Catia vs Solidworks

Background of CATIA

CATIA was initially developed as internal software by AVIONS MARCEL DASSAULT, a maker of aeroplanes. Dassault used it to create the Mirage fighter aircraft. French for "interactive assisted three-dimensional design," Dassault's CATIA was once known as CATI (Conception Assiste� Tridimensionnelle Interactive).

Its initials have altered somewhat to stand for Computer-Aided Three-dimensional Interactive Application now that it is more well known. I think that's a bit fabricated out of deference to its original French name, but who cares what it means these days because CATIA has a respectable amount of market share in the global CAD industry.

In 1984 (Hey! Boeing chose CATIA as its main software for building their aircraft in that year (I was born in that year!).

It is in your best interest to adjust things to their requirements when you have a large customer that wants to utilize your product entirely. Fortunately for Dassault Systems, CATIA was allowed to continue being used as their main product development tool. Who is to say whether it will always be that way.

To lose Boeing as a client, Dassault System would need to make an enormous error. You will have a significant advantage over any possible rivals if all of your experienced engineers are working together internally in CATIA, all of your backlog of aeroplane designs are in CATIA, and all of your new recruits have received CATIA training.

The origins of Solidworks

What an interesting past it has! I dare you to read this history, even though I'm sure it's the part you didn't want to read since it's so dull! Would you think that the Massachusetts-based Solidworks Corporation got its start playing a few hands of blackjack? I mean it!

Jon Hirschtick is the Named Founder of Solidworks Corporation. (All right, hang for a second, let me remark on the name of this guy.

Jon earned $1 million while participating on the MIT Blackjack Team. Most people would have spent money on something silly, thus the man must be brilliant. Jon not! He developed Solidworks Corporation and Solidworks using the money.

Because of Jon's leadership, it was so ground-breaking and inventive that Dassault Systems recognized they had a significant rival. Buy them if you can't beat 'em! For $310 million in shares, Dassault Systems acquired Solidworks Corporation, and Jon remained with his new employer for 14 years. What a warrior! I want to be just like Jon when I grow up.

Solidworks vs. CATIA: Noncompetitive Stablemates

Having ownership of one of your main rivals is a great idea. In all likelihood, Dassault Systems could make a few minor adjustments to Solidworks and turn it into a usable surface modelling tool before Boeing adopts it.

But for now, it makes little difference since CATIA is so deeply ingrained in Boeing's corporate culture. Solidworks and CATIA both have the potential to generate hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue. Let's face it, Solidworks and CATIA both possess the same capabilities;

• 3D creation
• 3-D modelling
• modelling of parts
• Assemblies
• Materials modelling
• artificial engineering
• Stress test simulation
• Simulation of Fluids
• circuit design and electronics
• The list goes on and on!

Why then do we even have two independent pieces of software that are separate? I think it's just routine business. It will need a big shift to switch to alternative standard software because CATIA is now established in the aircraft industry.

For the rest of us, that works out just well because people favour Solidworks' simplicity. People like it so highly that Autodesk has started using Inventor to compete with Solidworks. Fusion 360 has grown to be my personal favourite since it is inexpensive, remarkably easy to use, and very effective.

Due of all the issues that Fusion 360 resolves that other programmes don't, it may soon become a favorite in the business. The extent of Solidworks' influence on the CAD sector as a whole is what I find to be most amazing. I never would have imagined that Blackjack would have such a significant impact on society.

Short Conclusion

Solidworks has my immediate and unqualified support. Looking at the CATIA UI throughout my research for this article was a little uncomfortable. It appears to be from the 1990s! Although technically from the 1970s, it has seen some updates since then.

Due to CATIA's focus on Boeing, it is most likely past the point of major development. The user interface for Solidworks is revolutionary in terms of how simple and straightforward it is. Have you ever been working on a computer programme and wished it would simply automatically perform such-and-such or so-and-so without me having to do all this extra work?

Well, that lucky genius Jon Hirschtick (stop, let me copy that again) designed Solidworks with all of these issues in mind. Parts modeler's at the period were often frustrated by certain issues, which reduced their productivity. You can get someone's business if you can ease their concerns and annoyances.

On the other hand, CATIA is not user-friendly but is extremely tailored to the aerospace sector. For many individuals, CATIA is a dependable standard when it comes to designing and producing an aircraft body or an automobile body that must contend with wind pressures.

Except if you want to work for Boeing or an organization where CATIA is the standard programme, Solidworks is the best option.

Comprehensive Considerations

1. Price

Solidworks is the clear winner here by a wide margin.

According to reports, CATIA V6 licenses range in price from $9000 to $65000, depending on the modules you choose.

Why on earth would you even bother, you ask? You know, now that I think about it, I'm happy that the designers of automobiles and aircraft use the costliest CAD software available. Any plane I fly in better not have even the slightest problem! Oh, and there is also an annual maintenance cost of 18%.

