Picked up a new CAD (for me) application. One of the industry major players. Called SolidWorks.
It has been pure unobtainium for me because of it’s professional use high cost. Recently I discovered they offered a “maker” subscription for non-commercial use.
Most high-end CAD systems are doing that to attract potential high paying customers. Get the hobby maker-hackers to use it and if they go “big time” they will become a paying customer with a system they already know.
With SolidWorks, it’s not free but a very reasonable price. I signed up for a year for $50. However, less than a week later I noticed the price was reduced to $40/Year. Don’t know why but not going to quibble over $10. It may have been a temporary special… whatever.
SolidWorks is very similar to another CAD called OnShape. I feel that OnShape is actually much easier to use. It is also FREE for non-commercial use.
I picked SolidWorks for now because I want the user experience with a major player brand name.
No intent to get into operational differences in this post. I am not selling the product, just giving it a run for my money.
SolidWorks is intended primairly for the MS Windows OS computer systems. The core of the application installs on the local computer. But it uses a web browser and LAN connection for file sharing and “TEAM” communication in a front end web application named 3DExperience
All professional CAD programs are geared for big industry where dozens of CAD designers work together on the same project. Totally unnecessary for the type of CAD design I need. But one must bear this “team-think” communication burden when using a professional grade CAD.
It can be ignored, but 3DExperience is there shouting in my face. Ha!
With my initial install and testing, I thought SolidWorks and 3DExperience was awful. My favorite web browser is FireFox. SolidWorks does not “get along” with FireFox in any way. Way slow and choppy performance.
Began experimenting with Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge. These browsers offer a useable interface. My Intel NUC computer and UHD video are adequate performers but not outstanding. I am sure SolidWorks and 3DExperience would really sing with a true “workstation” PC and decent Video hardware.
The Intel NUC works for me and my non-professional performance and designing needs.
I don’t recommend SolidWorks for the first time venture into CAD 3D design. Even for me there was a "challenging" initial learning curve. All basic CAD methods are similar but executed in very different procedures. It's this difference that sets one CAD from the other.
There is a huge amount of getting started - written and video training embedded in the 3DExperience. But it is almost all about collaboration and project management.
What seems to be missing is the basic “how to use the drawing tools” kind of basic training. It certainly exists somewhere. Newbies will have to look for it. There are a great many informational links in 3DExperience.
Take a look for yourself. For me SolidWorks offered a reasonable cost introduction into a high visibility professional CAD system. I am always open to new processes in design tools.
But honestly, SolidWorks and 3DExperience are far from the top of my preferred CAD list for a single user hobbyist.