Likelihood to Recommend Well suited:
Simple and self-explanatory user interface. Inter usability between other software such as MicroDrainage and Bentley CivilStorm. Autodesk customer service. Easily customizable. Not suitable: The software is still very resource intensive on the machines and often crashes when too much data is being shown. Though significant improvements have been made in other Autodesk software like Revit, older applications like AutoCAD and C3D seem to be stuck on old, inefficient source codes.
Read full review Codeware Compress is a very powerful ASME design tool. It is very intuitive and easy to learn. Anyone engaged in ASME related design projects will greatly benefit from investing in this software. It has tools for all types of ASME code products (pressure vessels, heat exchangers & boilers). Codeware is always improving the software. New features are included in almost all new releases. Their customer support is also great. They are quick to respond to questions. The web portal has great support tools. The ability to export the ASME design into 3D CAD formats is a huge time saver. The software can also be very handy for other types of non-ASME tank design work as well. For instance, you can use it to explore leg support structures for elevated tank designs.
Read full review Pros Ease of functionality Templates make design and drawings easier to complete The ability to design and setup drawings simultaneously, where the drawings will be updated as the design is updated should there be changes Read full review Codeware Compress has a great user interface and is a very robust ASME design tool. Compress has a very well built 3D CAD export interface module that works well with SolidWorks and Autodesk Inventor. Codeware has a great user support network. Read full review Cons The processing of huge sized files in such in big projects, the delay of opening a sheet in Civil3D would burn time Sometimes, it crashes while opening or processing The vast number of tools and functions which make it difficult to use at times hence decent amount of training may be required Read full review Add more CAD functionality to create custom support structures and support brackets (clips, ect..) Partner with a major CAD platform (such as Autodesk, SolidWorks) for an "In CAD" solution. Which would allow quick customization of the ASME design model without leaving the native CAD environment. Read full review Support Rating They have a vast open community, which has helped us understand Autodesk Civil 3D from the beginning. They have provided many templates and tutorials videos to our team due to that we can learn every new feature from them. Autodesk Civil 3D has also helped us to interconnect all its software in an internal bridge, which helps us switch between software as we need.
Read full review Alternatives Considered Nothing compares to the ease of learning for Autodesk Civil 3D. It is very intuitive and easy to pick up. However, most DOTs require the use of
MicroStation for roadway and transportation modeling. Autodesk Civil 3D does NOT integrate well with GIS or Bentley products. However, most aviation jobs and land development firms use the software and most students learn to model on a student trial of the software.
Read full review I have only tried a brief tutorial on PV Elite so I can't provide a worthwhile comparison on features.
Read full review Return on Investment Possibility to analyze different scenarios of underground infrastructure design Fast material volumes and quantities reports Easiest way to achieve BIM mandate's objectives Read full review Codeware Compress is a huge part of our ability to design and release pressure vessels quickly. It has greatly reduced our engineering design cycle. We have built standards that allow us to release designs to fabrication in hours instead of days. The ability to export the 3D CAD files makes quick work of developing quotes and proposals. Codeware Compress greatly reduces the chances of errors related to meeting ASME code compliance. The software developers keep the software in sync with the current editions of the ASME code. That allows users to focus more time on the design aspects of the project and less time worrying about the actual nuts and bolts of the extensive ASME code rules. Read full review ScreenShots