All MetalShaping

Go Back   All MetalShaping > General Metal Shaping Discussion > Software for Metalshaping
  Today's Posts Posts for Last 7 Days Posts for Last 14 Days  

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
  #1  
Old 09-13-2019, 10:22 AM
weldtoride weldtoride is offline
Member
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Northern Illinois
Posts: 896
Default Solidworks for $40

I previously got Solidworks software by taking an evening course in it at my local community college. The student version was free to enrolled students in the SW class, and the instructor was excellent. I took all 3 SW classes offered, so I has SW for three years, then my home copy timed out for the last time.

The student version was a full-blown edition, except for the timing out after one year. Additionally any drawings outputted were tattooed with "student version, not for commercial use". This doesn't stop a shop from water or laser cutting, however.

Now through partnership with the EAA, I learned that SW is offering the student version free of charge to any EAA member, and there are multiple SW forums, tutorials, etc available thru EAA, in addition to the student forums offered by SW.

EAA basic membership starts at $40 a year, and there are other member benefits as well. I have attended the Oshkosh event multiple times where I have sat and watched welding instructors from Lincoln and Miller, as well as many great metalworkers present workshops, including Kent White.

https://eaa.org/eaa/eaa-membership/e...esource-center

It sounded too good to be true to me at first, but yesterday I downloaded the latest version of SW and it's running again on my machine.
__________________
Mark from Illinois

Last edited by weldtoride; 09-13-2019 at 10:01 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 09-13-2019, 12:53 PM
mr.c's Avatar
mr.c mr.c is offline
Member
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: N. Florida
Posts: 698
Default

Mark: Is this a CAD only or CAD/CAM? That is, will it generate G-code.
__________________
Carey Culpepper

TuckPuck® Metal Shaping Tools
www.tuckpuck.com
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 09-13-2019, 09:42 PM
weldtoride weldtoride is offline
Member
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Northern Illinois
Posts: 896
Default

Carey,

The immediate answer to your question is above my pay grade.

I do know that SW is a CAD system. Since thousands of users do build things with it, it's just a matter of how they translate into CAM.

You can export drawings easily as dxf files: https://help.solidworks.com/2018/eng...dxf_export.htm

3D models are a different entity.

I sent an email to a nephew who designs in SW, asking what they use where he works, but a response may take a while....

Solidworks has a partnership with SolidCam:

https://www.solidworks.com/partner-product/solidcam

I do not know what the financials are regarding SolidCam and the student version of SW CAD. Whether or not it is available with the student version is a question for SW. I have downloaded additional SW free "libraries" and extras in the past from SW, but maybe this is a bigger add-on?

There are 3rd party programs, this is one that came up in a search, I cannot speak for it beyond that:

https://mecsoft.com/freemill-for-sol...in-solidworks/

I'll let you know when I hear form my nephew.

Hope that helps.
__________________
Mark from Illinois

Last edited by weldtoride; 09-13-2019 at 10:00 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 09-14-2019, 09:44 AM
Reno Reno is offline
MetalShaper of the Month May 2020. October 2023
 
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Reno, NV
Posts: 331
Default

Carey, I recently bought CamBam to use as a CAD/CAM program. It seems complicated at first, but the free download has a generous trial period and there are Utube videos that help with understanding the process.
__________________
Eugene
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 09-14-2019, 10:38 AM
billfunk29 billfunk29 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 319
Default g codes

Solidworks will not do G-code.
__________________
Bill Funk
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 09-14-2019, 12:30 PM
mr.c's Avatar
mr.c mr.c is offline
Member
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: N. Florida
Posts: 698
Default

Thank you.
I have found CAM programs to be "finicky". I test them trying to generate code for a TuckPuck. I haven't found one yet that will do that simple shallow internal taper. I wind up hand writing the code. I pull the coordinates off of my CAD drawings. Time consuming, but at least the cutter goes where I want it to go. I have seen some CAM generated files go some strange places.

