Solid Edge User Reviews
Reviews started on November 10th, 2008 • 
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Solid Edge with Synchronous Technology is an invaluable tool for all of us who design, manufacture, or supply physical products.
Solid Edge is a fully featured 2D/3D CAD system using direct and dimension driven design. This proprietary technology enables us to design faster, communicate effectively, and efficiently validate and document our products.
It helps us satisfy our customer’s desires for aesthetically pleasing, robust, and innovative products of the highest quality and value.
Solid Edge with Synchronous Technology is a core component of the Velocity Series portfolio from Siemens PLM Software. These tools help us accelerate product development and improve manufacturing efficiency within a fully managed environment whilst increasing productivity, reducing costs and maximising returns.
Solid Edge Review by Matthew Hunt on 1 December 2008:
The new Synchronous Technology tools are by far the best thing to have happened to edge since, well ever. Live Rules take a little getting used to, in fact i’m still experimenting with these, but once you get the hang of it, it’s wonderfull. I have only have one reservation…my managers now expect even more, even quicker!
Solid Edge Review by Rob Field on 1 December 2008:
Been with Solid Edge since version 5 or thereabouts and and more than please with what I can do with it. I’ve no direct comparison with other systems, and I’ve yet to try Synchronous Technology but I’ve no reason to use anythign else. Sheet metal is included and very versatile. The support is excellent and the product is very stable. Always looking forward to the next release.
Solid Edge Review by Brian Howes on 1 December 2008:
I have been using solid edge for the last 9yrs and find the product excellent value for money, the features and usability are brilliant.
the latest version with synchronous is a great leap forwards, although there are a few little niggles that hopefully will be ironed out with new updates, ie the steering wheel could be a bit more user freindly when picking up points, and I do miss being able to go back and edit and reorder features, but overal it is a excellent product once you get use to it, and if you can’t you still have the traditional option to fall back on.
From a personal point of view I love the product and from a company point of view, not only has it improved productivity it has been a great asset to our sales team who have been able to present quotations with fully rendered photorealistic images of the required equipment.
Overall solid edge traditional brilliant, ST nearly brilliant, but I’m sure It will be the future of CAD.
Solid Edge Review by Melvyn Willeard on 1 December 2008:
I was not able to attend any training courses so I am working things out for myself. Once I have I am finding that it is an big improvement on previous issues. I have left the above values as at the time I have not used the system to its full limits.
Solid Edge Review by Jonathan Norton on 1 December 2008:
The new ST version of Solid Edge CAD system allows you to be creative at your work station, the whole “live” process of creating a model or assembly is very intuitive.
You will need a different mind set to use the functions to their full but when you do you will save time and the need to reprocess some of the steps when using traditional SE.
What also makes this system so much more powerful is that you can import models from other systems and manipulate them fully, whereas the traditional version you could only import a “fixed” body.
The PMI dimensioning is now very good for creating proper 3D draft drawings leading away from the need for 2D drafts drawings.
I think with time this new Synchronous technology with a few tweaks to some of the function will leave all other CAD systems behind.
Solid Edge Review by Penny Panagi on 1 December 2008:
The Synchronous Technology is a great advance over traditional methods.
Solid Edge Review by Ken Scott on 1 December 2008:
I have been a user of solid edge since v2 about ten years. It has without doubt been a major contributing factor to the success of our business.The release of Synchronous is a major change – I feel at the moment -Traditional has more to offer than synchronous as this version is better than ever – I think that some history, Draft angle for one, is useful and far quicker to change in Trad, also when you choose a plane it should ‘snap’ into place as in trad.I am sure things will develop but hope we dont lose too much of the good things developed over the years. My star rating is for synchronous – Trad would get five!
Solid Edge Review by Gary Hammond on 2 December 2008:
I am a new user to Solid Edge and have had no training, so am self taught.
I have found the programme very easy to use and if stuck for any reason the support help line has been very good with easy to follow instructions.
The company I work for uses Solid Edge for numerous tasks to meet our customers needs and the programme is now company wide.
I would recommend Solid Edge to any body.
Solid Edge Review by Terry Hyde on 2 December 2008:
I have been using Solid Edge for 5 years (previously Pro-E for 5 years)mainly for modelling mouldings for lighting fittings.I find it easy to use and malipulate to achieve a model the toolmaker can use for tool design and manufacture.The improvements mainly the modify capability have proved to be a great help.
I do have reservations on the synchronous technology version,it is easier to modify the model in the later stages however I do miss the ability to modify the scketch after it has been used for a feature.Perhaps the learning curve is longer than I thought,I will persevere.
Solid Edge Review by Charles Tones on 2 December 2008:
The improvements I can see in the product,compare to the development stage seen in Catia V4 into V5.
Solid Edge has become more conducive to designing on the fly having little of the restrictions previously seen in earlier versions.
When the full suite of products are published it will become a powerfull contender. Although I have had some issues with operating sytem compatability with good support these will i am sure be seen as teething problems.
Solid Edge Review by Martin Coles on 3 December 2008:
As a mainly sheetmetal manufacturing company, I haven’t really used ST yet, but the results we have been getting the last 7 yrs have been fantastic.Time & time again, near perfect results.Always look forward to the next release, where I know things will only get even better. One of the best buys, ever made by our company.
Solid Edge Review by Josue Vivas on 3 December 2008:
Hello everyone, i start to use ST one week ago, for example, to manage more that 1 GB of ram is great, with V19 and V20 after 750Mb the program close (my workstation have 8 Gb of ram). ST doesn´t have that problem.
