KeyCreator

User for over 20 years!

Vorteile:

I have been making models and prototypes for over 35 years and have been using KeyCreator for over 20 years, starting with CadKey. I receive files from my clients who use a wide variety of CAD programs and I seldom have issues with translation. When I do, KeyCreator technical support will help me figure out the issue promptly. I have seen the program make leaps and bounds in ease of use over the years, from editing poor quality imported files to creating our own complex files. The Dynamic move and face handles are awesome and are used constantly in my work.

Nachteile:

We do tons of 3D printing, which requires working with stl files. Importing and editing stl files is not a strong suit for KeyCreator, but exporting them for printing works perfectly well. Though the initial cost of KC is comparatively low, the annual maintenance is a bit frustrating, but I guess that is the cost of program up keep.

Key Creator is the CAD you want

Kommentare: I really love this program I am retired now by keep my maintenance fees up. Getting help, the few times I've needed has always been fast and easy at no cost (maintenance feed is up to date) these guys are [SENSITIVE CONTENT] on the spot!!! I've never had to wait for help.

Vorteile:

First: I've been using Kubotek KeyCreator since it was CadKey, at least 20 years ago. I am self taught and I am pretty good. The big thing with Keycreator is it is easily self taught. it has been button driven since it was Cadkey. It is set up by Mechanical engineers (I think) NOT ARCUTECTS or civil engineers. Dimensioning parts is pretty much like a machinist would do it. There is and never was a need to type in commands. I personally believe a new to CAD person could sit down and teach themselves this program is 3-4 days (8 hours per day). A day of "teaching" where to look and getting the proper mind set would definitely help but is not necessarily needed.

Nachteile:

No one has heard of it!! :) :) I usually make a solids and then burst various views after importing. This seems to save "space" and keep the file size down. it is a pain if changes must be made do the original solids since I have to change the 2D drawings of parts manually or just import can create new 2D drawings (again bursting the part views. No biggie however.

Legacy Tool LLC

Kommentare: I do much of my modeling with KeyCreator and have for decades even back to Cadkey Dos. Most recently, it seems like KeyCreator has been maintaining translator for other cad systems but really not developing its own features and new technology to compete. It makes me wonder what are the goals at KC going forward?

Vorteile:

Ease of use is a big plus. The functions aren't buried under sub menu after sub menu after pull down like other systems however I do notice other systems are getting better with that now. KC Direct modeling makes modeling quite quick.

Nachteile:

Drawing layouts are not very robust and the rendering and associativity never gets fixed from one release or Service pack to another. the drawing layout is what communicates the model to the manufacturing department and if it isn't trustworthy, everyone involved is on edge. many times the system won't show me geometry and the only way I can get it back is to save as a junk file to be safe and then re-open the file and it shows up. The system is a bit quirky that way in model space but I find that Drawing layout has even more of these quirks I need to work around. If I move a detail from one level to another generally it means my layout is messed up from there on. I find I have to be very intentional about having every detail and sub level established ahead of making layouts or its a bunch of work to get the layouts back in order. Associativity is lost in those instances as well. some functions and trims I would like to do on solids either won't work, or corrupt my solid.

Easy to use for such a full featured package

Kommentare: Support has always been top notch with response times typically of a day or two at most and correspondence from point of contact is exceptional. The software has never failed to produce our designs no matter how complex the job.
The software is a complex and complete 3D package with rendering and even animation capabilities and yet has one of the shortest learning curves to be proficient with that I've ever seen. We can train new users in just a few days and they are designing on their own in no time.
Software updates have their occasional bugs and visual anomalies which I assume is from the smaller install base and therefore low number of testers available compared to some of the others.

Vorteile:

Ease of use Short learning curve Large translator base built in Can easily modify features of an imported (from another software package) solid model All the features you would expect and more

Nachteile:

Minor bugs typically make their way into new versions (wait until the patch to update)

Ones view of Key Creator

Kommentare: We make parts both little, 0.125", and large, 15", it depends on the size of the printer. We have do some outdoor fountains and large power distribution systems.

Vorteile:

3D cad drawing, exporting to 3D printing Software, Customers that ask for other formats, web sites that have 34D Cad drawing on site.

Nachteile:

being able to remote work without signing off on main computer