Creo 1.0 provided nine integrated purpose-built tools that enabled a much broader design contribution across the enterprise. Creo 2.0 takes another leap forward by delivering user interface enhancements that double design productivity for Pro/ENGINEER users, apps that substantially improve the conceptual design process, and a new role-specific app supporting modular product assembly.
User interface advancements. The large numbers of Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire 5.0 users, or those on earlier versions can achieve dramatic productivity improvements with the Creo ribbon user interface which makes it easier and quicker to find functions and reduces the number of clicks required to accomplish any task. The ribbon user interface logically categorizes functions on tabs according to the tasks they are associated with.
One of the coolest capabilities is Freestyle, included in Creo Parametric, listen to Paul Sagar, Product Management director, explain.
Head-to-head comparisons for eight of the most common CAD activities show that design productivity is doubled with the Creo 2.0 interface compared to Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire 5.0. Specifically, 3D annotation is 50 percent faster and measuring time is reduced by 80 percent, along with many other time efficiency improvements.
“Users find Creo Parametric easier to use than Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire 5.0 by a long shot,” says Damián Castillo, CAD & administration manager at Hensley Industries. “Especially the reworked workflows in common areas like sketching, part modeling, assembly modeling, sheet metal, and drawing – it’s really increased design productivity.”
Improving the conceptual design process. Creo 2.0 also delivers substantial improvements in conceptual modeling, the earliest phase of the product development process where critical decisions are made that determine product performance and cost with respect to competitors.
Creo Direct, introduced with Creo 1.0, enables users who are not experienced with parametric modeling constraints to create a model or change an existing model and move models back and forth between Creo Direct and Creo Parametric. With the Creo 2.0 release, Creo Direct can be used to create and edit assemblies rather than just individual components.
Many users prefer to work in 2D during the conceptual design phase. For example, when designing turbines and other rotary machinery, the third dimension may add unnecessary complications during the conceptual design phase because most designers prefer to work with a 2D profile at this stage. Creo Layout enables users to quickly create detailed 2D design concepts and easily make large unforeseen changes to the model without having to worry about parametric constraints.
Users can import a variety of 2D CAD file types, sketch and modify 2D geometry, organize information with groups, tags and structure, and add dimensions, notes and tables. Within the 2D environment, you can quickly explore design alternatives and migrate a concept to 3D when ready. You can create the 2D design as the basis for a 3D model, then continue to work in 2D after the 3D model has been created. Any changes made in 2D are reflected in 3D after regeneration.
Creo Sketch, which was previously introduced on the PC with Creo 1.0, is now available on the Mac platform with Creo 2.0. Creo Sketch is a freehand drawing tool that can produce line drawings and bitmapped art that can be easily transferred to Creo as 2D geometry and used as the basis for design geometry.
Modular product assembly. Finally, Creo 2.0 introduces Creo Options Modeler, a new role-specific app that enables users to create or validate modular product assemblies in 3D in the early stages of the design cycle. For example, each different style of bicycle frame interacts with the other parts in the assembly in a common manner. The seat tube connects to the rear junction of the frame, the seat attaches to the seat tube, etc.
Normally, a manual process that can take a considerable amount of time is required to position all the different parts to each bike frame. Creo Options Modeler can save huge amounts of time by enabling the designer to define general rules to assemble each module and then automatically assembling each assembly based on these rules.
As a member of the Creo product family, Creo Options Modeler seamlessly leverages and shares data with other Creo apps and with other people involved in the design process, generating dramatic improvements in detailed design and downstream process productivity.
Creo Options Modeler also contributes to the AnyBOM Assembly Technology vision which will give teams the power and scalability to create, validate and reuse information for modular product architectures.
Creo 2.0 provides major improvements in design productivity across the board while offering important new capabilities for conceptual design and modular product assembly.
