I just came from this thread:
and have many doubts. It seems that the recommended brand/type in its class is Shuttle, specifically the XPC Cube? Is there some agreement so far? Does it have competitors in the SolidWorks market?
http://global.shuttle.com/products/productsList?categoryId=19
I could not find a comparison table on their site.
Some of those come with the graphics hardware, GPU incorporated with the CPU. However, Nvidia Quadro seems to be the clear leader.
TIA
-Raymond
Bjorn Hulman wrote:
There's plenty of debate to whether you need a professional grade card or whether you can use a gaming card.
Bjorn, now I am confused. I acknowledge being a total newbie, but I quickly found that the issue is clear:
- Professionals: Quadro
- Gamers: GeoForce
My project is very ambitious: to fill a 7-story building (architecture, data coming from a laser scanner point cloud) with a number of mechanical-type objects. The big model will be placed in a webserver and user will be able to navigate inside. I have been told (y designers that know multiples apps) that in the mechanical category no application beats SolidWorks.The emblematic models are a Coca-Cola Machine and a Candy Vending machine.
https://sketchfab.com/models/379be2fd6a03465084a31f9c3218eda0
Ours is a volunteer based, Not for Profit, Free Open Source project. The files that we have produced are here:
http://www.dealey-plaza.org/this-government-as-promised/
As you can see in our web site, I am trying to offer as many formats as possible. It seems that the most portable formats are: STEP, IGES
-Raymond
JFK Numbers
For what you do, scan the machine.
Solidworks and other CAD software are great if you need to make manufacture model and drawing.
Looks like you only need a texture/skin model for visualize. Like in a game or VR.
It maybe easier and faster to create everything in a game or VR engine.
You don't need to import, export models for different software.
Frederick Law wrote:
For what you do, scan the machine. [scan?]
Solidworks and other CAD software are great if you need to make manufacture model and drawing.
Looks like you only need a texture/skin model for visualize. Like in a game or VR.
It maybe easier and faster to create everything in a game or VR engine.
You don't need to import, export models for different software.
The project is Open Source, volunteer based, with hired guns (Freelancer) if needed and that is why I make an effort to offer all models in as many formats as possible. These 3 items where made with SolidWorks by a lady in Freelancer. I gave her the choice, she chose SolidWorks:
https://sketchfab.com/models/cb1176fc16594615bd4c2357c9678a41
https://sketchfab.com/models/90767858e59e4b45b5e3076bbc92becf
https://sketchfab.com/models/f2d31eb0ddac4d21944df7dcc4af6d28
They are here:
http://www.dealey-plaza.org/this-government-as-promised/floor-2-lunch-room/
Somebody may want to improve them but perhaps they prefer other environment.
-Raymond
JFK Numbers
Frederick Law wrote:
It maybe easier and faster to create everything in a game or VR engine.
After spending some time learning about this technology, I fully agree. We will use Unreal Engine 4 but the mechanical parts (vending machines, etc.) are being done originally in SolidWorks. I believe in selecting the best tool for each task. I don't mind exporting. In fact, the more I export, the higher chances to attract badly needed volunteers.
Yes, that was a not-so-subtle hint. :-)
-Ramon
JFK Numbers
..kennedy assassination reconstruction?... did someone have a coke at the grassy knoll??
I have coke every day .....
Frederick Law wrote:
I have coke every day .....
Frederick: I have several. Diet.
For those who think that us JFK geeks don't have a sense of humor, check the name of the file with the image of the poster "things go better with Coke".
I baptized it Not for Lee.jpg :-)
-Ramon
JFK Numbers
ps: See the Sniper's Best Friend:
Paul Salvador wrote:
..Kennedy assassination reconstruction?... did someone have a coke at the grassy knoll??
Paul: the outside will be done later. Scientific Analysis, the company that did these models, simulation and videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XWW2G3rSWM&t=116s
[You can see my mentor and benefactor Mike McCormick in the PBS Nova video]
generously donated the laser point cloud file to my cause (their words). However, since it was meant for a quick "sleigh of hands", for PBS viewers, the Leica Geosystems folks only did 8 passes. The west and north walls of the TSBD were not scanned. A Dallas competing company that I found recommends between 25-30 passes. You can see their demo work here, under TruePoint:
http://www.dealey-plaza.org/your-designers/
Oh, Lee was found in the 2nd. floor lunch room, drinking a Coca-Cola next to that machine. You can see the reflection in the candy machine's mirror:
If you look at the number of dispensers, you will notice that Oliver Stone had the wrong model of Stoner Candy machine.
