify. They agreed and offered
that if I would organize a class, they would send out an instructor. The
course fee was very reasonable ($100). I organized a class at the local
university and we met last Thursday and Friday. All I can say is WOW.
The software they give away is basically ProDesktop Express + the Album
rendering module. No crippleware, no web registrations, no expirations,
just good software. If you are a teacher or robotics mentor, I would
recommend looking into the program. The ability to grant licenses to your
students stays with the instructor, not the school. :-)
If you are a casual hobbyist, I would recommend downloading and taking a
look at ProDesktop Express, which you can download for free. This version
product does require a registration, but that is easy to do and I think
well worth the trouble.
I learned a lot in the class, and have now modelled several parts which I
have been able to export as IGES files. From there, I have imported them
into Dolphin 3DCAM and generated the tool paths. I am still working out
some issues with Dolphin, but I expect to be making chips soon. I fully
expect that I will end up doing most of my design work in ProDesktop, even
for 2D work, and then importing the DXF or IGES files into my Dolphin
Partmaster or 3DCAM modules.
On the teaching side, using just what I learned in two days, I was able to
come back and teach the kids a brief orientation to solid modelling and
assembly. There are some amazing LEGO-based assembly tutorials on the
www.prodesktop.net web site, and the kids enjoyed these. meanwhile, they
are learning!
Continuing on, I have learned that you can also purchase a "Personal Use"
License of their full suite for a few hundred $. I asked about hobbyists
using this, and the instructor said that you can do most anything as long
as it is not for professional use. Unless you need collision detection in
assemblies or stress analysis, you probably don't need this version. The
free version will do just fine.
I've been absent from this forum and CCED for a while, but I hope to
rectify that soon. In the mean time, I wanted to share my positive
experience and encourage you to take a look at the product.
There, I hope that in some small way, this post will help others along the
way. It is my expression of gratitude for everything that I have learned
here.
-Eric
PS. No connection to anything.
Sherline CNC)
I'd like to share with the group my recent success with ProDesktop Express
8.0. (PTC.COM) I had evaluated this software more than a year ago, as a
possible program to teach the students on our robotics teams. At the time,
there were several things that I could not get clear in my mind. This
prevented my making much progress.
Recently, I became aware the schools program offered by PTC, in which
teachers can take the course to learn the product and can then give
non-expiring licenses to all of their students. I contacted PTC to see if
our robotics team and homeschool would qualify. They agreed and offered
that if I would organize a class, they would send out an instructor. The
course fee was very reasonable ($100). I organized a class at the local
university and we met last Thursday and Friday. All I can say is WOW.
The software they give away is basically ProDesktop Express + the Album
rendering module. No crippleware, no web registrations, no expirations,
just good software. If you are a teacher or robotics mentor, I would
recommend looking into the program. The ability to grant licenses to your
students stays with the instructor, not the school. :-)
If you are a casual hobbyist, I would recommend downloading and taking a
look at ProDesktop Express, which you can download for free. This version
product does require a registration, but that is easy to do and I think
well worth the trouble.
I learned a lot in the class, and have now modelled several parts which I
have been able to export as IGES files. From there, I have imported them
into Dolphin 3DCAM and generated the tool paths. I am still working out
some issues with Dolphin, but I expect to be making chips soon. I fully
expect that I will end up doing most of my design work in ProDesktop, even
for 2D work, and then importing the DXF or IGES files into my Dolphin
Partmaster or 3DCAM modules.
On the teaching side, using just what I learned in two days, I was able to
come back and teach the kids a brief orientation to solid modelling and
assembly. There are some amazing LEGO-based assembly tutorials on the
www.prodesktop.net web site, and the kids enjoyed these. meanwhile, they
are learning!
Continuing on, I have learned that you can also purchase a "Personal Use"
License of their full suite for a few hundred $. I asked about hobbyists
using this, and the instructor said that you can do most anything as long
as it is not for professional use. Unless you need collision detection in
assemblies or stress analysis, you probably don't need this version. The
free version will do just fine.
I've been absent from this forum and CCED for a while, but I hope to
rectify that soon. In the mean time, I wanted to share my positive
experience and encourage you to take a look at the product.
There, I hope that in some small way, this post will help others along the
way. It is my expression of gratitude for everything that I have learned
here.
-Eric
PS. No connection to anything.