Alias vs.

ICEM
a comparison of software tools for class A surfacing

AIF 2015 in Munich Nils Kremser - 26 FEB 2015

Alias vs. ICEM

Agenda
1

Intro

A short history of Alias & ICEM

Comparison

Summary

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Alias vs. ICEM

Introduction

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Alias vs. ICEM

1- Introduction

Why this topic?

Alias & Icem users / Half knowledge
More companies will work in mixed teams
Customer view: competition wanted!
Q: How many users here?

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Alias vs. ICEM

1- Introduction

Bio Nils Kremser

1998 2006 Alias

2006 2012 Autodesk

-

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

2013 IndustrieHansa

2015 Altran
-

(Part of the Altran group)

Design & Strak department Head CAS Modeling

AIF 2015 in Munich Nils Kremser - 26 FEB 2015

Alias vs. ICEM

1- Introduction

Bio David Poschmann

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)

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Alias vs. ICEM

1- Introduction

Altran A Global Engineering Service Provider

>1.633 Mio.
Revenue

EUROPE

AMERICAS

20+

22.000+

Countries

INNOVATION MAKERS
AUTOMOTIVE, INFRASTRUCTURE
& TRANSPORTATION

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Industries

AEROSPACE,
DEFENCE & RAILWAYS

An International Company

A Strategic Partner

ENERGY, INDUSTRY
& LIFE SCIENCES

Altran offers services

in more than 20 Countries
in Europe, Asia and America

Altran offers
customers all over the world

TELECOMS & MEDIA

ASIA

FINANCIAL SERVICES
& PUBLIC SECTOR

AIF 2015 in Munich Nils Kremser - 26 FEB 2015

Project Support

and guarantees a constant

Service Quality

1- Introduction

Altran A Global Engineering Service Provider

AUTOMOTIVE, INFRASTRUCTURE
& TRANSPORTATION

AEROSPACE, DEFENCE & RAILWAYS

ENERGY INDUSTRY & LIFE SCIENCES

TELECOMS & MEDIA

FIN. SERVICES & PUBLIC SECTOR

AIF 2015 in Munich Nils Kremser - 26 FEB 2015

Alias vs. ICEM

A short history of

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Alias vs. ICEM

2 - A short history of

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

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2007 Dassault

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

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Alias vs. ICEM

2 - A short history of

1983 founded as Alias Research, Toronto, CA

Merged with 1984 founded Wavefront Technologies, CA. USA

Collaboration with GM: integrated NURBS into software

1995 Alias | Wavefront

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Anti-Aliasing software for SGI users (1984 SIGGRAPH)

1985 Alias/1
1986 Alias/2
1990 AliasStudio

1995: acquired by Silicon Graphics (SGI), USA

Alias

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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Alias vs. ICEM

2 - A short history of

More than 30 years!

But:
Whats the status quo today?
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Alias vs. ICEM

Comparison

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Alias vs. ICEM

3 - Comparison

You can do the Class A job with both

Alias and ICEM!

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Alias vs. ICEM

3 - Comparison

Concept Design /
Styling

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Class A
(Strak)

Alias vs. ICEM

3 - Comparison

What the differences?

Alias

ICEM

Alias Surface V2015

ICEM Surf 4.12

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Alias vs. ICEM

3 - Comparison

Areas of comparison
1.

User Interface / Learning curve

2.

Typical Workflows

3.

Modeling tools

4.

Diagnostics / Evaluation

5.

Data organization

6.