The SolidWorks deal with EAA is tempting. Sometimes jumping from one cad- cad/cam program to another is harder if you are used to another product than if you were a complete newbie. Particularly for an old brain. I think that Will uses SW and Ben. Tempting. I have an old version of BobCad that I started out with,and a Yeager cad/cam that I seem to remember being DOS based, Vector 3D, an older Alibre 3D, and trying to get a handle on learning Fusion 360
__________________
Carey Culpepper

TuckPuck® Metal Shaping Tools
www.tuckpuck.com
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 09-14-2019, 01:13 PM
Reno Reno is offline
MetalShaper of the Month May 2020. October 2023
 
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Reno, NV
Posts: 331
Default

Is it a conical taper, or a dish? What is the radius?
I agree with your comment about the different CAD programs. I was a legacy Alibre purchaser, but never got very good with it, and then when they upgraded I had to learn it again.

I drew a 3" puck in Alibre, and then generated G code with Mecsoft free mill. It is an easy to use CAM program, but in the free version it cuts full depth on the first pass and no finish pass that I could find.
__________________
Eugene

Last edited by Reno; 09-14-2019 at 06:26 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 09-14-2019, 08:39 PM
weldtoride weldtoride is offline
Member
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Northern Illinois
Posts: 896
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by mr.c View Post
...Sometimes jumping from one cad- cad/cam program to another is harder if you are used to another product than if you were a complete newbie. Particularly for an old brain. ....
I hear you on the older brain. Nothing says "Mid-life crisis" like walking into a Social Security office to apply for Medicare. But I consider this brain exercise, my significant other does Sodokus and crosswords.

I learned to draft by hand on a basswood board in 1967 from a guy who drafted parts for the military for the "war to end all wars". Meanwhile my older HS classmates were being sent to the meat grinder by the thousands.. Sorry for the digression...

I was told going into SW study that it "thinks differently". I came from an older Autocad 2D background. Since 3D modeling was relatively new to me, and I was in an environment with an excellent instructor and a proven syllabus, I learned it quite comfortably. However, from what I have learned, it does "think differently" when generating a 3D model.

After my SW license timed out, I tried in vain to learn AutoDesk Fusion 360, which is a really good software with truly rave reviews. I personally was unable to make the transition from SW to the different way of thinking from the tutorials I watched. I was trying to learn at home on my computer, not in a class. I hasten to add that there are truly good tutorials out there both from Auto Desk and independents.

This was just me, your mileage may differ.
__________________
Mark from Illinois

Last edited by weldtoride; 09-14-2019 at 08:46 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 09-14-2019, 10:31 PM
mr.c's Avatar
mr.c mr.c is offline
Member
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: N. Florida
Posts: 698
Default

Mark: Do I remember that you were a shop teacher at one time? Or was that someone else.I was a shop teacher starting in 1967. The job kept me out of VN where some of my college buddies didn't come back. Occupational deferment. I still have my old wood drafting board and instruments. I was pretty good at it. Descriptive geometry was interesting challenging but fun.

Unfortunately those days are easy to remember. Today , i struggle with where did I lay down my glasses. Did I lock the shop door that I just walked away from. Getting old isn't for sissies. Learn and forget, relearn and forget, relearn and forget.

Shoot, I still have blank drafting plates from Palm Beach Junior College from 63-64.
You surely couldn't do parametric editing with a pencil and eraser. What a blessing that feature is.
__________________
Carey Culpepper

TuckPuck® Metal Shaping Tools
www.tuckpuck.com
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 11-14-2019, 03:54 PM
mr.c's Avatar
mr.c mr.c is offline
Member
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: N. Florida
Posts: 698
Default

Mark: Thanks for the "heads up" on the EAA SolidWorks deal. It is a very powerful program. I have made a couple of parts already. Steep learning curve but plenty of tutorials available. It is mind boggling what this program will do. I am sort of pecking away at it. Lots of apparent dead ends that put me in search of a tutorial.

I bought a 3d printer to make pieces parts and also patterns for aluminum castings. Fun stuff.

Guys, if you have the slightest interest or curiosity concerning 3d modeling, you need to take advantage of this opportunity. This is not a feature limited edition. This is the premium edition. FORTY BUCKS, plus you get the EAA magazine.
__________________
Carey Culpepper

TuckPuck® Metal Shaping Tools
www.tuckpuck.com
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:23 AM.

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.