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I think Solidworks is a better bet for numerous reasons: 1) The interface seems to be simpler, especially when making things a little bit more complex 2) Grea

by pen2l 7y ago

I think Solidworks is a better bet for numerous reasons: 1) The interface seems to be simpler, especially when making things a little bit more complex 2) Greater amount of CAD models already available in this format 3) Greater amount of resources and tutorials

nickthegreek 7y ago
I believe Fusion360 is free if you are making less than $100k/yr on it. And the skills are transferable to Solidworks if you continue with CAD.
- ur-whale 7y ago
  It may be free, but it's still proprietary
StavrosK 7y ago
You think? I could never figure out how to do anything in SolidWorks, whereas I could just pick up Fusion and create. Fusion's interface seemed much more intuitive to me, and I had zero experience with CAD before. Plus, it's free. Nowadays I use OnShape because it's decent and the only thing that works on Linux. I do miss some of the more advanced features, though (e.g. simulation, or variables).
bradknowles 7y ago
SolidWorks is $5000/seat, right? At least, for the non-Student version? And the Student version is only available to people with a valid current student ID, and saves files in a format that is intentionally incompatible with the normal version?
- serf 7y ago
  not a solution, but their entrepreneurial pack will set you up with a year long seat on just about whatever software they offer for free.
- Gracana 7y ago
  Student files are not incompatible, but as soon as a student licensed copy touches a part or assembly, it becomes "tainted" (such that it says "student edition" in the corner or something). I worked at a university-based company where we had a bunch of student licenses and a couple pro licenses, and we had to be very careful about separating the files and making sure that the student edition never touched our professional files.
ChickeNES 7y ago
I'd disagree with 2 and 3, at least at the hobbyist level. Fusion can import STEP files, which at least in my experience are far more common that SolidWorks files. And there's a huge number of Fusion tutorials and videos online, not to mention that Autodesk has a large selection of howto videos on their website.
justinclift 7y ago
Organic modeling in Solidworks seems to be extremely difficult. That being said, the Power Surfacing plugin has a good reputation: https://www.npowersoftware.com/NewPowerSurfacingOverview.html https://www.npowersoftware.com/NewPowerSurfacingOverview.htm... Skilled operators can likely work near-magic anyway, given sufficient time. ;)

by pen2l 7y ago

nickthegreek 7y ago

I believe Fusion360 is free if you are making less than $100k/yr on it. And the skills are transferable to Solidworks if you continue with CAD.

ur-whale 7y ago
It may be free, but it's still proprietary

StavrosK 7y ago

You think? I could never figure out how to do anything in SolidWorks, whereas I could just pick up Fusion and create. Fusion's interface seemed much more intuitive to me, and I had zero experience with CAD before. Plus, it's free. Nowadays I use OnShape because it's decent and the only thing that works on Linux. I do miss some of the more advanced features, though (e.g. simulation, or variables).

bradknowles 7y ago

SolidWorks is $5000/seat, right? At least, for the non-Student version? And the Student version is only available to people with a valid current student ID, and saves files in a format that is intentionally incompatible with the normal version?

serf 7y ago
not a solution, but their entrepreneurial pack will set you up with a year long seat on just about whatever software they offer for free.
Gracana 7y ago
Student files are not incompatible, but as soon as a student licensed copy touches a part or assembly, it becomes "tainted" (such that it says "student edition" in the corner or something). I worked at a university-based company where we had a bunch of student licenses and a couple pro licenses, and we had to be very careful about separating the files and making sure that the student edition never touched our professional files.

ChickeNES 7y ago

I'd disagree with 2 and 3, at least at the hobbyist level. Fusion can import STEP files, which at least in my experience are far more common that SolidWorks files. And there's a huge number of Fusion tutorials and videos online, not to mention that Autodesk has a large selection of howto videos on their website.

justinclift 7y ago

Organic modeling in Solidworks seems to be extremely difficult. That being said, the Power Surfacing plugin has a good reputation: https://www.npowersoftware.com/NewPowerSurfacingOverview.html https://www.npowersoftware.com/NewPowerSurfacingOverview.htm... Skilled operators can likely work near-magic anyway, given sufficient time. ;)