Packaging

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Alias vs. ICEM

3 - Comparison

User Interface / Learning Curve

Alias

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ICEM

Alias vs. ICEM

3 - Comparison

User Interface / Learning Curve

Alias

19

ICEM

- many icons

- fewer icons, reduced UI

- UI fully customizable:

- straightforward & clearly structured

icon placement

tool options as icons

hotkeys

marking menu

save your prefs

AIF 2015 in Munich Nils Kremser - 26 FEB 2015

- UI not customizable,
(except some hotkeys)

Alias vs. ICEM

3 - Comparison

Learning Curve
ICEM

Alias

20

Number of tools &

customization can be
overwhelming
-> choose Surfacing setup!
Later: customization helps you to

speed up (less mouse kilometers)

AIF 2015 in Munich Nils Kremser - 26 FEB 2015

easier to learn
in the beginning

self-learning still difficult

(not many tutorials online)

Alias vs. ICEM

3 - Comparison

Typical Workflows: CV modification

Alias

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ICEM

Alias vs. ICEM

3 - Comparison

Typical Workflows: Ball corner

Alias

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ICEM

Alias vs. ICEM

3 - Comparison

Construction History
Alias

ICEM

vs.
Unified Modeller ?
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Alias vs. ICEM

3 - Comparison

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)

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9. Integrated high quality visualization

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Alias vs. ICEM

3 - Comparison

Modeling Tools
Alias

ICEM

95% similar tools

(with current software versions only different names and logic)

Temporary associativity
with construction history
(in almost any tool)

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Associativity only with Uniform modeler

but not seamlessly integrated and used

Even control point distribution within all

the tools (same blend factors etc.)

Alias vs. ICEM

3 - Comparison

Blend Curves
Alias

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In-direct editing / different cv distribution

AIF 2015 in Munich Nils Kremser - 26 FEB 2015

ICEM

Direct editing / same cv distribution

Alias vs. ICEM

3 - Comparison

Data organization
Alias

ICEM

- object lister intuitive

working with lists (visibility filter)

- different colours only with layers

any object can have its own colour

- show only CVs for selected objects

controls on / off only for ALL patches

- shade only selected surfaces

shading on / off only for ALL patches

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Alias vs. ICEM

3 - Comparison

What else is different?

Alias
- Unlimited undo

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!

(for transforming CV or objects)

- Mirroring / comparing a car

with layers (not as quick as Icem)

-Align: 2 versions!
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Alias vs. ICEM

3 - Comparison

Diagnostics / Evaluation Tools

Alias
- often supporting geometry

needed (e.g. angle)

- more mouse clicks needed here

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ICEM
-

checking algorithms very quick!

full check / topology

fewer mouse clicks

Alias vs. ICEM

3 - Comparison

Diagnostics / Evaluation Tools

Alias

Comparing the speed of checking!

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ICEM

Alias vs. ICEM

3 - Comparison

Packaging

Alias
Software packages:

ICEM
Modules / Licenses:

Alias Design (for ID)

Surf PROFESSIONAL

Alias Surface , Alias AutoStudio (for Class A)

Magic, Master, Scan Modelling not included

Data import / export:

wire format: up- & downward compatible

IGES, STEP, edf & Catia V5 included

Data import / export:

not downward compatible (only edf)

Visualization:

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Diagnostic Shading &

Hardware Shading included

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native formats: ICEM DB & DB (kddat)

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

Visualization:
Simple Shading included

Real-time Renderer optional (not included)

Alias vs. ICEM

Summary

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Alias vs. ICEM

4 - Summary

You can do the Class A job with both

Alias and ICEM.

Its the user!

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

4 - Summary

20 + 80
Design Experts

Strak Experts

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has experienced
teams
offering services
in CAS modeling &
Class A.

Alias vs. ICEM

Thank you!
Questions?

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Alias vs. ICEM

Sources:

Dr. Ulrich Jrgens:

New Product Development and Production Networks,
2000, Springer Verlag

Peter Bonitz:
Freiformflchen in der rechnergesttzten Karosseriekonstruktion
und im Industriedesign
2000, Springer Verlag

Michael Wendenburg
Selbstndigkeit gibt Icem neue Kraft
CAD-CAM Report 6/2002

de.wikipedia.org
en.wikipedia.org

: Alias (Unternehmen)
: ICEM Surf

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