SOLIDWORKS for $4 per Month...? Here's What to Expect

[@ipadize]

now there is 50% off so its only 2,50 a month

[@SolidProfessor]

Thanks for the heads up! It looks like this should last through Black Friday (November 29) or longer based on the discount code!

[@carstend.schmidt8401]

it's only 2$/month untill january 10. ;)

[@PiegatoreSolidworks]

What kind of platform does it run on? macOS too? Thanks for the tip, great job!

[@Eric_A_Beatty]

It requires Windows 10 or Windows 11.

[@PiegatoreSolidworks]

@@Eric_A_Beatty But also certified hardware or even laptops with consumer video cards?

[@SolidProfessor]

@@PiegatoreSolidworks There are certainly laptops that meet the hardware requirements, but just to be certain you might consider taking a look at this System Requirements guide: www.solidworks.com/support/system-requirements There's also a link in the Hardware section to Certified Cards and Drivers that will let you check for graphics card compatibility. Hope this helps! For extra context, all the footage in this video was recorded using a Lenovo ThinkPad P15 Gen 2i with an NVIDIA T1200 laptop GPU running Windows 11.

[@Riptych]

THANKYOU. Perfectly executed video, every point i needed answers for, have been answered. This is the best video for information on this subject. Been struggling to research this for about 2 weeks thinking it was all cloud and web based. thankyou again

[@SolidProfessor]

Thank you for the kind comment! Very happy to hear it was useful!

[@BioMedUSA]

What a spectacular summary all while pointing out essential nuances!

[@Glenn.Cooper]

What an amazing and detailed video. This is the one video I've come across that really lets me know what the maker version is capable of.

[@c3d_ultra499]

Can you use Solidworks maker for taking a CSWA exam showing your proficiency in solidworks? I want to learn standard solidworks but I’m no longer a student since I graduated many years ago.

[@Giderduik]

can i use solidworks on both my workshop computer and laptop (ofc not at the same time) with a makers licence?

[@SolidProfessor]

Great question! This shouldn't be a problem, as the Maker version (and all 3DEXPERIENCE versions) use your login credentials to authenticate the license.

[@guywihn1658]

Thank you, this was great, very helpful!

[@Djjeezyno1]

can you take the CSWP with a makers license?

[@SolidProfessor]

Excellent question! The models provided for the CSWP (and all certification exams) are based on the commercial version of the software, but the Maker version is capable of opening commercial files, so you should be able to take the exams with the Maker version. It's important to note though that add-ins like Simulation are unavailable for the Maker version, so you will not be able to attempt any certifications requiring add-ins.

[@Engineering4Life]

Excellent presentation 🎉

[@timl9495]

Great video. Very informative. I have been a Solutions Partner for many years, and had access for a SW Professional license, but I believe they might have changed their policies, so now I am not able to use it, hence maybe Maker now?

[@hirampr21]

Can I use this 3d experience software to 3d print my designs and sell them without restrictions? please help. Been checking different 3d cad softwares that put restrictions on how much money you can make off your 3d print designs which I found ridiculous.

[@SolidProfessor]

You can use this version to design and 3D print, but unfortunately income is limited to $2,000 per year for the Makers license according to Dassault Systemes. This tends to be the case for most hobbyist versions of CAD software as you mentioned. The free version of Fusion is limited to $1,000 per year, and many other programs don't allow for commercial use at all.

[@bonjournito]

@@SolidProfessorHow they know your income? Is this means your files on cloud is being checked by size maybe? 😮

[@SolidProfessor]

@@bonjournito To clarify, the income limit only applies to income made as a result of using SOLIDWORKS, not including any other sources of income. However, I don't have any insight as to how that income is monitored. I wouldn't expect that files sizes are monitored to predict income, though.

