Free for EAA Members: SIEMENS SolidEdge CAD
I received this email from EAA today, which I presume means the end of EAA's relationship with SOLIDWORKS:
A New CAD Program for EAA Members |
EAA has partnered with Siemens to offer members free access to Solid Edge professional 3D CAD software.
Solid Edge is an easy-to-use, synchronous CAD program that allows users to simulate, draft, and render 3D designs. With a streamlined workflow, data migration options from other industry software, and a plethora of training resources and customer support, Solid Edge provides a great package that is available for free to EAA members.
This is a great tool for homebuilders looking for a place to plan their aircraft designs or any design project! Learn more about SolidEdge and download your package. |
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Get Solid Edge |
First, I'd like to thank EAA for working to find a replacement for SOLIDWORKS. Before I "authorize Siemens Digital Industries Software and its affiliates to contact me via email, phone, and postal mail about its products and services," I have just a few questions for EAA staff:
1. The SolidEdge download page offers this software to "any active maker, CAD enthusiast, or design challenge competitor." What's special about EAA's relationship with Siemens, or, put a different way, what's special about this deal for EAA members?
2. After the SOLIDWORKS debacle, I'm a little gun-shy. Will Siemens want to put their hand in my pocket a couple of years form now, once I've invested time in learning their software and drawing my projects?
3. Will EAA or Siemens provide any support specifically for EAA members, or will the SolidEdge Community Forum be the only avenue for support?
4. Does the software permit local storage of users' design files (on my own computer only), or is this an online-only product? Does it require public sharing of my designs?
Thanks.
SE lacks the learning support the SW has available.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
rwanttaja
This. I spent some time learning Solidworks, drew up some cool stuff, and suddenly my files were worthless. Sure, they'd load in other tools, but they couldn't be edited. Eventually bought another product, but it worked enough differently that I really didn't want to face the learning curve again.
I finally got the veteran deal for SW, so I've got it again, but still have a bad taste in my mouth. Been off SW long enough that I feel I'd have to re-learn it all. Haven't felt too enthusiastic about that. I think they're less likely to pull the rug out from under veterans, but just can't get fired up about using it.
Attachment 9477
Ron Wanttaja
You read my mind. I spent probably 80 hours learning and starting to use SolidWorks when they pulled the rug out. I am now trying to do the same with SolidEdge. The main difference I have found is that SW had many great tutorials on YouTube. One community college professor basically put one of his courses online and it was fantastic. I have yet to find the same for SE. I found the tutorials disjointed without logical flow and the few tutorials I have found on YouTube seem to suffer the same. I have found nothing remotely equivalent to what I found online for learning SW.