Alternative to Solidworks

[lesthegrngo]

Hi all

I had previously commented on how I was proficient with Solidworks, but that my donated copy was so old that I have to have a dedicated Windows Vista PC to run it on. Obviously I don't have the money to buy a newer copy that runs on Win 10 or 11, so I was always looking for a replacement. 

I tried Fusion 360, which initially allowed me to import my solidworks files, but they soon stopped that feature, plus they also changed it to a subscription model, so I dropped out. Since then, I have been looking around for a replacement, trying FreeCad, TinkerCad and a few others without really having any success. Essentially my brain is wired to the way Solidworks functions, and so I was unable to grasp the concepts. For me, I like to use sketches to define parts, and neither of those two worked well for me.

I have now started using a program called Onshape, and finally I have found a program that does work in a similar way to Solidworks that I am actually getting on with quite well. It's not exactly the same, but it is near enough that I am able to use it with reference to some how to videos on YouTube. The sketch function is very similar, and doesn't end up with a myriad of error messages like FreeCad, so that has really helped the transition.

The mate function and assembly manipulation is a bit different, but no so much that I can't deal with it.

The downsides are that unless you pay, the files you make are available online (although presumably only you can edit 'your' copy) so if you are trying to make something proprietary it won't be for you. It also can import Solidworks files but only as a solid model, so you lose the sketches and extrusions that make up the part. However for parts that you don't need to modify, like standard parts, extrusions etc that's fine, it's only where you need to manipulate a part that it causes issue. Then you are obliged to recreate it if you already have it in Solidworks. As it is an online program, it also means that you are able to use it anywhere you have internet access.

I'm not going to tout it as a perfect alternative to Solidworks, but for anyone like me who has used Solidworks and struggles to move to a more modern program, it is work checking out

Les

[Richi]

Fusion 360 is in the full version for money, but also legally free, only with some functional limitations. Of course, if you use such functions that are charged, then Fusion 360 still offers a legal license for free, but under precisely given conditions.

Well, at least in Europe, but autodesk.com apparently too.

https://www.autodesk.com/products/fusion-360/free-trial?us_oa=dotcom-us&us_si=a8b85edf-da88-4110-aa71-93583cd33846&us_st=fusion 360 free

Edited March 11 by Richi

[Thadiun Okona]

 Took me a bit to get used to Fusion coming from SW but man it does so many things I wished I could do in SW and I ended up liking it better

[Hiob]

I try to stick to FreeCAD, despite its many flaws. I hope they will get ironed out and the investment won't be lost.

Luckily for a CAD-layman like me, there is a plethora of youtube tutorials on FreeCAD.

[Hempstead]

I have the same problem with OnShape.

I used to recommend people using OnShape to import my models to see the dimensions and to export them to other formats... not anymore after they whacked the free accounts' 2-free-private-projects. I have a problem with that! I mean, you import my CC International Non-Commercial model, and it automatically gets "published" as public... what about the license? Are you stripping the CC non-commercial license? That's basically violating the license agreement. How do you respect the original license agreement and do attribution required by the CC license? I have no idea!

The worst for the new OnShape free account is that now no matter whether you are ready to publish... an work-in-progress project is also shared publicly... 

I would say, try Solidworks for Makers https://www.solidworks.com/solution/3dexperience-solidworks-makers at USD $45/year. There are limitations... like you may not use it for profit, and the files created will not share with full Solidworks and vice versa. 

I know, it's not free... but $45/year is rather reasonable. I mean, think of it as paying for the infrastructures required for your account.

Then, you use Fusion 360 free for importing and exporting.....

 

Note that, I do not use Solidworks for Makers myself... so my recommendation for Solidworks for Makers is "on-paper". I paid for a perpetual premium license.

[Spitty]

Design work and assemblies are pretty easy its the ability to import and export files a lot of programs have problems with.

[Rapti]

Did you know that SOLIDWORKS has an offer for hobbyists?

"SOLIDWORKS for Makers". This includes SOLIDWORKS Professional and a few 3DEXPERIENCE roles. I.e. Cloud PLM to be able to access the data from anywhere.
You can also save the data on your own hard disk as normal. 

