Alias vs ICEM Aif2015 Nils Kremser

AIF 2015 in Munich – Nils Kremser - 26 FEB 2015

Alias vs. ICEM –a comparison of software tools for class A surfacing


Alias vs. ICEM

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Agenda

1 Intro

2 A short history of … Alias & ICEM

3 Comparison

4 Summary


Alias vs. ICEM

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Introduction


Alias vs. ICEM

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Why this topic?

• Alias & Icem users / « Half knowledge »

• More companies will work in «mixed» teams

• Customer view: competition wanted!

• Q: How many users here?

1- Introduction


Alias vs. ICEM

- 1998 – 2006 Alias

- 2006 – 2012 Autodesk

- Certified Trainer for all Alias courses / trained a lot of ICEM Surf users

- 2013 IndustrieHansa (Part of the Altran group)

- 2015 Altran

- “Design & Strak” department – Head CAS Modeling5

Bio Nils Kremser

1- Introduction


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- 2009-2013 Study HS Emden-Leer“Mechanical Engineering and Design”

• 2011/2012 internship at KET Munich;

• 2012 semester projects with VW and Delvis

• 2013 Bachelor thesis at VW“Associative Automotive Surfaces” Alias

2013 until present: Industriehansa / Altran:

• Class-A surfacing (projects with ICEM-Surf & Alias)

Bio David Poschmann

1- Introduction


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AMERICAS

EUROPE

ASIA

Altran – A Global Engineering Service Provider

An International Company

Altran offers services

in more than 20 Countries

in Europe, Asia and America

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Industries

AUTOMOTIVE, INFRASTRUCTURE& TRANSPORTATION

AEROSPACE,DEFENCE & RAILWAYS

ENERGY, INDUSTRY& LIFE SCIENCES

FINANCIAL SERVICES& PUBLIC SECTOR

TELECOMS & MEDIA

22.000+

INNOVATION MAKERS

>1.633 Mio. €

Revenue

A Strategic Partner

Altran offers

customers all over the world

• Project Support

and guarantees a constant

• Service Quality

20+

Countries

1- Introduction


AEROSPACE, DEFENCE & RAILWAYS

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AUTOMOTIVE, INFRASTRUCTURE

& TRANSPORTATION

FIN. SERVICES & PUBLIC SECTOR

TELECOMS & MEDIA

ENERGY INDUSTRY & LIFE SCIENCES

1- Introduction Altran – A Global Engineering Service Provider


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A short history of …


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ICEM Surf

• 1988-90: Joint venture VW – Control Data: «VW-Surf»

• ICEM Surf (ICEM = Integrated Computer-aided Engineering and Manufacturing)

1995: VW gave up further in-house development

• 1998 PTC acquired ICEM Technologies from Control data

- Revenue decrease

- Ford changed from existing CAD-System to 300x ICEM Surf 2.1

• 2002 Management-Buy-Out

- Topologies Ltd. (Mr. Lee Cureton), Indigo Capital (Private Equity)

- 2004 ICEM Style

• 2007 Dassault - ICEM Surf / CATIA Icem (ICEM Shape Design or ISD)

2 - A short history of …


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Alias

• 1983 founded as Alias Research, Toronto, CA

Anti-Aliasing software for SGI users (1984 SIGGRAPH)

1985 Alias/1 1986 Alias/2 1990 AliasStudio

• 1995: acquired by Silicon Graphics (SGI), USA

Merged with 1984 founded Wavefront Technologies, CA. USA Collaboration with GM: integrated NURBS into software

• 1995 Alias | Wavefront

1998 Maya (before PowerAnimator) 2001 Alias Surface Studio V9.5 (introducing „Direct Modeling“)

• 2003 Alias Systems

• 2006 Autodesk: Alias Design / Surface / AutoStudio



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What‘s the status quo today?

More than 30 years!

But:



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Comparison


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You can do the Class A job with both –

Alias and ICEM!

3 - Comparison


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Concept Design / Class A

Styling (Strak)

3 - Comparison


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ICEM

ICEM Surf 4.12

Alias

Alias Surface V2015

3 - Comparison

What the differences?


