PowerSHAPE-e

[Anonymous]

Is PowerSHAPE-e no longer available?  I use it to review designs created in PowerSHAPE Standard.

[jitendra.chaudhari]

Hi @Anonymous,

Thanks for contacting Autodesk Community forum..

This have been already discussed with the development team of Autodesk PowerShape and following is the response from the development team :- 

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PowerShape –e has been discontinued and there are no plans to re-instate it.

PowerShape –e 2016 will time out in around March 2017 after that PowerShape –e will completely cease to exist. 

Users can run PowerShape 2017 in evaluation mode for a month but then have to buy a subscription. 

There is no work around customers have to buy the software now.

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Please ACCEPT AS SOLUTION if my post fully resolves your issue.. 

Thanks and Regards,

[clinton.perry]

Thanks Jitendra,

I can confirm that PowerShape -E (version 2016) will be discontinued during 2017.

While PowerShape -E (2016) continues to work for the majority of our customers, we are aware of a small number of users who are experiencing difficulties starting the software. 

I am happy to announce that a solution is available for any affected user(s).

Please contact your local Autodesk sales representative or technical support teams for further advice.

Kind regards,

[joao.moreira]

I believe that there is a wide set of clients around the globe that use PowerShape-e as a viewer to second all work done with Powershape.

This is a sad new and we'll be largely penalized with this, long time Delcam Products costumer.

[clinton.perry]

Hi @joao.moreira,

Thanks for your comments.

You should note that service pack 6 of PowerShape 2017 includes the ability to open .emodel files (and save them as .psmodel files). I appreciate this doesn't replace a free viewer but it does mean existing users are able to access any legacy models created with PowerShape -E. 

For your information, PowerShape -E will officially cease on 26^th July 2017. While Autodesk has no plans to extend the expiry date, there are alternative solutions available. We recommend the following:-

• Educational users of PowerShape –E can now benefit from free access to Autodesk software (click here).
• Commercial users of PowerShape –E, wishing to view/annotate 3D CAD models free of charge can use one of Autodesk’s free viewers (such as A360) to import and annotate their 3D CAD models.
  • Note A360 requires a web connection to function.

Thanks and best regards,

[Anonymous]

Clinton,

How are any of these options a viable substitute for PSe?  A commercial business cannot use the educational access.  A360 doesn't even come close to PSe.  All that A360 allows you to do is view and place notes on the file.  It doesn't even allow you to actually measure the part or inspect the part at all.  The only real option you are providing is for us to purchase seats of powershape standard to replace our PSe.

Nick

[joao.moreira]

Hi,

Like Clinton, we tested A360 and it is good to view CAD files and do some kind of annotations, but to limited to replace PSe.

Cons:

1. Just a simple CAD viewer

2. Needs internet access to work

3. Files need to be uploaded

4. No measurement tools available

5. very limited analysis tools available (simple dynamic sections)

Even PS-Exchange interface is more powerful than A360.

[clinton.perry]

Following on from earlier posts, we're pleased to announce that A360 now supports the viewing of .psmodel and .emodel files. We are actively working on supporting other, former-Delcam, file formats including:-

• DGK
• DMT
• DDX
• DDZ

We hope to add these file formats shortly.

You can find out more information on A360 here. 

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Clinton,
The fact that A360 now supports these formats still does not solve my issue. A360 is strictly a view and a place to collaborate about a design. The problem is that A360 does not allow you to interrogate a model and actually get dimensions off of the geometry. Looking at models does not help manufacturing companies that are trying to reduce printing by having their employees review the models and make the product from the geometry they have been provided.

Nick Scherer

[clinton.perry]

Nick,

Thanks for the response although I believe A360 does provide some measuring/dimensioning capabilities. Not sure if this is relevant or not but the A360 interface varies depending on whether you're using the mobile or desktop version. Features like dynamic cross-sectioning and dimension creation are accessed from within the desktop/browser version but (I believe) are not offered in the mobile version (at least based on my own personal experiments). 

If it helps, I can try to create a short video that shows the dimensioning/sectioning in action?

Thanks 

[Anonymous]

Clinton,

Yes, a video may be helpful in demonstrating this to my other users. Thanks.

Nick Scherer

[clinton.perry]

Here's a static image that shows the dimensioning of a .psmodel file inside A360. I'll try to provide a video showing how this was created asap.

While A360 provides some viewing, dimensioning and analytical tools, I'm the first to admit that it does not include every single feature provided by PowerShape (or PowerShape -E). I'm working with the teams responsible for A360 and am hopeful that we will be able to add some of the most useful features from PowerShape (and PowerShape E) in future releases. Unfortunately I'm unable to confirm what features or the likely timescales. 

What I can say is that we're already working on adding functions to A360 that weren't included in PowerShape -E. 

Thanks for your continued support and feedback.