Free "hybrid" surface modeller with no restrictions?

Hey guys and gals, take a look at

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(from DELCAM) and see if it isn't true. I saw a link to a free eDrawings-like VIEWER (as it appeared to be) in Machine Design magazine and went to look at it. Delcam is saying that they've decided to make their modeller (with neutral format translators) free for the downloading. I've downloaded everything (some pretty big files) but haven't had time to fool with it yet. From what I read and experienced in the download, it looks to me like a full-up surfacing modeller is there, for absolutely free, with options to import and export to neutral formats including IGES, STEP and Parasolid (and more) and WITHOUT a time limitation or a saving limitation. As I'm doing pure machine design now I don't often have use for surfacing, but I plan to take a look at this in my spare time. Some of you may be more interested from a FULL time standpoint.

Sporky

Reply to
Sporkman
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OMG, Jon Banquer has been left in the cold...someone beat him to the punch...how can he EVER live this down. Cliff is going to be ragging on Jon for months to come.

Bo

Sporkman wrote:

Reply to
Bo

Sporky - I fear no free lunch today.

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Its $350 a pop if you export the file as a form that can be used for manufacture.

--or have I misunderstood the whole thing?

Jonathan

Reply to
jjs

Ahh, now I see. Hey, but you know if the tool provides better and/or easier results than does SolidWorks then $350 doesn't sound all that bad. IF!! Sounds like it might be worth a shot for those who commonly run into limitations with SolidWorks. I've been in that position and would gladly have paid $350 (of my employer's money) to have an easier solution. Save two days and $350 becomes a bargain. BUT even with my limited surfacing skills I could still accomplish a lot in two days, so maybe the likelihood of it being a great bargain for loads of people is rather small. Still, maybe it could be fun or neat, or both, to play with it.

'Sporky'

Reply to
Sporkman

I take your point and it is good to see what other software is around. I think at $350 it probably is value for money if the poject is chargeable. But is it $350 for each modification?

Personnaly I think they will struggle against human nature - People prefer to own cars even when it may make financial sense to not actually own a car and just take taxis.

It only takes 3 models to go over the SW subsciption amount - ( I discounted my initial purchase fee years ago :-) !!)

Jonathan

Reply to
jjs

You have to see it for what it is,... smells like a short sited and limited thinking marketing idiot! The least they could have done was allow for a limited amount of exports so the prospective user could truely evaluate the product?? What a joke!

..

Reply to
Paul Salvador

well I'm curious. I've used PowerShape a bit in the past and found it VERY forgiving and handy when working with imported stuff - where SW grinds to a halt Power shape would eat things for breakfast. I'm going to have a look now!

Reply to
Lee Bazalgette - factorydesign

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