Likelihood to Recommend 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 Robert McNeel and Associates
One of the main highlights of Rhino is the built-in visual programming system "Grasshopper". It is widely used for parametric architectural design, by a variety of world-class architectural offices. It is also very popular within architectural schools and universities. Its usefulness has increased a lot by having add-ins, plug-ins, scripts, and integrations with
Revit and
ARCHICAD for BIM workflows.
Read full review Pros 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 Robert McNeel and Associates
Parametric Modeling - Grasshopper allows for easy/rapid iterative process White box renders display - looks great as a quick diagram export with no post-production required. robust command prompts - rhino was originally made for industrial design and it flexes a lot of unique modeling commands that put it up there with SolidWorks Read full review Cons Add more CAD functionality to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 Robert McNeel and Associates
Rhino has very limited sheet layout tools. Grasshopper could be better integrated into the main interface. Lack of backwards file compatibility can be frustrating. Read full review Support Rating Robert McNeel and Associates
A majority of the support for Rhinoceros 3D does not come from the company itself, but from online forums and boards where other Rhinoceros 3D users outline their issues and solutions. The Rhinoceros 3D website does not offer much in-depth support and just outlines general how to's. At the same time, online forums allow for more specific issues to be addressed and solved by the Rhinoceros 3D community.
Read full review Alternatives Considered I have only tried a brief tutorial on PV Elite so I can't provide a worthwhile comparison on features.
Read full review Robert McNeel and Associates
It's hard to compare Rhino to other modeling software as Rhino is in a niche of its own. No other software (to my knowledge) is as customizable/programmable and has such a large community and such a large amount of free, open-source addons. Rhino (and Grasshopper) can be intimidating at first but once you get familiar with it and grow your toolbox with your own scripts, so much time will be saved
Read full review Return on Investment 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 Robert McNeel and Associates
Right away Rhino3D is useful for simple and accurate 3D model import, repair and export all in a variety of formats. Rhino3D is easy to use and learn. The time to productivity is very short with this modeling tool. The price is low for the value received, a great investment. Read full review ScreenShots