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eDrawings for iPad: ready for prime-time? About to invest in four iPads for machine assemblers to use...

Question asked by Scott Miller on Nov 28, 2012
Latest reply on Aug 29, 2013 by James Pare

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I've been using pro on an iPad2 16G with some small machine assembling, works well. Assemblers don't have to find the engineer and ask a bunch of questions, that saves a lot of time and money. I do get an "out of memory" warning occasionally, and occasionally the program just quits. I'm not able to open files over 20MB, that presents a problem with larger and more complex machines. I now have authorization to buy four new iPads and load them up with eDrawings Pro, but I don't want this to blow up on me. Does eDrawings run better on iPad3? Is there a limit to how large an assembly will work with this?

This is an excellent app, I think a lot of shops are going to want this on their machining and assembly floors, but I don't want to get ahead of the developers with my investment dollars.

Thanks,

Scott Miller

Project Manager

Tric Tool

Holland, MI

scott@trictool.com

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Vajrang Parvate Nov 28, 2012 4:28 PM
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Hi Scott,

The 4th generation iPad (current 10" model with retina screen) has 1 GB of RAM, while the iPad2 and iPad mini have half that. So you can expect the iPad4 to open larger assemblies than the iPad2.

Another thing you may want to consider: there are several new Windows 8-based devices in the tablet form factor on the market now (e.g. Acer Iconia W700, Dell XPS 12, Lenovo Thinkpad Tablet, etc.) that come with 4 GB or more of RAM. These are capable of running the "full" Windows eDrawings. So if it's model complexity you are most concerned about, I suggest taking a look at these also.

Hope this helps,

Vajrang.
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- Scott Miller @ Vajrang Parvate on Nov 28, 2012 5:13 PM
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  Thanks Vajrang. The iPad is our preference, build quality is outstanding, but if you expect performance will still be limited by the RAM I'll look at Windows tablets. I really want the touch-screen capabilities for our assemblers, no mouse or trackball, will we have that on a Windows tablet running standard eDrawings?
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  - Jeremiah Feist @ Scott Miller on Nov 28, 2012 5:51 PM
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    it would be interesting to see how regular Edrawings runs on a touchscreen, but the new tablets (running windows 8) are supposed to be all touchy
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    - Jerry Brian @ Jeremiah Feist on Nov 28, 2012 6:05 PM
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      Suggest buy 1 not 4 and try it on large assemblies first.
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  - Vajrang Parvate @ Scott Miller on Nov 29, 2012 7:51 AM
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    Hi Scott,
    
    There is no mouse/trackball needed on the Win8 tablets either. You can drive eDrawings with just your fingers. However, the touch capabilities on the iPad app are currently slightly better on the iPad app. For example, there's no RMB style context menu on the iPad app.
    
    As Jerry Brian suggested, try 1 (of each) and see how it performs for the kinds of assemblies you have.
    
    As a side bar: the Win8 tablets are capable of running SolidWorks, 3DVIA composer, EPDM, etc. - something you can't do on an iPad.
    
    BTW, I'm curious to know how either of them perform in the harsher environment in the shop floors. Neither the iPads nor the Win8 tablets are particularly rugged pieces of equipment..
    
    Vajrang.
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    - Jerry Brian @ Vajrang Parvate on Nov 29, 2012 10:56 AM
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      Send me your "large" edrawings assembly. ( ______.EASM ) and I will check if it will open, and I can rotate it smoothly.
      
      I have an IPAD 3
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    - Scott Miller @ Vajrang Parvate on Dec 1, 2012 11:38 AM
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      I tried an iPad4, surprisingly it is no faster in manipulating an assembly than the iPad2. It opened assemblies bigger than 20MB that didn't open on iPad2, I didn't explore how big I could open. The iPad4 is going back to Best Buy, I have some Windows tablets that are available for testing next. I'll make sure they are Windows 8, since it sounds like eDrawings does take advantage of the touch screen, that is a big plus for the shop floor, thanks Varang.
      
      As far as rugged, the Lifeproof case should be excellent protection for an iPad. The guys in a modern shop are used to handling plenty of delicate equipment at the shop and at home, but things happen. Each assembler has a cart for laying parts and tools on while working, I may fab some kind of mount or rest to hold the tablets so they aren't balancing them on top of stuff.
      
