"June 1, 2005 — A powerful parametric, solid-modeling 3D CAD program called X-CAD will be made available for free when and if 100,000 people register by August 1, 2005 at www.x-cad.net. In addition to enabling users to create precise 3D mechanical designs equal to well-known mid-range solid modeling brands, X-CAD provides an easy-to-use Windows® interface, integrated Help menus and tutorials.

X-CAD becomes available as a free download as soon as 100,000 people register with their e-mail address on the www.x-cad.net web site. Registrants can check the counter on the web site to chart the progress of the giveaway program, and can direct any inquiries to info@x-cad.net.

Not a demo or trial software, X-CAD provides fully-functional, intelligent, parametric sketching with an array of rich features such as "on-the-fly" automatic constraint capture, auto-dimensioning, various sketch tools including lines, circles, arcs, polygons, splines, etc., and a complete set of constraints such as vertical/horizontal, perpendicular, parallel, tangent and more. Rather than creating "dumb" geometry like traditional CAD systems, X-CAD enables users to capture design intent with feature-based modeling including engineering features such as bosses, cuts, holes, fillets, chamfers, lofts, sweeps, shells and helical features.

X-CAD is designed to accommodate easy migration of 2D users to an advanced 3D modeling program for mechanical design and manufacturing applications. To register for your free copy of X-CAD, go to www.x-cad.net."

Email registered..

Thanks!

And mine!

Adam

Just registered, 34178 registered so far.

Thanks again,
Nick

up to 35938 now..

I hope it is something decent and not some spam scam or something

36070

36215..

36228. will it get to 100k do you think? and more importantly, will it actually be any use to me!!!

quote:

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Originally posted by Alan B
up to 35938 now..

I hope it is something decent and not some spam scam or something

---

90714 including my email

I heard a whisper it may be Alibre's new offering.

Has to hit 100k before august 1st 2005 for all of us to get a free copy... its currently at 91261 so fingers crossed!

Nick

At the current progress I really can't see the target being met, so I wonder what they'll do. It will be interesting to see if they bin the project due to low subscription rate, or whether they'll press on regardless. We'll know pretty soon.

Ooops, I mis-read the figure. I think even if there wasn't the support they wanted, they'd make the numbers up gradually themselves to save face. I think we'll make it after all.

[Edited on 19/7/05 by Rorty]

92732 as of today, including mine!


[Edited on 19/7/05 by flyingkiwi]

[Edited on 19/7/05 by flyingkiwi]

Sure, I'm game. 93234. I got a kick out of listing Automotive/Transportation as the primary use.

Pete

99679 now, and up 100 in the last half hour. Should hit the 100000 mark tonight!

99707! (phew!)

Cheers Rorty!

100008. Now we have to wait for August 1st for the package to be released

quote:

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Originally posted by Rorty
I heard a whisper it may be Alibre's new offering.

---

quote:

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Originally posted by Simon

quote:

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Originally posted by Rorty
I heard a whisper it may be Alibre's new offering.

---

Rorty,

I've never heard of them, but am guessing from your comment that it might be something to get excited about

ATB

Simon

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Simon

quote:

---

Originally posted by Rorty
I heard a whisper it may be Alibre's new offering.

---

Rorty,

I've never heard of them, but am guessing from your comment that it might be something to get excited about

ATB

Simon

---

I've put my name down just to make the numbers up, I'll email some friends to do same.

Target reached


102,197


Free cad for all!! (i hope)

I got a confirmation email from them this morning that they reached the target. They are publishing details of how to download it on 1st August.

Cheers Rorty

Mike

[Edited on 23/7/05 by Guinness]

Looks like its going to be a near-fully functional version. I read in the confirmation email that you can create upto 15 moving/separate parts per model, but can open models with more moving/separate parts in Read-Only mode...

Hope they won't cripple the "free" version to the point of it becoming a demo.

Or have I read it completely wrong?

Nick

The only bugger I can see is the adverts and that the program will not load if you don't have the internet connected, if you lose your connection whilst it is running though it will still save your work. The internet requirement can be turned off for a small fee!

It's a 'lite' version of what they sell already.

There's plenty of fully functional 'demo' versions of Solidworks about, so don't get conned into paying out the 'small fee'.

Find a uni student doing engineering, and if they haven't got a copy of Solidworks, they'll know someone who does!

Do you know the requirements to qualify as an engineering student? Do you have to be fulltime etc?

I'm currently doing a degree through the Open University, and would love all the student licence software I can get my hands on! I downloaded a student version of Alias, which looks pretty awesome but I haven't had time to see what limitations it might have.

Nick

i got mine (solidworks) from a london based reseller for £130 with FEA and mechanics add ons too. can't remember their name though.

i'm sure a open uni student could get it all i had to show was a "ahem" photo copy of my student card

[Edited on 28/7/05 by liam.mccaffrey]

Any one installed this yet??

I am just downloading my copy now.

So what were peoples thoughts of this one then?


[Edited on 30/3/06 by Mr G]

My work bought 2 copies, so I have a pukka version running at home. Alibre works fine, a few litttle niggles to start with, but V9 seems to have sorted most of them. Very easy to learn.

Don'[t know if the've changed any of the restrictions in the free version. The 5 part maximum for assemblies is a bit limiting.