Nakedanvil - Grant Sarver Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 (edited) Been playing with Google Sketchup, So far I like it better than my $1,000.00 Aliebra. Anyone know what more you get for $495.00 for the Pro version of Sketchup? Is it worth it? Also getting Delcam PowerShape, also free! The PS looks like it might be better for a lot of metal work. The plugins help Sketchup improve performance. They all have a big learning curve, but are pretty intuitive getting started. Also looking at Autodesk Inventor and Solidworks. I'm getting a headache. Edited July 2, 2009 by nakedanvil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian D Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 Sketchup?.....from Google? Never heard of this program before. We currently use Solidworks for tool and machine design at work. We also have Autodesk Mechanical desktop and Catia V5. I use Solidworks the most and like it the best. It is very intuitive and easy to use. It is a program with great capabilities and most who use it do not even use half of the tools and functions that it has. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JNewman Posted July 3, 2009 Share Posted July 3, 2009 To add to your headache look at Rhino. You can download a full function version for free. The only restriction on the free version is you can only save 25 files before your have to buy the full version. I have been using Rhino for a few years mostly for reading customer files. More and more for patterns, I don't get drawings only a CAD solid model. Most of the files I get have been generated in Solidworks. I would love to get Solidworks, and probably would if I were CNC cuttting things or even subbing out a lot of CNC. But Solidworks is just so expensive and the free version of Rhino is doing what I need it to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted July 3, 2009 Share Posted July 3, 2009 I've been using Sketchup for a couple years now and haven't touched AutoCad in quite a while. The one difference between the free and Pro versions I know off the top of my head is the Pro version saves in more formats including .DFX and .DWG amongst others. I really like sketchup though it's a little quirky about some things. Frosty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nakedanvil - Grant Sarver Posted July 22, 2009 Author Share Posted July 22, 2009 (edited) Well, I downloaded PowerSHAPE-e from Delcam. Wow, really cool. I've played with Rhino and Solidworks and (IMNSHO) this beats them hands down! Took some pestering to get them to send the password, but I got it now. This is a fully fuctioning very high end program that runs soooo smooth. Printing is disabled, only can do a screen shot and I use a screen capture program to move stuff out.Welcome to PowerSHAPE-e - A free fully functioning cad cam product They have really good video tutorials and the complete manual. They have a download designed for teaching a college class too. Edited July 22, 2009 by nakedanvil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JNewman Posted July 22, 2009 Share Posted July 22, 2009 I had a quick look, will have to take a better look later. The big downside I see right away for short term use/learning is you have to pay to import other file types. Right now mostly what I am using Rhino for is opening files from customers. Paying $100 for each quote I do gets old very quickly. In the future I do want to be able to modify customer models adding coreprints and draft as well as splitting on a parting line, so that I can sub out CNC work and eventually do my own CNC work. So a stronger Cad program would be good. How much to buy the full version? I didn't see that on the web site. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nakedanvil - Grant Sarver Posted July 22, 2009 Author Share Posted July 22, 2009 (edited) I've got an inquiry in, I'll let you know. I paid almost $10,000.00 for their Artcam Pro and have no regrets at all. In Powershape when you change views it does this smooth animated roll to the new view. Just looks so polished. Now I thought the pay-per-use on import and export was pretty cool if you don't want to buy yet. I can see your point if you need it very often. Edited July 22, 2009 by nakedanvil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JNewman Posted July 22, 2009 Share Posted July 22, 2009 I thought the pay per use on the export was a good feature but much of what I import goes nowhere. I am going to check it out when I have some time to see if I like it. I may use it for jobs that I have to get CNC cut, and then use the Rhino for quoting. I was quoted about $4000 for Solidworks and it seems to be the standard for most of my customers customers, was it that much better than solidworks? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nakedanvil - Grant Sarver Posted July 22, 2009 Author Share Posted July 22, 2009 (edited) Sometimes things just "feel right". This one has the right feel for me. You ever use a Mac? You know that the smooth and polished way everything works? They'll all do the job, in the end, but sometimes it's not just the destination, it's the trip and the vehicle. Gotta choose which one you're gonna climb the learning curve for. Actually it's looking like this free version will work for me and I may never have to upgrade. But then I don't need to work with other peoples drawings either, it's all "in house" and as you can see I can still post cool pictures. I rarely need to print out drawings. I have a computer in the shop and everything is on a wireless network. Guess if I need to look at someones drawing I'll use my free Rhino like you. Edited July 22, 2009 by nakedanvil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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