Solidworks 2015 - On the fence about purchasing

[SPEKTRE76]

Hello all,

I am a CATIA user and have been for a year (student version obviously). I want to drop the hammer on SW2015. It's considerably cheaper from what I have seen and they offer 36mo financing at 0%. So, it's about $150.00mo to buy it. CATIA from what I "hear"; is $20,000.00 or more per seat. I really like CATIA and all of it's powerful features but what is truly the difference? I can surface, create solids and simulate just like in CATIA. I don't plan on starting an Aerospace Co. I just want to design products for that industry, namely safety products. Is SW up to the task?

Thanks,

Isaac

 

[MrCATIA]

What does your employer/customer use? Do they have any requirements that you provide CAD data in a certain format?

 

[SPEKTRE76]

What does your employer/customer use? Do they have any requirements that you provide CAD data in a certain format?

My employer (Boeing) uses CATIA. I don't have any customers. I just want to be able to design products that can actually be made. I plan on buying a Maker-bot plastic printer and an X-Carve CNC router. I'd like to start creating quadcopter drones and replacement aluminum parts for customers that need stuff like that. Basically a freelancer hobbyist is what I want to be.

 

[SPEKTRE76]

...........And I want to make a flight safety device for navigation and flight information using my prior Naval Air Traffic Control knowledge and experience. I'll explain in in greater detail in a PM to you if you like. I don't want to publicly broadcast it.