Everything that we have produced -including the point cloud original file- is here.
http://www.dealey-plaza.org/this-government-as-promised/
The only condition imposed by Scientific Analysis is that the file cannot be used for commercial gain. I replied "Ramon Free Open Source Not for Profit is my middle name". :-)
-Ramon
JFK Numbers
Raymond,.. I'm just taken back that this story is still reviewed... wow.
btw,.. I think all the suggestions for getting USED hardware are very good.. ebay alone has some great buys for core i7 (6th, 7th gen).
..you noted Shuttle,. if you want to have some fun/speed in a small form factor.. this build looked kewl!
Most powerful Mini ITX build ever?? 12 core i9, 1080Ti, mITX Time-Lapse Build - YouTube
..and two others much smaller case..amd/intel
Paul Salvador wrote:
Raymond,.. I'm just taken back that this story is still reviewed... wow.
Paul: It is known as "The Topic That Never Dies".
Why is that? Well, the fact that in 55+ years all "scientific" studies have in common that the fundamental files, 3D models, etc. are kept secret has something to do with the skepticism. More than 2,000 books have been written on the topic (granted: some contain real wacko and/or clueless material). About 75% of America do not accept the official version. Oh, there are actually two official versions.
- In 1964, Warren Commission Report: Lee, alone, 3 shots
- In 1978, House Select Committee on Assassinations : Some of the shots came from the front. The mafia was involved.
I myself find this hard to believe: The initiative that I started years ago marks the first time in which all files are Open Source. The fact that I am interested only in numbers (which anybody can check) makes a tremendous difference.
-Raymond
JFK Numbers
Here's the system that I have in mind:
https://store.us.shuttle.com/category-s/124.htm
Since I will be transporting it between home and office, the small footprint is a factor.
Important question for SolidWorks: The graphics card says "PNY" but the one certified by for SW is Nvidia. Is that a concern?
TIA
-Raymond
JFK Numbers
Why not just get this Dell Official Outlet Refurbished Laptops, Desktops, Servers & Monitors ? A laptop can be plugged into a monitor, keyboard and mouse. And it is much more portable. It comes with a better video card, too.
If you "need" Solidworks then you "need" to get an appropriate machine to run it on.
Steve C
Steve Calvert wrote:
If you "need" Solidworks then you "need" to get an appropriate machine to run it on.
Steve C
Great advice.
Something like this will only set you back $700 and should run SW just fine:
Dell Official Outlet Refurbished Laptops, Desktops, Servers & Monitors
Matt Peneguy wrote:
Steve Calvert wrote:
If you "need" Solidworks then you "need" to get an appropriate machine to run it on.
Steve C
Great advice.
Something like this will only set you back $700 and should run SW just fine:
Dell Official Outlet Refurbished Laptops, Desktops, Servers & Monitors
Raymond Herrera - I ran SOLIDWORKS on a Shuttle XPC over a decade ago, BUT it had an ATI Fire GL Pro video card and a lot of RAM. - I bought it used, so I got a pretty good deal on it. (I wasn't doing a lot on it, just small stuff here and there.)
With that said, EVERY computer that I have used for serious SOLIDWORKS use has come from the Dell refurbished site that Matt Peneguy shared (A desktop, and a few laptops over the years - M65, M90, M6300, M4500, M5510)
My best advice is to figure out roughly what you want, and are willing to spend first.
Then just check the refurbished site on a regular basis, and when you see something that is close, jump on it!
Steve Calvert wrote:
If you "need" SolidWorks then you "need" to get an appropriate machine to run it on.
Steve C
I am sold, Steve. During the last few months, after spending long minutes and hours of painful, unbearable wait, I am ready to make an investment larger that initially estimated. But I have decided to carefully investigate the issue with expert users.
It seems that in price/performance the Shuttle XPC cubes have few rivals. I am looking these models:
https://store.us.shuttle.com/category-s/124.htm
And am trying to decide to what to add:
- a faster CPU?
- a faster GPU?
- extra RAM?
- larger SSD?
-Raymond
JFK Numbers
Not necessarily. What does he plan on doing? Small assemblies and simple parts, no need for a behemoth computer.
