What's the newest Solidcam for SW 2009?

[KevinWilkins]

The title pretty much sums it up: I have Solidworks 2009 SP5 and SolidCam 2008 SP2.4. Is there a newer version of Solidcam that will run inside my SW? And would there be any real benefit for me in updating?

I don't want to update my SW to 2010 at this time.

Thanks in advance!

[Brakeman Bob]

SolidCAM 2009 SP4 is what I'm running with SolidWorks 2009 SP4.1 at the moment. SolidCAM 2010 is due out anyday now and from what I'm told, this release is just a holding position until SC 2011 comes out in August when there are some very interesting features due.
SC2009 SP addressed some bugs that needed fixing in areas such as Machining Processes, Templates (though still no use of variables in these, bah!), Tool Library and some other quirks. It's stable and I get on well with it. Still has issues with synchronisation when the seed part has multiple configurations and prone to do strange things if the fixturing has multiple configs too.

I wouldn't worry too much about the version of SolidWorks you're running as SolidCAM will work with earlier releases of SW; I used to run SolidCAM 2006 when our designers were still on SolidWorks 2004. But don't forget that if you move over to SolidCAM 2009 you will need to get to get your license key updated.

[KevinWilkins]

That's interesting because I just asked my SW reseller today about updating my Solidcam from 2008 to 2009 and they said I could only do that if I update SW to 2010 at the same time.

[Kaszub]

Hi
I have Solidworks 2009 SP 2.1 and Solidcam 2009 SP4 running right now.
Hope this helps.

[dengo]

That's interesting because I just asked my SW reseller today about updating my Solidcam from 2008 to 2009 and they said I could only do that if I update SW to 2010 at the same time.

They're lying to you, some may even say "typical sales men"..........

The only other advice I would offer is not to immediately update to V10 or V11 but wait for at least the first servicepack for that version, that's what I'll be doing. I don't get paid for testing.......
BTW we run SW2009 SP4.1 and SC2009 SP4 HF1

[KevinWilkins]

Thanks for the info guys, I have written my reseller again to ask what's up. I don't want to update to SW2010 right now but I would be willing to update SC to 2009.

Sometimes I wonder why these software resellers seem to play so many games...

[Brakeman Bob]

Do you buy the SolidWorks & SolidCAM bundle? If so, that may be the issue as resellers are very reluctant to get into conversation with SolidCAM head office about which version of SolidWorks they sell as part of the bundle (the default is current issue of each package).

The bundle is a good bargain here in the UK but SolidWorks is basic - no Toolbox etc. - though they did offer a cheap upgrade to Premium a year or two ago.

[KevinWilkins]

I did indeed buy both as a bundle and I heard back from my resellerr today and I would still have to buy the update for both programs to get the Solidcam update ... I really don't understand these software companies sometimes, it looks like they would want to make it easy for their clients to stay clients.

[dengo]

If you're on maintenance, which it sounds like you could be, then all you need to do is download whichever version of SolidCam from the SolidCam website. All you will need to do is set up a user account to access the "Download" page on the site.

I'd recommend moving to the latest version of SC2009 and in which case SolidCam will need to provide you with an update file for your licence.

Our resellers have no issue in organising these for us as my company don't update SW all that often due to the immense amount of work involved in changing the system for an organisation of this size.

I'm sure SC would be interested to know that your reseller doesn't want to provide you with one of their products too.....

[KevinWilkins]

I'm not on maintenance as that would cost over €100 per month, which is a lot of money for my one man operation. I have enough worries keeping up with my health insurance premiums.

I think the whole annual new version, lack of upward compatbility crap is one of the biggest drawbacks to Solidworks in general. I also would not want to go through a total update every year even just running the program on 2 computers. I understand that the SW needs to make money but I think they'd make more money if they operated like Adobe, which updates Illustrator and Photoshop to a new version number when they have enough new features etc. to make it worthwhile and also provide a way for users of the new version to save a file so users of previous version can open it too. It sure seem to work for Adobe as they totally dominate their markets – which is not only because their products are good, but because their business strategy is also good.

Maybe I should ask Solidcam in Germany directly? Last year wen I bought the software package, I seem to remember my software came directly from Isreal and didn't actually come through SC in Germany?

[Brakeman Bob]

If you download the latest version of SoidCAM you will need to get your HASP key changed for it to run and to do that you have to talk to SolidCAM (it Israel that issuels the key code). If you are not on maintenance or in the first year of using SolidCAM you have to pay for the key codes and the cost is, surprise, surprise, the cost of maintenance since your lat maintenance expired. Gotcha!

Mind you, this isn't as bad as one World leading, very high end CAD CAM company was not so long ago. They would turn off the software if you didn't keep up the maintenance.

[KevinWilkins]

I bought the software about a year ago and as I said, I have no maintenance contract.