ThirtyOneDriver
Johnathan (John)
Obviously (from other posts) a SW user here:
@PeterT; I've had a cracked version of SW, a student edition, a 'maker' edition and then the 'Veteran' edition - I've never saved to a cloud. I believe that there are trackers imbedded in the .sldprt files but can neither confirm/deny that as a fact. I do know that the fines from SW for using unlicensed software can be hefty and that a friend's commercial business (10 employees, not everything was SW dependent) attracted enough attention to get a visit from SW reps; luckily for my friend, although he hadn't started using the subscription and all of the PCs were still using cracked versions, he had purchased a license shortly before the visit (unintentional coincidence).
The SW 2021 version that I have has a CAM add-in/application - I'm not sure if that's a new this past year feature or not.
It also has a Plastic add-in that allows slicing and 3D Printing (I'm still using Cura as that's what my friend introduced me to originally).
@TorontoBuilder - what versions of the files are you downloading from McMaster Carr (.sldprt I think is what I'm grabbing)? The ones that I've downloaded, opened w/ SW and then saved as an .STL have had threads, etc. and when opened into Cura and printed, they've been accurate.
*in no way am I advocating for or against any 3D CAD service/program
I don't remember if I published this information on my introduction thread or not - it's my belief that SW is provided (free) to active military to encourage use by the defence manufacturing industry (more of a states thing) - it could be simpler than that (I've been told the initial designer/programmer/owner was a U.S. Vet and it could just be a patriotic thing) but I think there's enough of the industry described to create a micro-economy.
When I was 'paying' for the 'maker' license, it was $99 CAD for the year - anything that I've posted since joining could have been done/created w/ that version. I have a "product line" of 3D printed objects for use w/ racing cars (10ish unique designs) that were all created w/ SW, some w/ 'maker' version.
Hopefully the information is useful to someone.
@PeterT; I've had a cracked version of SW, a student edition, a 'maker' edition and then the 'Veteran' edition - I've never saved to a cloud. I believe that there are trackers imbedded in the .sldprt files but can neither confirm/deny that as a fact. I do know that the fines from SW for using unlicensed software can be hefty and that a friend's commercial business (10 employees, not everything was SW dependent) attracted enough attention to get a visit from SW reps; luckily for my friend, although he hadn't started using the subscription and all of the PCs were still using cracked versions, he had purchased a license shortly before the visit (unintentional coincidence).
The SW 2021 version that I have has a CAM add-in/application - I'm not sure if that's a new this past year feature or not.
It also has a Plastic add-in that allows slicing and 3D Printing (I'm still using Cura as that's what my friend introduced me to originally).
@TorontoBuilder - what versions of the files are you downloading from McMaster Carr (.sldprt I think is what I'm grabbing)? The ones that I've downloaded, opened w/ SW and then saved as an .STL have had threads, etc. and when opened into Cura and printed, they've been accurate.
*in no way am I advocating for or against any 3D CAD service/program
I don't remember if I published this information on my introduction thread or not - it's my belief that SW is provided (free) to active military to encourage use by the defence manufacturing industry (more of a states thing) - it could be simpler than that (I've been told the initial designer/programmer/owner was a U.S. Vet and it could just be a patriotic thing) but I think there's enough of the industry described to create a micro-economy.
When I was 'paying' for the 'maker' license, it was $99 CAD for the year - anything that I've posted since joining could have been done/created w/ that version. I have a "product line" of 3D printed objects for use w/ racing cars (10ish unique designs) that were all created w/ SW, some w/ 'maker' version.
Hopefully the information is useful to someone.