      One thing that would be really handy on the iPad app is the ability to type in a part number and see it highlighted or isolated on the assembly, as in Solidworks. (Maybe have it blinking green but not isolated?) That comes in handy quite often in the design phase, would be extremely useful in later phases.
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      - Paul Cullen @ Scott Miller on Dec 1, 2012 4:00 PM
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        Hi Scott
        
        Make sure that the windows tablets that you are going to try are not using windows 8 RT as edrawings , solidworks etc will not run on these. The other thing to consider is the price you might have to pay to get edrawings professional. I know here in Ireland I was quoted around €500 for a professional licence to run on windows, where as the professional app for ipad is arround €20.00 as far as I know.
        
        I don't have an ipad and have not used edrawings on one, or on any other tablet. Best of luck with finding a tablet that works for you, I am very interested to hear how you get on.
        
        Paul
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        Scott Miller @ Paul Cullen on Dec 1, 2012 5:57 PM
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        Thanks Paul, I just looked at my first Windows tablets, and they are running RT. The saleman assured me they would run any Windows compatible program. I figured I'd better check that out. We have seats of eDrawings pro with our Solidworks seats, I'll have to check how many, good idea to make sure I have enough. The ability to measure is important for the assemblers.
        
        Another possibility is to have a central computer or two the assemblers can walk to when they need more information. A touch-screen would still be a good idea there. So far I've seen almost constant benefit from the iPads, not occasional. The assemblers have begun asking to borrow my iPad2, and they tend to keep it for the whole day, we're still learning what will be best.
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        Anna Wood @ Scott Miller on Dec 1, 2012 6:35 PM
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        The salesman has no idea what he is talking about. You need to get a tablet that can run full blown Windows 8 and has an Intel cpu. The RT version is for ARM based processors only. RT will only run apps that have been written for RT and can be complied to run on an ARM processor.
        
        CHeers,
        
        Anna
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        Scott Miller @ Anna Wood on Dec 1, 2012 10:50 PM
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        Thanks Anna, that quickly narrows my options to just a few pads: Microsoft Surface Pro (not out yet); Samsung Series 7 (which comes with Windows 7), and the Dell Latitude 10, which runs an Intel Atom chip. I see the Dell is on sale, I'm not a fan of Dell quality, but the price is attractive. Several other options are "coming soon", but I need to beat the taxman and order this fiscal year. Meanwhile I have more machines to build than I can possibly get done, can't spend too much time on this.
        
        The Dell: http://www.dell.com/us/business/p/latitude-10-tablet/fs
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        Anna Wood @ Scott Miller on Dec 2, 2012 3:59 AM
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        Vajrang in his first post in the thread gave you several more options for tablets.
        Another thing you may want to consider: there are several new Windows 8-based devices in the tablet form factor on the market now (e.g. Acer Iconia W700, Dell XPS 12, Lenovo Thinkpad Tablet, etc.) that come with 4 GB or more of RAM. These are capable of running the "full" Windows eDrawings. So if it's model complexity you are most concerned about, I suggest taking a look at these also.
        
        I think you have more options then you think.
        
        Cheers,
        
        Anna
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        Scott Miller @ Anna Wood on Dec 3, 2012 8:54 AM
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        Thanks Anna, I did miss that list, used a recent article about tablets that run Windows 8 Pro to figure out what was available. So far I'm finding the Dell XPS 12 and the Acer are currently available this fiscal year and running Windows 8 Pro. Looks like Michael is running the Dell XPS12, the Acer looks simpler and cheaper, comes with a lot of stuff, I might be able to sell this to the boss.
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        Scott Lyon @ Anna Wood on Jan 15, 2013 12:00 PM
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        Do they have to be the Intel ix chips or will the Intel Atom work too?
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Michael Lord Dec 2, 2012 6:33 PM
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Scott,

A little off your direct question but may be of interest.

This is the Dell XPS 12 Convertible (Windows 8) running SolidWorks and using it with touch

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kehrXbAJrSk&feature=youtu.be
http://www.dell.com/us/p/xps-12-l221x/pd

One of our young Industral Designer brought one, this was just after he installed SolidWorks
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Scott Miller Dec 13, 2012 9:22 AM
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Update: We're setting up a central desktop computer in the assembly area which will have eDrawings Viewer only, bummer, not very sexy. However, both the owner's and my iPads are spending their days out on the floor getting regular use by the assemblers, we have them tied directly into our server.
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- Chris Beckett @ Scott Miller on Apr 11, 2013 12:05 AM
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  Scott, how do you tie the iPads directly into your server? We want to do the same thing, preferably without iTunes.
  
  And can you browse for files on the network through eDrawings?
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  - James Pare @ Chris Beckett on Aug 29, 2013 9:16 AM
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    This exactly what were looking for
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