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| Posted: Fri Mar 6th, 2020 01:04 am |
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1st Post |
Almostretired
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| Joined: | Thu Feb 6th, 2020 |
| Location: | Illinois USA |
| Posts: | 43 |
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I was just reading thru Claus60's thread on his amazing build of a tabletop CNC mill.
I am posting here, because while there I saw laments about the cost of SolidWorks.
I would like to share an opportunity for anyone to get SolidWorks at an affordable cost.
I am a long-term member of EAA, the Experimental Aircraft Association,
and just a couple years ago SolidWorks started offering a personal use copy,
actually the student version, to EAA members for free.
Yes, FREE !
EAA memberships start at $40/year.
See eaa.org
EAA has many available online tutorials for beginning SW users, as well a SW forum.
Read more about it here:
https://www.eaa.org/eaa/eaa-membership/eaa-member-benefits/builder-resources/solidworks-resource-center
The fine print:
You need space on your computer to download it,
as well as a powerful enough processor and a robust graphics card,
as this version of SW resides on your home machine.
It's a resource hog, but it's amazing what it can do once you get to know it.
SW student version has no hold-backs, it's the full blown version,
but like all student copies of SW, it times out after exactly 12 months.
So you need to renew your EAA membership.
Additionally, all drawings produced, will be tattooed with "for student use only".
Another place to get SW might be your local community college.
Several years back I took an evening SW course at my community college,
and was given the student version for free (after tuition, of course),
along with access to an incredible instructor.
And, FWIW, in the state I live in,
tuition and fees are halved, once you break the 3 score year barrier.
Hope this helps someone sitting on the fence about the cost of really good 3D-software.
Mark
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Mark from Illinois
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| Posted: Thu Apr 23rd, 2020 10:32 pm |
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2nd Post |
Steve P
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| Joined: | Fri Apr 20th, 2018 |
| Location: | Colorado USA |
| Posts: | 179 |
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Hi,
I have been using FreeCAD,
for making parts I use in the LCC 3D prototypes I am creating.
As the name implies its FREE of cost.
Another advantage is that it is somewhat capable of interaction with kiCAD,
a great electronics/PCB software suite.
I just purchased a 3D-printer and will be starting a new thread on it,
just not sure where the appropriate forum would be...
Steve
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Steve
Beaver Lode Railway
https://evvette.net/trains/
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| Posted: Sat Aug 1st, 2020 03:45 pm |
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3rd Post |
bobquincy
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| Joined: | Sun Jan 27th, 2013 |
| Location: | Florida USA |
| Posts: | 328 |
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I design with an old version of ProEngineer,
afaik SolidWorks is similar in the way it functions (parametric design).
A new version of SolidWorks for $40/year seems like a great deal!
I do not have an airplane in my plans but have been into Corvairs for years,
and know a couple folks that are using Corvair engines in their planes,
maybe that (and $40) is a close enough link with EAA.
boB
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Monorail modelers have a one track mind.
http://monorail.suzieandbob.com/
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| Posted: Sat Aug 1st, 2020 08:50 pm |
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4th Post |
bobquincy
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| Joined: | Sun Jan 27th, 2013 |
| Location: | Florida USA |
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Followup: joined EAA; downloaded SolidWorks.
Installed (Win 10; i5 with Intel graphics); it works!
Thanks for the great tip!
boB
Add: its nice to have a good CAD program to help design complex parts and assemblies.
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Monorail modelers have a one track mind.
http://monorail.suzieandbob.com/
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| Posted: Sat Aug 1st, 2020 09:52 pm |
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5th Post |
John Teall
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| Joined: | Sat Aug 1st, 2020 |
| Location: | Reno, Nevada USA |
| Posts: | 16 |
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i've been using blender for a couple of decades now.
its actually free, but you need a graphics chip i don't have,
to run the 2.8 and newer versions.
this is an illustration rather then drafting program,
that also does animation and pretty much the kitchen sink,
you can work to actual dimensions, but it is metric based.
also forgot to say blender.org is where to find it.
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themnax
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