Is price really a factor in the use of 3D solid modeling software?
It’s a big inhibitor. Many people tell us they can’t afford 3D. That’s especially true for a small company. There are lots of other analogies where pricing has been important. AutoCAD Light is perhaps the largest-selling product for Autodesk. That shows a lot of people want to use CAD. 3D CAD is the last bastion of high price. SolidWorks established the mid-range price point when it first came out. Now, it’s time to establish a new price point as we have done with Alibre Design. You can do solid modeling on a $500 PC. Why should you pay more for the software? Q: What about ease of use? Isn’t that a factor in the use of 3D? A: Yes, ease of use is very important. Engineers are smart, but there are plenty who have been deterred by the learning-time barrier. It takes six months or more to become good at some software. Productivity tools like CAD need to be the kind that you can pick up quickly, put away, and pick up again later. Q: Has 3D taken hold in engineering? A: In the broad sense, i
