Solid Works or AutoCad???

[CNCAddict]

Maybe you could get the free version of Alibre. It can do up to 25 parts in an assembly and it's good parametric software.

[keebler303]

I took a turbocad class in highschool and an autocad class in college. Now I have solidworks and i never use anything else. if you have a little time on your hands you can teach yourself. i am entirely self taught and i have done some pretty involved models. as mentioned earlier the tutorials on solidworks are excellent and they really teach you how to use the program. i am sure you would learn a lot in a class but it would be hard for me to justify the cost after seeing how easy it is to learn.

Matt

[HayTay]

Bill,

Check out the SolidWorks 3d Skills Program link to see if there is a Reseller near you that offers the 1/2 day hands-on introduction. At the end of the seminar/training you get to walk away with a FREE copy of SolidWorks Personal Edition software (and lunch was provided FREE, too!).

I know, I know, you can't open the models/drawings in the real version of SolidWorks (they do offer a conversion service if you purchase the full version, btw), the software expires after 90 days (a renewal is offered though), you can't use it in commercial or institutional environments, and a watermark is displayed on all drawings (not too big of a deal as it doesn't affect you if you just want to learn to use their software). The SolidWorks Personal Edition is usually one version behind the current release, also.

You can, however, do everything else that the full version does. What's even better is that you can save your drawing in DXF format from the drawing window (without watermark) for import into a CAM program!

The SolidWorks 3d Skills 1/2 day seminar coupled with SolidWorks fantastic tutorials gets you up and drawing/modeling quickly.

Nobody offered a seminar in my area (North Carolina, USA) when I was looking for a copy, so I wound up driving about 3 1/2 hours to another state and staying overnight to take a class. My FREE copy wound up costing me around $120 but I think it was well worth the time and expense. That's cheaper than the $475 + books + software for the Tech College course. I've spent more on software that is sitting on a shelf collecting dust. I'm still using my FREE edition of SolidWorks PE and learn something new everytime I create a model. One day I'll scrape up enough money to purchase the full edition of SolidWorks.

And, yes, I have used full versions of AutoCAD, DesignCAD, TurboCAD and CorelDRAW. I also tried a dozen or more demo versions of other CAD/Drawing programs including Alibre Express and Rhino3D. I find AutoCAD, TurboCAD and some others to have a fairly steep learning curve for the hobbiest with little or no CAD or drawing experience.

Not having around $3000 for SolidWorks I'd purchase either Alibre or Rhino3D. If I had $3000 I wouldn't miss, it would be no contest, I'd purchase SolidWorks without thinking twice about it.

My 2 cents,
I hope it helps,

HayTay