[@thewobblywelder8362]

Awesome video! Thanks for clearing all of this up! I’m just a lowly machinist/welder/fabricator but did have access to Solidedge at my last job. My God what a time saver that was once I got the hang of it!!! Took sooo much guess work out of my job. I have currently switched jobs and am semi-self employed and have a pile of personal projects lined up. Have really been craving the tools in solidedge again but can’t justify the cost for the licensing for no more than I’ll be using it for. I do believe this right here is the ticket! I’m sure I’ll have to take some time to learn all of the tools and processes of SolidWorks but I can’t imagine it being much different than Solidedge. Not to mention the price! It’s almost too good to be true! Lol. SOOO glad I found this video! Thank you!

[@suovic]

hello. How to CAM Install in no WWW aps ?

[@kian7408]

Do the solidworks for student is free or do you need to pay for it?

[@SolidProfessor]

The student version is currently available for $49, but is normally $99. You can learn more about the student version here: www.solidworks.com/product/students

[@kian7408]

@@SolidProfessor I see, sad I couldn't afford to buy it, thanks tho

[@othoapproto9603]

What about the login issues?

[@SolidProfessor]

Depending on the type of login/connection issue you're having, it may be addressed by the FAQ documentation. If not, you should be able to use the Online Support Form to contact technical support and get them working on it. Both the FAQ and the Support Form can be found here: www.3ds.com/online-store/support-form/

[@othoapproto9603]

@@SolidProfessor Spoken like a true corporate flunky. You couldn't be more wrong! AS if People didn't think that, FY

[@ryana381]

Can you edit STL files like you can in the professional version?

[@SolidProfessor]

You should be able to, yes. STL files can be imported as graphics/surface/solid bodies depending on quality and requirements, and all the tools from the Pro version should be available to you including ScanTo3D, if that's part of what you like to use.

[@ryana381]

@ I’m not familiar with SW, I currently use Onshape, but you can’t edit STLs.

[@horsthotzenplotz3321]

Wow, is this all complicated. And from what I understand it is not possible to use it on a Mac. Hopefully FreeCAD will some day fill the gap for a good CAD app that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. Fusion 360 is buggy and slow, Onshape completely out of price range. 😞

[@E-EventsTX]

Amazing video, thanks for share !!

[@rggot2relax]

This is a great video. I'm definately going to try this.

[@Zyzz-xj7se]

Dont do it

[@mattjobson2039]

are configurations the same? Asking for a friend haha

[@SolidProfessor]

For most users, configurations will still the same within SOLIDWORKS for Makers. However, if you choose to use the included 3DEXPERIENCE applications to work with SOLIDWORKS files, there will be some differences. The platform uses a system of CAD Families, Physical Parts, and Representations which have a similar hierarchy to Parts > Configurations > Derived configurations, but are not treated exactly the same. You can read more about them at the link below, but ultimately if you plan to just use SOLIDWORKS you won't need to worry about anything: help.solidworks.com/2024/English/SWConnected/swdotworks/t_Creating_a_Configuration_Manually.htm

[@rickpapineau2704]

Just to be clear, this '"Maker" version is "cloud" based and what ever computer you might lo use access this "Maker" version must meet the minimum requirements of 2024 Solidworks such as a CPU ,Ram and a video processor . In other words the computers you intend to do your projects on must be relatively new or the program will not run. From what I have found, the HP VICTUS gaming laptop should work and is the least costly at $634.59 AMAZON price. I How long that laptop meet the requirement, is another story I suspect that due to updates, that laptop could be obsoleted when the 2025 version of "Maker" is released.

[@user-dr2pg8fk2i]

The file locking is a kill shot for this product. Absolutely not. What a crap move.

[@SolidProfessor]

We've heard this sentiment from a few others so you're not alone in thinking so, but just a reminder that you can still export to neutral format files and open those in the commercial version, or other CAD programs, or manufacturing applications like printing slicers. If it turns you off to SOLIDWORKS in general, Fusion and OnShape both have a free options available as well, but I'm unsure what their file sharing and income limitations look like.

[@envisionelectronics]

Yeah - it really is. I just wasted $ on this to learn this HERE.

[@claudiuhim25]

fake