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Solidworks?

Discussion in 'Software' started by Harry, Apr 20, 2013.

  1. Harry

    Harry Team ROBO 3D
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    Hey All. Was wondering if any of you had solidworks. Where did you buy it, and how much did it cost you? What package do you recommend me getting, and why? Thanks
     
    #1 Harry, Apr 20, 2013
  2. Printed Solid

    Printed Solid Volunteer Admin
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    Harry, the base package is about $4k without a subscription. The company sets the prices and will put you in touch with your local distributor for support. They offer additional higher level packages, but the base is going to do anything you need for 3D printing. You can get it for quite a lot less if you are a student, but the student version is a subscription that expires when you are no longer a student. If you're a student who did what I did and get their bachelors and then spent a number of years after that working on a masters part time, then the student edition will be an awesome bargain.

    I've posted this elsewhere, but I've used solidworks at work since about 2006 and used Pro/E prior to that. When it came time for me to spend the $$ for my own package, I decided to go with Alibre Pro (now called Geomagic... hope that doesn't stick). Its user interface is similar to SolidWorks and it has many of the same capabilities. Every now and then, I run into something that I have trouble with. They have a personal version that is only ~$200. I bought the professional license for $800 since I also offer design services and need more drafting and file conversion capabilities than the personal version offers.
     
    #2 Printed Solid, Apr 21, 2013
  3. Harry

    Harry Team ROBO 3D
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    What are the main differences and advantages of getting the Pro version, than the hobby version? Thanks again Printed. And do they offer mac support?
     
    #3 Harry, Apr 21, 2013
  4. Printed Solid

    Printed Solid Volunteer Admin
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    You'd have to double check their website to see the differences now. They might have changed things as part of the renaming.
    When I bought, the reasons I can recall going to the pro were that it could handle more file formats and it could create section views in drawings.
     
    #4 Printed Solid, Apr 21, 2013
  5. vertigodragon

    vertigodragon New Member

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    iirc the student version costs $100 and has solidworks premium which includes flow analysis and the whole lot of things that you would never need to use. however it requires proof that you are a student

    edit: first link i found http://www.creationengine.com/html/p.lasso?p=18467 1 year license $100
     
    #5 vertigodragon, Apr 22, 2013
  6. Printed Solid

    Printed Solid Volunteer Admin
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    Right, and you don't get to keep it after you graduate :mad:
    Odds are if you're a student looking at solidworks, you probably have access to a free license in your computer lab anyways, so the $100 is just paying for the convenience of not having to go to the lab.

    vertigo, your atx case looks pretty awesome, what program do you use?
     
    #6 Printed Solid, Apr 22, 2013
  7. vertigodragon

    vertigodragon New Member

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    ..solidworks lol
     
    #7 vertigodragon, Apr 22, 2013
  8. bradnemeth

    bradnemeth New Member

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    Thanks for the tip on "geomagic" (chuckle). I' used SW since 1997. Its a great package for professional and worth the big bucks. Hate their forced upgrade schema tho. One has to upgrade if you collaborate with suppliers running current version. EG my supplier sends me a SW parts file created in version 2013. I cant view or edit the file if Im running version 2012. I will investigate geomagic.
     
    #8 bradnemeth, May 27, 2013
    2 people like this.
  9. tesseract

    tesseract Moderator
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    does 2012 have a special file format. I have 2013 and could possibly convert it to something you have
     
    #9 tesseract, May 27, 2013
  10. Mike Kelly

    Mike Kelly Volunteer

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    We just bought Solidworks 2013 for the office. We got 2 seats of solidworks premium, normally $8000/seat, but we got it on a 20% discount by buying end of quarter.

    Reason we went with Premium was for the toolbox and routing tools.

    Also Solidworks 2013 is the first year that will allow opening future versions of Solidworks. Now 2014 and beyond should be able to open in 2013.

    If you're personal, not-for-profit, use of solidworks than the student edition should cover all your bases. Assuming you can live with "STUDENT EDITION" plastered on your drawings. Standard edition would be all you'd need for 3D printing models.
     
    #10 Mike Kelly, Jun 6, 2013
  11. Pro Laser

    Pro Laser New Member

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    Just a heads up, SolidWorks 2012 will open SolidWorks 2013 files. The 2012 SolidWorks has to be the last service pack (SP5).
     
    #11 Pro Laser, Jun 13, 2013

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