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Areas of comparison

1. User Interface / Learning curve

2. Typical Workflows

3. Modeling tools

4. Diagnostics / Evaluation

5. Data organization

6. Packaging

3 - Comparison


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User Interface / Learning Curve

Alias ICEM

3 - Comparison


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User Interface / Learning Curve

Alias

- many icons

- UI fully customizable:

• icon placement

• tool options as icons

• hotkeys

• marking menu

• save your prefs

ICEM

- fewer icons, “reduced” UI

- straightforward & clearly structured

- UI not customizable,

(except some hotkeys)

3 - Comparison


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Learning Curve

ICEM

• easier to learn

in the beginning

• self-learning still difficult

(not many tutorials online)

Alias

• Number of tools &

customization can be

overwhelming

-> choose “Surfacing” setup!

• Later: customization helps you to

speed up (less “mouse kilometers”)

3 - Comparison


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Typical Workflows: CV modification

Alias ICEM

3 - Comparison


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Typical Workflows: Ball corner

Alias ICEM

3 - Comparison


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Construction History

Alias ICEM

3 - Comparison

vs.

Unified Modeller ?


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Modeling Tools

1. Rich data import / export

2. Handling of sections and planes

3. Precise curve & surface creation & editing

4. Precise control point modification (xyz, normal & tangent direction etc.)

5. Exact projecting & trimming

6. Aligning / matching with any desired continuity level (G0, G1, G2, G3)

7. Exact fillets (lead in, minimum radii for meeting legal requirements, form factor etc.)

8. Realtime diagnostics (curvature plots, highlights, parting lines, inflection points, checking

minimum radii globally etc. plus automotive specific tools like head impact)

9. Integrated high quality visualization

3 - Comparison


Alias vs. ICEM

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Modeling Tools

Alias ICEM

95% similar tools

(with current software versions -

only different names and logic)

- Associativity only with Uniform modeler

but not seamlessly integrated and used

- Even control point distribution within all

the tools (same blend factors etc.)

- Temporary associativity

with construction history

(in almost any tool)

3 - Comparison


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Blend Curves

Alias ICEM

3 - Comparison

In-direct editing / different cv distribution Direct editing / same cv distribution


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Data organization

ICEM

- working with lists (visibility filter)

- any object can have its own colour

- controls on / off only for ALL patches

- shading on / off only for ALL patches

Alias

- object lister intuitive

- different colours only with layers

- show only CVs for selected objects

- shade only selected surfaces

3 - Comparison


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What else is different?

Alias

- Unlimited undo

(for transforming CV or objects)

- Mirroring / comparing a car

with layers (not as quick as Icem)

-Align: 2 versions!

ICEM

- Just one Undo but quick undo/redo

- Super-quick mirroring of a car

to compare two different variants

- Align with Undo slider (“half” assign/match)

- Align: modify both

- Align: 3 versions / variants!

3 - Comparison


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Diagnostics / Evaluation Tools

Alias

- often supporting geometry

needed (e.g. angle)

- more mouse clicks needed here

ICEM

- checking algorithms very quick!

- full check / topology

- fewer mouse clicks

3 - Comparison


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Alias ICEM

3 - Comparison

Diagnostics / Evaluation Tools

Comparing the speed of checking!


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Packaging

Software packages:

• Alias Design (for ID)

• Alias Surface , Alias AutoStudio (for Class A)

Data import / export:

• wire format: up- & downward compatible

• IGES, STEP, edf & Catia V5 included

Visualization:

• Diagnostic Shading &

Hardware Shading included

Modules / Licenses:

• Surf PROFESSIONAL

• Magic, Master, Scan Modelling … not included

Data import / export:

• native formats: ICEM DB & DB (kddat)

not downward compatible (only edf)

• IGES & Catia V5 not included in V4.12 (but V4.13!)

Visualization:

• Simple Shading included

• Real-time Renderer optional (not included)

3 - Comparison

Alias ICEM


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Summary


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You can do the Class A job with both –

Alias and ICEM.

It’s the user!

4 - Summary

We are looking forward to future competition between Alias and ICEM!


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has experienced

teams

offering services

in CAS modeling &

Class A.

4 - Summary

Design Experts Strak Experts

20 + 80


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Thank you!

Questions?


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Sources:

• Dr. Ulrich Jürgens:

«New Product Development and Production Networks»,

2000, Springer Verlag

• Peter Bonitz:

« Freiformflächen in der rechnergestützten Karosseriekonstruktion

und im Industriedesign »

2000, Springer Verlag

• Michael Wendenburg

« Selbständigkeit gibt Icem neue Kraft »

CAD-CAM Report 6/2002

• de.wikipedia.org : «Alias» (Unternehmen)

• en.wikipedia.org : «ICEM Surf»

Alias vs ICEM Aif2015 Nils Kremser

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