Dan Golthing wrote:
Not necessarily. What does he plan on doing? Small assemblies and simple parts, no need for a behemoth computer.
Hi Dan: I am planning to fill a 7-story building, with very detailed models. The Coca-Cola vending machine has a side metal plaque with the model (wrong one, for now: the machine in the TSBD could hold 102 bottles, not 78) and serial number (sorry, cannot find the real one :-)
https://sketchfab.com/models/f2d31eb0ddac4d21944df7dcc4af6d28
Additionally, a couple streets and cars and motorcycles, plus 6 very accurate life-like characters (the 6 occupants in the limo). See something similar here:
http://www.vistaramic.com/pano/examp/kennedy/ken1.html
Fellow posters here and elsewhere have suggested game type of infrastructure, but this model will have laser 1/8" accuracy and the first thing that gamers discard is the precision. Just to give you an idea of the extent x precision (= huge number of polygons), take a look at two of the models below.
My goal is to design everything under Windows, using volunteer designers or hired guns (Freelancers) and when it is done, upload the product to a behemoth Linux server (my real specialty) or server farm, with scenes broken by floor. Time and technology are on my side.
-Ramon
JFK Numbers
So SketchUp won't work for you? Many models may already be available.
Look into Dell, they have sales all the time.
First, how much $ do you have for a computer?
You want a desktop or laptop?
My Dell E7240 can get thing done. It'll take a long time to do simulation.
What do you need to do with Solidworks?
Frederick Law wrote:
Look into Dell, they have sales all the time.
First, how much $ do you have for a computer?
You want a desktop or laptop?
My Dell E7240 can get things done. It'll take a long time to do simulation.
What do you need to do with SolidWorks?
Frederick:
I have been using and prescribing Dell for as long as I can remember, for several clients and employers. Corporate servers and desktops, sometimes leased. In laptops, I prefer Lenovo.
However, this computer will be:
• Dedicated to 3D work, static models (SolidWorks, 3ds Max, Rhino, SketchUp, etc.) and interactive video (Unreal Engine or Unity)
• Out of my not-to-deep pockets
• Definitely a desktop (my laptop -a $1600 Lenovo- ran out of gas, its 1TB disk gone, filled)
When I began I had something like $500 in mind, now I am thinking the some $2K will be required for what I need.
What do I do? During my learning curve, I hire designers in Freelancer and they make this kind of contraptions for me:
https://sketchfab.com/models/f2d31eb0ddac4d21944df7dcc4af6d28
http://www.dealey-plaza.org/this-government-as-promised/floor-2-lunch-room/
I would like to have more/all those models ported to or originally designed under SolidWorks.
The plan is to have eventually all the models in my own web server.
-Ramon
JFK Numbers
"SolidWorks, 3ds Max, Rhino, SketchUp"
These do not talk well to one another. For instance, it's nearly impossible to pull SketchUp into solidworks (unless something has changed recently).
Dan Golthing wrote:
"SolidWorks, 3ds Max, Rhino, SketchUp"
These do not talk well to one another. For instance, it's nearly impossible to pull SketchUp into SolidWorks (unless something has changed recently).
Dan: See attached tables. Since I don't have SolidWorks, its 2 columns remain unfulfilled (need help filling them). However, SketchUp can export:
• Collada (*.dae)
• Filmbox
• STL
Doesn't SolidWorks read any of those?
TIA
-Ramon
JFK Numbers
I got a used Dell Precision T3600 on eBay for under $400 and it included 16GB of RAM and a Quadro K2200. That was like 2 years ago, should be even cheaper now. You'll need to comb through to find a great deal, but it will be time well spent.
Raymond, the real question is what you plan on doing with Solidworks. that will drive the performance of computer you need.
also, do you need SolidWorks? Onshape runs on the cloud, so your computer doesn't so much matter. An interesting concept from the makers of Solidworks that has mixed pros and cons. also they are on a monthly subscription so if you don't need it for a month, no need to pay.
I think solidworks is working on a cloud version as well???
This thread continues here:
Penny Pinching buyer decides to become Bullet Biting user
-Ramon
JFK Numbers
Hi Raymond,
You're determined to get a shuttle?
If you're on a budget there are some good secondhand systems about. Really depends on how you plan on using SW.
You really don't want to be using integrated graphics. There's plenty of debate to whether you need a professional grade card or whether you can use a gaming card. Again that'll depend on how you plan on using SW.