Mr_Asa
Mr_Asa MegaDork
7/22/24 9:21 p.m.

I see Titans of CNC has a link that lets you get to it, but do I have to sign up to ToCNC or something?  Just pay, download SW, and go about my business?

https://titansofcnc.com/pages/resources

 

Are there other, better options? (please note, Maker License or the 3DExperience is not a better option, berk the cloud, berk always-online.)

spandak
spandak Dork
7/22/24 9:39 p.m.

Does fusion360 still have a hobby license?

No Time
No Time UberDork
7/22/24 9:40 p.m.

Are you looking to learn, or create parts for 3d printing?

I don't know about current versions, but some of education versions used to restrict export of files. 

prodarwin
prodarwin MegaDork
7/22/24 9:46 p.m.
Mr_Asa said:

Are there other, better options? (please note, Maker License or the 3DExperience is not a better option, berk the cloud, berk always-online.)

https://resources.sw.siemens.com/en-US/download-solid-edge-community-edition

SE is a direct competitor to SW, although their market share is E36 M3.  I'm not entirely sure why, I've used them both and it certainly seems like a Honda/Toyota scenario.


I haven't messed with community edition in a long time, but based on what I've seen, it is a lot less of a dumpster fire than SW Maker License.

Still seems like most of the community is leaning toward Fusion360, but I can't quite stomach that.

Mr_Asa
Mr_Asa MegaDork
7/22/24 9:59 p.m.

I have about 10-15 years of random Solidworks files for various projects on my PC that I've been playing with.  Not interested in switching programs at this time.  Just need a SW license

Mr_Asa
Mr_Asa MegaDork
7/22/24 10:03 p.m.
No Time said:

Are you looking to learn, or create parts for 3d printing?

I don't know about current versions, but some of education versions used to restrict export of files. 

Watermark, yes.  Prevent export?  Not in the past 10-15 years I was piggybacking on my school's account.  They finally purged my name from the engineering dept last year, only took em almost half a decade since i went there. 

No Time
No Time UberDork
7/22/24 10:10 p.m.

In reply to Mr_Asa :

In my mind I taught myself solid works about 10'years ago, but then I really think about it and it's been over 20 years. 

I'll just be over here in the corner drying my tears with the pages from my Solidworks for beginners book and looking at my reflection in the SW student edition CD-ROM trying to figure out when all my hair turned gray. 

triumph7
triumph7 Dork
7/22/24 10:19 p.m.
spandak said:

Does fusion360 still have a hobby license?

I'm pretty sure they do but it's been a while since I checked.  I signed up for it and about a week later my company signed us up on a corporate startup plan.

prodarwin
prodarwin MegaDork
7/22/24 10:41 p.m.
Mr_Asa said:

I have about 10-15 years of random Solidworks files for various projects on my PC that I've been playing with.  Not interested in switching programs at this time.  Just need a SW license

Totally understandable.  Switching is a pain (especially if you use that software day to day.  I use a many CAD softwares and my brain can't handle another).

That said, Solid Edge can open native Solidworks files, if that helps (I think many different CAD softwares can - I know NX will). 

kb58
kb58 UltraDork
7/23/24 11:30 a.m.

Since we're mentioning alternatives to SolidWorks, I have Alibre and used the many YT videos to learn about its various features. It's a one-time purchase with no license fees (though they do offer an optional annual "update fee."

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