Posted: 5/29/2013 5:35:46 PM EDT
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Why is it so damn hard to buy this stuff?
Is there an alternative to Soildworks/Solidedge I pretty good with Rhino but I would like something that has the sheetmetal feature like SW |
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You can mess around with E-Machine shop, they have a free program you can use to do CAD design (for very basic 3-axis stuff) and the program is free. Actually gives a little experience but is compatible with CAD programs. You can then send them files and have them make stuff, but it's a little more limiting on what you can actually create. A USC-45 to UMP-45 stock block conversion I did with E-Machine shop:  And the finished product:   Unfortunately the 3D CAD/CAM programs are silly expensive because they know a lot of guys will be making the money back VERY quick.... Debating right now on buying myself a CNC or getting a full licensed copy of Solidworks and get other machine shops to make the stuff I want... |
| If you break down and buy it, don't by SolidEdge. I've used ProE, Solidworks, NX4 and SolidEdge, current program for work is Edge and I dislike it more then all the others. For the most part it can do everything the others can, but seems to take at least 50% more clicks/commands, its just not nearly as damn intuitive and smart, I'd buy Solidworks no questions asked |
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I've been on SW since late '90s... What are your reasons for alternative? Price? In most cases its an easy roi if you are actually using it to make stuff... If you are toying around, try student version.
I started out not being able to afford it, now own 2 seats of premium with a seat of HSMWorks CAM... It all depends on your intentions I suppose. |