Information about Prices for Solidworks

1. Free 30-day trials are available for both Solidworks and AutoCAD.
2. Solidworks offers a student/educator edition for $150 per year.
3. Standard Subscription - Solidworks offers updates and support for a subscription price of $1295 per year, but you must also purchase a license for $3995.
4. Solidworks Professional Professional Subscription: $5490 for the license and $1495 for maintenance. Photorealistic Rendering, Part Libraries, Circuit Works, PDM Standard, Cost Estimation, and Advanced Simulation are some of the extra capabilities offered by Solidworks Premium.
5. Solidworks Premium subscriptions cost $1995 annually and $7995 for a license. Its features include advanced surface flattening, environmental impact analysis, structural part and assembly analysis, pipe, tube, duct, and wire routing, and further advanced simulation tools.

2. user interface

Solidworks wins

Simply said, in my perspective, there is no comparison. Because CATIA's training films were so basic, I found it unpleasant to watch them. You might be asking why CATIA is so pricey because it seems so antiquated. It all boils down to the specialized equipment and skills that aviation engineers just cannot function without. There seems to be two levels of software available before Solidworks:

1) Software that is overly "user-friendly," making it unsuitable for business usage. (Consider Sketchup.

2) "Professional-grade" software that is so difficult for the typical individual to master. (Consider 3DS Max)

Solidworks managed to combine both in a way that astonished many people and even drove some of them to addiction. These days, people anticipate this kind of performance. Except, of course, if you're CATIA. I contend that Boeing's corporate culture is what has kept CATIA relevant in the CAD industry.

3.Customer service

Win: a tie

Both apps are owned by Dassault Systems, so you can anticipate the same level of customer support. I sincerely hope they aren't French, since dealing with snobby French people after spending so much money on software would only make matters worse. I'm joking, and I adore the French.

4. Learnability Curve

Solidworks wins

Alright! I am aware that I have previously stated that the learning curve criteria is meaningless because learning requires a lot of work regardless of the tool you use.

However, in this case, I will make an exception. There's nothing intuitive about CATIA, and it takes a buttload of diligent training to learn. Solidworks is noticeably different in that it is both powerful enough for professionals and fun-sufficient for hobbyists.

5. Surface Engineering

CATIA won.

This is an area where CATIA excels. Making cool-looking designs in a user-friendly 3D environment like Solidworks is enjoyable, but when it comes to important design elements, the form of an aeroplane can't be left to artists.

These days, several pretty interesting sculptures created by gifted 3D modellers can be seen all over the place, but they aren't made to fly and land safely. The degree to which CATIA succeeds depends on how much fluid physics and 3D design are needed to create safe and useful aircraft.

6. Constructions

Solidworks wins

One of the most enjoyable and fulfilling features of Solidworks is this. You must assemble your invention's components in a way that is true to reality after modelling all of the component elements.

You may assemble your invention using Solidworks' relationship and constraint tools while also observing how it performs as planned. Model a bike with the wheels, handlebars, chain, and gears, and then observe how pressing the pedal makes everything move as intended.

As you instruct the components how to respond, the behaviour is based upon the physics foundation you have created. I believe that CATIA is capable of making comparable assemblies, but it is not even close to being as user-friendly as Solidworks.

7. Simulacra

CATIA won.

Once again, constructing an aeroplane requires a sizable toolkit for modelling factors like cabin air pressure, engine air pressure, drag, lift, etc.

The simulations required to determine if your wireless headphones will break when you drop them and the simulations required to determine whether your jet will crash are slightly different, despite Solidworks' strong features. To start a simulation on a part and observe the precise weak points is a lot of fun.

You may observe the expected deformation, for example, if you build a handle and then use the simulator to put 100 pounds of force to it. The handle's form can then be adjusted in accordance with the precise locations of distortion.

A portion can also be tested to see how much of it is under stress and how much of it is extra. This gives you the opportunity to swiftly remove unnecessary material in order to make the end product lighter overall.

How they operate?

Imagine you wanted to create a flying drone that could carry 100 pounds. Can it be created in CATIA? Naturally, no issue. Can Solidworks be used to design it? I think so. So how does that procedure operate? How would it appear? A little science, some R&D, and some design would be the first steps.

How many propellers are required to lift so much weight? In order for the propellers to spin quickly enough to raise the ship off the ground, how heavy will the engine have to be? What volume of fuel is required? You want it to stay in the air for how long?

There are several inquiries that must be made. You will have a much better understanding of the components you need to model and how they should be assembled once you've done a lot of study. You create the framework and choose the ideal lightweight material that can withstand the weight and demands of flight.

You need to model the propellers, and you also need space within the drone's case for the wiring and motors. To connect with the remote control, you require the circuitry and wireless components. Oh, and the remote control itself has to be designed as well. After putting everything together, simulations must be performed.

In all honesty, I'm not sure if Solidworks Premium can do fluid dynamic simulations accurately enough to predict whether or not the drone will take off. I have a good feeling that CATIA could handle these simulations without any issues.

At this stage, you should also do some crash testing because remote piloting may occasionally go wrong and it would be ideal if this object could withstand a fall of ten feet without being harmed. From CATIA, all of these tests may be executed. You'll need the pieces made after everything is designed.

This is where CATIA and Solidworks' CAM tools are useful. These tools will be used to assess which CAM is most appropriate for each part, as well as whether the component can be successfully represented by a CAM.