SolidWorks 3D CAD

What do you like best?

Solidworks is a good software. I use it for all my cad work from Fea, rendering, cad drafting, laser cutting pattern design, and machine analysis. I learned using this software at school and is a basis for most of the cad systems I learn. SOlidworks have a user-friendly interface and good plugins. I like the fact that you get to pay for only the systems that you want.

What do you dislike?

The Fea is very limited. Although it's good for people who are starting to learn FEA, there is limited meshing control, dynamic analysis, and post-elastic analysis. I would like the software to improve FEA analysis options. There are also limited 2D drawing capabilities as compared to auto cad. You can not also nest your laser parts together, as to export them as one file. The software is very expensive. Small start-up companies will never use this software as the pricing is too much.

Recommendations to others considering the product:

Solidworks is easy to use. Learning it is easy but the software is expensive. An alternative that is cheaper is fusion 360. It has the same functionality, a bit frustrating but good for a small startup

What problems are you solving with the product? What benefits have you realized?

I design mechanical systems on solidworks. This software makes it easy. I also do laser-cut drawings on the software. However, nesting capabilities are limited. All bending drawings are easy to do on solidworks as all calculations are done. I use it to quickly check my FEA calculations.