All for 48$ per year.

https://www.solidworks.com/solution/3dexperience-solidworks-makers

 

null

[lesthegrngo]

Thanks for the replies guys

I hadn't seen the SW trial thing, so I have gone and subscribed, and paid.... and now I have access denied, e-mails saying that there is a problem. I am even blocked from sending in a support request, I get this message "Your request could not be sent to 3DS Support team Unfortunately, there is an issue with your request, please refresh this page and submit again"

Doesn't bode well....

Les
 

 

[lesthegrngo]

Finally received the get started e-mail, and it's working

However instant impressions are that I cannot upload assemblies, and also when you import a part you do not get all the sketches and extrusions that make it up, just one imported body. obviously better than nothing, but it means I have to make a new file if I want it truly editable. Am I missing something?

Les

[Vinc_Vega]

Have a look into the their oline purchase support. Maybe one of the FAQs fits your need.

https://www.3ds.com/store/faq

Regards, Vinc

Edit: Your issue seems to be solved.

 

PS: Don't you have the opportunity to save your files locally?

Edited March 15 by Vinc_Vega

[sharkfin61]

https://resources.sw.siemens.com/en-US/download-solid-edge-community-edition

Solid Edge for makers  from Siemens might be another candiate. (maybe after your subscribtion is over)

[lesthegrngo]

***Edited*** there is some really weird formatting happening when I use my Tablet to reply, I've deleted the extra space

At the moment I'm not too impressed with SW - I still have a way to go with it, but I have to say that I'm finding myself using OnShape more and more. I can't import my SW files any differently, so am not convinced that for me at least paying gives any benefits.

However now I've paid for a year's subscription I will continue trying

Les

 

Edited March 21 by lesthegrngo

[Rapti]

What dou you want to Import to Solidworks?
There us an Option in the Import area called 3D-Interconnect. It has to be activated

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[lesthegrngo]

I want to import my Solidworks files, but with all the features still active rather than one imported solid. I want all the construction sketches, extrudes, lofts, holes, planes etc I used to 'make' the original part so that I can easily edit it. It doesn't appear to be a feature of the SW 3D experience thing, so I would have to create them from new again. If I'm going to do that, I might as well do so in OnShape and continue the use of the free program rather than paying for exactly the same

If there is a way to import the SW files fully, then that changes the game

Les

[Hempstead]

Here this guy says it can be done... his files are from SW 2021. So, assuming he's correct, then perhaps your files are too old?

I have a full license of SW2023 Premium. I can convert your older files to 2023 format and see if that helps in importing into SW for Makers. Ping me by DCS forum messaging system.

 

[Vinc_Vega]

Don't your account has to possibility to use Solidworks Connected?

If logged in, that can be downloaded and installed from the 3D Experience Platform welcome site.

Nevertheless, your computer needs to be online everytime Solidworks Connected is started.

But you definitely can open and work with your old files and assemblies and have the possibility to save to your local harddrive.

 

Hint, if no shortcut is available at your desktop:

After the installation go back to the welcome site and push the blue round button in the top left corner, than go to your Role page (ME).

Scroll down and under the "Apps" tab you can create a shortcut from the red Solidworks Connected field by a click at the small arrow right to the "3DEXPERIENCE R2024x..." text.

 

Regards, Vinc

Edited March 22 by Vinc_Vega

[Rapti]

Do you use xDesign in the browser? Thats a complete different CAD. As vince said, you have to install Solidworks connected

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[lesthegrngo]

Vinc, the Solidworks Connect was the correct one to use, thanks for that redirect. I can now import the files correctly, I just need to make sure I save them is a way that they stay like that for future use. 

I suppose it means that all of the files I have created in the past belong to the cloud and I assume are available to everyone. If so, I hope they are useful for anyone who wants to use them!

I don't suppose there is a batch upload available so that I can get all the files uploaded so that I don't have to do them one by one - I have thousands!

Cheers

Les 

 

[lesthegrngo]

Hi all, here's a bit of feedback after a few weeks of use of the Solidworks 3DExperience.