ST need more programing because if i want to make an animation or use symple motion, i have to jump to traditional assembly. i hope that in v22 of SE will have of this.
About modeling, well my opinion is there´s just 2 tutorial for ST modeling, i would like to see more. unfortunally i´m very “sketch and feature”, some times in ST modeling mode i´m looking for sketch to edit. hahaha. to much trust in 2D constrains, so i realised that is ST. i´m trust in 2d sketch and now i have to reconect my brain with ST algoryth.
check the web page:
https://www.plm.automation.siemens.com/forms/student_design_contest.shtml
this chrystmas i will spend my time with a sheet metal body. let´s wait ST modeling for sheet metal.
PD: i have a question:
1)why Solid Edge can´t save files for previous versions? for expample autocad 2008 can save for autocad 2002 or 2004.
2)how i can make an animation for a deformable part? or an adjustable part?
3) Why SE doesn´t have the surfacing captabilities of NX or Catia or Autodesk Alias. ST could apply for surfacing modeling?
4)Is there some software wich can convert the display to a #D view? do you remember the 3D movies? well like that. because could be great to be close to “touch” your 3d model jumping out of the screem of solidedge.
Solid Edge Review by Andy Powell on 3 December 2008:
I have a degree in mechanical engineering but for the past 25 years I have worked as a scientist. I have found this combination ideal in the research and development environment in which I work (Nice to be able to argue from both sides of the fence!). Over the years I have used various 2D CAD systems and 2D software with so called 3D capabilities. I first saw 3D SolidEdge V16 in use about 5 years ago and realised that it could address all of my somewhat diverse requirements and I now use V18 as a tool to support my design, development and experimental activities on solid and liquid fuel propulsion systems.
As hardware and test configuration design only represents 30% of my time it can be many months between SolidEdge activities so the intuitive simplicity of the programme’s operation is an essential feature for me. I have also found Ingenea’s maintenance and telephone support facility invaluable for the same reason. On several occasions I have been able to design demonstrate and manufacture kit while others were still talking about it and what is more, I knew they were going to work first time! If you’re thinking about using SolidEdge simply try it try it.
Solid Edge Review by Colin Williams on 3 December 2008:
User of Solid edge since version 9. Currently on Ver 17(!) waiting to be upgraded to ST if the budgets are ever approved!
Pushing SE to it’s limits these days with surfaces and complex curved forms whilst designing injection moulded enclosures.
Does a great job with everything I ask of it during concept design work, through production of .stl / .iges files for rapid prototyping to finished production assembly drawing packs.
Intuitive and efficient to use, I would not hesitate to recommend Solid Edge to anyone looking for a fully featured, value for money, 3D CAD tool.
Solid Edge Review by Adrian White on 9 December 2008:
I am a freelance design engineer, I work on a very wide range of projects from electronic measuring instruments to decorative Ductile Iron tree grilles. I have been using CAD since about 1983 (AutoCad running on CPM86!) and discovered (and converted to) Solid Edge in 2002.
I find Solid Edge to be an extreemly useful tool that has served me very well as my primary CAD system over the last 6 years. I find it particulary good for Sheet Metal designs. I regularly exchange 3D information with both suppliers and customers. I am sure that the new features in the ST version are going to directly enable me to take on 3rd party modification work that was not practical or finacially viable with earlier versions.
Like many other ‘veteran’ Solid Edge users, I found the ST method of working a bit of a shock and it is taking a while to get into it (especially as it does not work with Sheet Metal yet)However having spent a couple of days on a specific training course, I am totally convinced that it will prove to be a huge leap forward and we will look back wonder how we ever got on without it.
Keep up the good work Siemens!
Solid Edge Review by Guy Lymn on 13 January 2009:
I have been with SolidEgde since V7 and have enjoyed the development of the package ever since. Used other 3D packages in contract roles but prefer SolidEdge to them all, stable and user friendly.
The new ST release sound’s great and have been looking forward to working with it. However I have been in Brazil for 4 months and just returned home and now look forward to applying the new release with a project.
The support I have received over the years has been excellent. I look forward to working with SolidEgde future release’s and the continuing support from the Ingenea team.
Solid Edge Review by Jerry Hanson on 14 January 2009:
While the addition of ST to SE is a leap forward, as far as I am concerned they “Vista’d” the GUI. Although it’s prettier, everything now requires more mouse clicks, the side bar rearranges itself, usually covering up the function I need, I could go on… On further thought, I wish I could go back.
//jh
Solid Edge Review by Eric Mendoza on 24 February 2009:
I have used Solid Edge with synchronous technology. Its a history-free modelling which for the most part is very convenient that you don’t have to worry about your associated sketches. I just like to give comment on some features that Solid Edge should try to include in later releases. I really hope Solid Edge developers can read this.
1. There is no 3D scaling. There was a part-copy option in the Traditional History-based modelling, but in ST it is completely gone. This feature is extremely important when you’re making model comparison at different scales.
2. More procedural features. For example, The Helix feature, once created you cannot edit it using the steering wheel. Generally, features with curvatures like Loft and Sweep are also very hard to edit.
3. No Blue dot editing in Surface modelling. Blue dot editing is based on sketches so its understandable that its not present, but Solid Edge should really try to dynamically edit surfaces in synchronous technology.
4. No assembly driven features. Again no history so its not available, but still a missed feature in synchronous technology. For example, Assembly driven features let’s you make cutouts in assembly which updates the related part files.