Is there a way to get a free copy of SolidWorks or AutoCAD through FIRST right now before Jan 3rd so our new Cadders and start going through the tutorials and start practicing (last years SolidWorks student edition expired a while ago…)
You can download them from FIRSTbase.
You must get your team password and permission to download from your teams main contact.
You might be able to get copies of solidworks through this website.
Contact Marie Planchard She is SW’s FIRST rep and will hook you up.
I think you may want Inventor and not AutoCAD though. AutoCAD is a 2D drawing program. Not many people use it in FIRST unless they’re real old school.
you can download Autodesk software at the FIRSTBase website (http://firstbasefrc.autodesk.com/?nd=home) or at the Autodesk Student Community (http://students6.autodesk.com/?lbon=1). Both sites require registration, but the registration, downloads, and a bunch of other useful info and tools are free.
Good luck!
That does seem to be the prevailing opinion. However, I would suggest to all draftsmen to learn how to use AutoCAD. It really allows you to understand how things used to be done and it helps you see ways of doing things(even in 3D) without all the tools. This allows you to gain speed and newfound ability at other tools such as Inventor. Not to mention: Inventor is almost unheard of in the industries, where as AutoCAD is very common.
Now, so this doesn’t become a debate in an unrelated thread. Feel free to make one post going further and let’s leave it at that.