How much is solidworks?

CoCreate has a free Personal Edition (via internet connection). Alibre used to, might still. Either would be good for getting your feet wet.

Takes one to know one, eh?

To actually answer the question, it depends on the level you are purchasing. The standard SW is much cheaper than Professional, for example.

And yes, it runs natively on Vista (32 and 64).

Matt Lorono

Depends upon your needs and wants.

That is a rather generic description, can mean anything.

Yes

I think I have seen you post in a couple of different groups so I will add:

You should come up with a written business plan. In that plan one thing you need is to define in great detail EXACTLY what your scope of work is going to be. Another is your budget for each item in the business plan.

Are you planning on CAD, CAD/CAM and/or other software packages?

Small metal parts can mean anything define your product line in great detail.

Who are you designating for, yourself or someone else?

If you are doing contract work what system does you customer use?

What do your customers require you supply them?

If dealing with suppliers what format do they use/require?

etc., etc., etc., etc............

Then and only then can you evaluate available CAD, CAM, CAD/CAM and/or other software packages.

Tom

Starts at about $2500 for a "basic" version.

Of course it is, idiot child. Bottom of the line entry level parametric assembly modeler.

And you're whining because 'you were promised' surfaces and didn't get them. M-o-ron.

OP wants to 'design small metal parts'. I imagine almost anything will work for a while and when it no longer will, will be one rung above you on the practical, hands-on experience ladder having done something beside drool over the marketing glossies.

Please ignore our resident troll, he doesn't even know:

1) It's CAD/CAM not CADCAM 2) Where he lives; lives in Chula Vista not San Diego

Tom

You might not want to take advise from a person who doesn't even know what city he lives in.

It's Chula Vista Jon, you live in Chula Vista, CA, try to keep up.

Tom

Try to keep up Jon.....

The base price is,.. $3,995.00 USD....

And,...imho,... IT'S NOT WORTH IT!!

There are many other alternatives which are worth looking at!!!!

..

There are other alternatives? Like....? And what do you get?

There is a student version of Solidworks, check out Studica.com. Of course, you have to be a student to buy the Student Version.

samurai.

It was you complaining Jon that you couldn't use SolidWorks however you couldn't articulate exactly what beginner problems you were having so the more experienced users could come to your aid.

OK, so according to you SE deletes the history and model constraints on imported models. So please explain how you determine the imported models original design intent?

Is design intent no longer a concern?

With the original constraints removed when you start hacking and whacking the model, how do you a machinist or anyone else determine original design intent on that imported model, as well as fit, form and function when you start making changes?

How do you determine which (critical) dimensions on the imported model should be locked and which can be unlocked?

When you alter that customer file, what do you give back to them since they don't have SE?

And while your at it, per your previous posts, you are a CNC Machinist/Programmer, what exactly is your engineering department doing while you say you are hacking and whacking customer supplied models, trying to figure out customer design intent before you alter these models so they are easier for you to manufacture?

Jon, you can't even get where he live right. You live in Chula Vista Jon, not San Diego.

Tom

Yes,.. there are many alternatives... and if he's just doing simple parts... it's just a matter of research to find out which fit's the needs and budget.

kuikahi,... I'd strongly suggest that you please do yourself a big, big,... favor,... take at least month to go over what it is you need and isolate those tools which are within your budget,.. then,... take another month too try them out,... go over the pro/cons... make some parts... chose the tool(s) you like and make sense to YOU!

And,.... DON'T get caught up into what the MAINSTREAM has to offer... MANY of the other tools can do MUCH of what the mainstream tools offer!!!

We can ALL share solid data so don't get trapped with the idea that you can not communicate with others... that FUD (fear, uncertainty and doubt) is spread by salespeople.

=2E.

And... some more links...

Yes,.. there are many alternatives... and if he's just doing simple

sour grapes.

I doubt it.

Sour software.

It is not even released to the public yet Jon. You have never seen or used it live. So exactly how did you evaluate Synchronous Technology Jon?

How does it handle constraints and design intent of the original model?

And you know this exactly how, some one told you or did you just made it up?

You were the one having beginner problems with SolidWorks Jon not us.

So constraints and design intent are stripped when the model is imported?

The guy that can't even get what city he lives in correct.

Jon, you live in Chula Vista not San Diego.

Tom

It is not even released to the public yet Jon. You have never seen or used it live. So exactly how did you evaluate Synchronous Technology Jon?

How does it handle constraints and design intent of the original model?

And you know this exactly how, some one told you or did you just made it up?

You were the one having beginner problems with SolidWorks Jon not us.

So constraints and design intent are stripped when the model is imported?

The guy that can't even get what city he lives in correct.

Jon, you live in Chula Vista not San Diego.

Tom