First the good; I can use Solidworks with no (for me at least) restrictions in terms of the tools I use and what I need to do. There probably are parts of the program unavailable to me but for my use at least I have not run into any of them. The files can be imported using the Solidworks Connect and I found that as long as you opened the top level assembly, most if not all of the sub assemblies and part files would be automatically saved to the cloud or your local storage as dictated by your choices. They would be updated to the latest version as part of the process. Using SW is almost the same as the older version I was used to so the transition is also pretty minimal 

Now the not so good. Firstly, and most annoyingly I get the 'Solidworks is critically low in resource' errors popping up every ten seconds or so. Continually. If you do not restart your PC, the frequency increases to the point where the moment you close one message another pops up. My desktop PC is an i5 6400 at 2.7 Ghz, 1060 GTX with 3 GB ram, 16 Gb DDR4, so while not anywhere near bleeding edge is also not that bad. I have followed all the online advice to free up memory and all the other tips but I think I just have to face the fact that my PC is a little underpowered. It will generate those messages even if I have a really simple part open on its own, however it is worth noting that at no point so far has the program crashed, even with complicated assemblies displayed

Ironically I went from the old Solidworks because the computer had to be too old so it could run Win Vista 32 bit, and now I am having to consider upgrading my PC because it's too old. You couldn't write this stuff! It seems that the GPU, despite being relatively modern, is not one on the supported drivers list

The other not so good feature is that as you are often saving and working 'online' I find that saving assemblies can take a long time, with many fails along the way, disconnection issues and so forth.

So, definitely a step forward, but ultimately not without some caveats. Comparing to Onshape, Solidworks still does have the edge, especially in terms of replicating advanced mates like cams etc. Right now, I am definitely seeing them as complimentary programs, with Onshape having an advantage of being able to run on lesser hardware, allowing me to design things on a Win 10 laptop when travelling; SW will not install on that low spec laptop.

Hope this helps someone

Les

[Vinc_Vega]

Try to right click on the small icon in the task bar (SOLIDWORKS Resorce Monitor) and choose "Dismiss Graphics Notifications".

 

Else here are some useful links for tweaking the performance:

https://help.solidworks.com/2024/English/SWConnected/swdotworks/HIDD_OPTIONS_PERFORMANCE.htm

You also may force the Software to use your graphic card and adjust the performance.

https://www.mlc-cad.com/solidworks-help-center/how-to-force-solidworks-to-use-your-graphics-card/

 

My laptop (OMEN by HP 17) is from 2016 and still bears a Nvidia 1070 and Intel Core i7-6700HQ @2.6 GHz. System is Win10 64bit, RAM memory has been upgraded to 32GB. No problems so far with SolidWorks actual maker version.

 

Regards, Vinc

Edited April 8 by Vinc_Vega

[julian265]

On 4/8/2024 at 3:36 PM, lesthegrngo said:

Now the not so good. Firstly, and most annoyingly I get the 'Solidworks is critically low in resource' errors popping up every ten seconds or so. Continually. If you do not restart your PC, the frequency increases to the point where the moment you close one message another pops up. My desktop PC is an i5 6400 at 2.7 Ghz, 1060 GTX with 3 GB ram, 16 Gb DDR4, so while not anywhere near bleeding edge is also not that bad. I have followed all the online advice to free up memory and all the other tips but I think I just have to face the fact that my PC is a little underpowered. It will generate those messages even if I have a really simple part open on its own, however it is worth noting that at no point so far has the program crashed, even with complicated assemblies displayed

Is solidworks actually running slow? If not, and you can ignore the messages without them blocking your view, just do that. They aren't relevant if you consider the performance to be OK.

I work with SW2019 on a very decent machine (128gb ram, 4090) and SW still issues "performance" notifications from the task bar. In my case the notifications don't block my view, and I ignore them constantly. I believe the warnings are issued because the hardware is "not certified" or some bull<profanity> like that.

[lesthegrngo]

Thanks Vinc. Didn't know about suppressing the Graphics notifications, that's definitely helped

I tried to use the bit about forcing Solidworks to use the graphics card, but when I get into the advanced display part, the screen I get is different, so maybe it depends on the version of Windows 10 you have

Cheers

Les 

23 hours ago, julian265 said:

Is solidworks actually running slow? If not, and you can ignore the messages without them blocking your view, just do that. They aren't relevant if you consider the performance to be OK.

I work with SW2019 on a very decent machine (128gb ram, 4090) and SW still issues "performance" notifications from the task bar. In my case the notifications don't block my view, and I ignore them constantly. I believe the warnings are issued because the hardware is "not certified" or some bull<profanity> like that.

Yeah, it runs fine. I disabled the graphics messages which helps, and as long as I restart the PC occasionally it isn't too bad. If I don't though, you'll start to get bombarded! with them. They have never affected the performance though

 

Les