Overall Satisfaction with CATIA
I have used CATIA throughout my Aerospace engineering studies in college as well as while working as an Engineer. I have designed everything from complete drones, to tools, screws. So, a wide variety of pieces with different complexities. Mainly, CATIA has been beneficial when having to design complex assemblies, since I think its manipulation tools are some of its main assets.
- There really is no 3D software that offers all the design modules, drafting and assembly options and manipulation tools that CATIA offers.
- There are a specific module and tool for just about anything you need to do, so the design process with CATIA can be very optimized.
- Great surface modeling capabilities.
- It is NOT user-friendly. It definitely takes a long time to get used to.
- Another big disadvantage is that it is EXTREMELY expensive. It is hard to be able to afford a license for private use at home.
- Mouse function is not easy to get the hang of in it.
- If designing large assemblies or very complex ones, especially in the aerospace industry, CATIA is the way to go.
- The graphics are really good, and the software offers many possibilities to view a design: 2D, 3D, bird's eye view...
- Controls pan zoom rotate are easy.
CATIA is an ideal software for a design engineer like me, since it allows endless possibilities to design.