Overview for beginners of CATIA switching from other CAD software
July 31, 2021

Overview for beginners of CATIA switching from other CAD software

Subal Sharma | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User

Overall Satisfaction with CATIA

We used CATIA for quick prototyping of the products. Since, the utility trucks are customized according to the customer need, modifications and changes to the basic or existing designs are significant. CATIA helps in the process for modification and generating body trucks easier. Being in the product design and development department required us to keep modifying the existing designs. With CATIA, there was no need to delete the modifying part. Multiple drag points of the original design provides a mesh like design, where not only simple geometry but complex geometries were equivalently easier to modify.
It becomes tedious when making modifications in a large scale assembly parts. However, CATIA made it easier to handle. Different applications of our products require constant modifications to the utility designs. I used to relocate interference of hydraulic hoses of boom assembly, boom bucket modifications, and body modifications of the truck.
One issue I faced is the learning curve of the software. Having many modules requires one to invest time initially. However, once learned it becomes really handy in the industry.

Pros

  • Surface modelling becomes easy.
  • Modifications to specific points without affecting adjacent parts
  • Simulation run with model is really great

Cons

  • Product modelling becomes difficult. Moreover, needs more steps than other CAD software
  • Need to sit and learn from a person else, really hard to learn on own
  • Surface modelling
  • Extrude, fill, and join commands
  • easy to modify or change
  • Tricky in product modelling
Once major advantage I realized when using CATIA is surface modelling, and modifications or changes in part model later. SOLIDWORKS provide a really good and quick way to part modelling. However, part modifications and assembly modifications take time. In CATIA, complex geometries can be easily generated, when compared to SOLIDWORKS. Managing and updating designs of large scale models and complex geometries made me realize an advantage of CATIA over other CAD software.

Do you think CATIA delivers good value for the price?

Not sure

Are you happy with CATIA's feature set?

Yes

Did CATIA live up to sales and marketing promises?

I wasn't involved with the selection/purchase process

Did implementation of CATIA go as expected?

I wasn't involved with the implementation phase

Would you buy CATIA again?

Yes

When it comes to modelling a product using multiple parts, CATIA becomes tedious. One need someone to sit with and learn with the experience from a frequent user. If switching from any other software to CATIA, it can be intimidating as learning curve is lengthy. For example, when working with complex shape in a knuckle joint, more steps are needed in part modelling. This cause part modelling lengthier and consume time more time, in comparison to SOLIDWORKS.

However, CATIA is tremendously helpful in generating really complex features. Surface modelling is way easier when one know how to use it. It becomes really handy to make changes to the design later as well. The design history tree is also very well organized, which save time in later modifications.

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