OK, so here we are in PTC's Webinar this morning on how CoCreate's explicit modeling is better than direct modeling [from other CAD vendors].
The primary argument seems to be that CoCreate is 15 years old, and thus more mature. Left out is that KeyCreator (CADKEY) is 25 years old.
Not only a superior concept design tool, FEA prep tool, or data interop tool, but also a complete modeler for machine design, plastic parts, sheet metal, castings, surfaces, cabling, and simultaneous interactions with parts and assemblies.
The direct editing found in competitors is called "immature."
Now doing a demo of creating a simple part. Now intersecting the simple part with a more complex part created earlier.
When creating a shell, the removed portion can be kept as a separate part. There is no parent-child by default, but you can select both parts to create a temporary relationship. Showing mirrored sketching, where anything sketched on one side is automatically copied on the other side. Now using the sketch from one part to punch holes in the second part (no need to move parts due to the temp relationship.)
CoCreate can handle very large models, because history is not retained, cutting file size by 60-80% compared with a history modeler (Pro/E left unmentioned).
Another sign of CoCreate's maturity over competitors is the amount of built-in analysis software, such as FEA, Advanced Mechanica, surface analysis, physical simulation and animation, interference checking, geometry checking, healing, sheet metal manufacturability, and virtual prototyping (would that be PTC's name for "digital prototyping"?).
Now demo'ing deflection analysis of a sheet metal part.
Showing how CoCreate can do clash detection while in cutaway mode (see figure).
Now saying that CoCreate's explicit modeling includes direct editing and direct modeling. How does that differ? Direct editing is just interactive dragging of faces and portions of parts. Now dragging a face connected to chamfers; the chamfers are highlighted in green and CoCreate does not adjust them.
Using CoPilot to define locations through geometric references. CoPilot is the circular gadget shown below.
There is an undo, but it is like Word: the undo history is lost when you exit the file. Thus, you cannot undo later, as with history-based modeling.
Like the plug-ins from LEDAS, CoCreate can include dimension-driven modification, parametric with variables, and geometric relations (constraints). Now showing constraints, etc. Relation Sets control parameters, like a circular pattern (array) and its radius. These sorts of parameters can be added to imported IGES files, etc. (Not new: in there since 1996, and in AutoCAD since 2009.)
Includes documentation capabilities: 2D drawings, tolerances, rendering, export, CMM, etc. Fully associative between drawing and model, plus color coding to show changes.
60,000 commercial users. 130,000 downloads of free PE edition (What happened to the 1,000,000 number?)
of course, PTC doesn't want to you to just buy CoCreate. We're being shown the full PTC line of software. www.ptc.com/go/explicit
Q: If part is mounted on a surface, and move the part, does the mate also move?
A: Yes, you can have a mate relationship, or else window box the two.
Q: Coexisting with a parametric environment? When is Cocreate better, when is Pro/E better?
A: CoCreate is better for initial design, and then import into Pro/E. CoCreate is also good for making last minute design changes.
Oops, the telephone line just broke down... And they're back...
Q: Is your intent to have Pro/E users switch to CoCreate, since CoCreate seems quite complete?
A: No, no, no. There is a fork in the road, need to decide on which based on your business's processes.