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New free CAD
Alan B - 17/3/15 at 07:57 PM

For those interested the original developers of Solidworks have re-formed and come up with cloud based "Onshape"

link

Looks very promising and especially good for sharing.

dave_424 - 17/3/15 at 08:41 PM

Looks good, just signed up and made a test part, is it only browser based though?

Alan B - 17/3/15 at 08:48 PM

Yes, browser based only at this stage.

minitici - 18/3/15 at 09:45 AM

Unfortunately my mac is so ancient that its graphic card does not support the application.

... my android phone on the other hand does - but not practical to use for CAD.

coyoteboy - 18/3/15 at 01:14 PM

Having spent the last 2 weeks fighting to the death with SW2015 SP2, I hope to god they intend to do it properly this time. Never met so many bugs since 2010! SP2 has increased lead time on our work by about half a day per week, it's shocking.

Slimy38 - 18/3/15 at 02:59 PM

Is it actually free or just for the duration of the Beta?

Alan B - 18/3/15 at 03:26 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Slimy38
Is it actually free or just for the duration of the Beta?


Free all the time but with some restrictions. The restrictions don't really hurt you unless you have a lot of secret stuff to design and if so the business deal is available.

Slimy38 - 18/3/15 at 03:42 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Alan B
quote:
Originally posted by Slimy38
Is it actually free or just for the duration of the Beta?


Free all the time but with some restrictions. The restrictions don't really hurt you unless you have a lot of secret stuff to design and if so the business deal is available.


Ah ok, that's good then, thanks. I don't really do CAD to any great detail but having struggled with Sketchup I'd like to have a go at something a bit cleverer.

Alan B - 18/3/15 at 05:07 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Slimy38...........

Ah ok, that's good then, thanks. I don't really do CAD to any great detail but having struggled with Sketchup I'd like to have a go at something a bit cleverer.


Sketchup seems to be more for artsy, interior design kind of stuff...definitely not an engineering package. I agree I struggle to do anything with it.

It seems the Onshape will be miles better for our kind of usage.

Alan

David Jenkins - 18/3/15 at 06:42 PM

Any idea whether it will output STL files, for 3D printing?

I looked at the website but didn't spot anything...

Alan B - 18/3/15 at 07:03 PM

quote:
Originally posted by David Jenkins
Any idea whether it will output STL files, for 3D printing?

I looked at the website but didn't spot anything...


Almost certain it will be an option later, if not already. It seems they are adding functionality on a daily basis.

rf900rush - 18/3/15 at 08:01 PM

New to this level of CAD.

Just signed up. I think I need a new PC and to upgrade my brain

Sharp learning curve.

Most of my cad work has been schematics and PCB layouts.

Staple balls - 18/3/15 at 08:04 PM

Possibly also worth mentioning that all of autodesk's products are available on a free educational license.

Linketh.

Alan B - 18/3/15 at 08:05 PM

quote:
Originally posted by rf900rush
New to this level of CAD.

Just signed up. I think I need a new PC and to upgrade my brain

Sharp learning curve.

Most of my cad work has been schematics and PCB layouts.


I advise you to bear with the learning curve.... you'll be glad you did. Once you get it you'll be in good shape to use most other solid modelers too...

Alan B - 18/3/15 at 08:19 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Staple balls
Possibly also worth mentioning that all of autodesk's products are available on a free educational license.

Linketh.


Which is great if you are a student, and I believe you have to prove it.

Staple balls - 18/3/15 at 08:36 PM

Nope, Anyone can get them, just create and account and enjoy.

FWIW, My mate works for autodesk and has confirmed this is fine, they encourage it.

Alan B - 18/3/15 at 08:43 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Staple balls
Nope, Anyone can get them, just create and account and enjoy.

FWIW, My mate works for autodesk and has confirmed this is fine, they encourage it.


Really? Anyone can do it without having to tell lies?
I'll definitely be checking that out then......cheers

Staple balls - 18/3/15 at 08:53 PM

I'm not sure about the lying bit, but it's completely automated, there's no human intervention so there's no issues at all.

There's a bit more information here, not entirely relevant, but nice to see the angle they're taking.

[Edited on 18/3/15 by Staple balls]

davidimurray - 18/3/15 at 09:43 PM

quote:
Originally posted by David Jenkins
Any idea whether it will output STL files, for 3D printing?

I looked at the website but didn't spot anything...


Says it does here -https://www.onshape.com/compare-plans

coyoteboy - 18/3/15 at 09:46 PM

Sketchup is horrible. Worked with many a 3D CAD package and can't get to grips with it. Confirmed by a couple of colleagues tinkering and giving up.