Hi guys
I understand the very subjective nature of this request, but nonetheless I need to find a more modern program to replace my venerable Solidworks 2008. It was given to me years back by someone who had bought it for semi professional use, and he moved on to a newer better program and let me have the now surplus copy of Solidworks. I have become very proficient at using it for the tasks I need it for, which is relatively simple 3d part design for 3d printed parts and bits an bobs I make on my CNC router and laser cutter, together with CAD and CamBam. Please understand that I am only using a small fraction of what it is capable of, but need no more.
The problem is that it only runs on Win XP machines, and that mean that now I can only use it on an old laptop specifically set up for it. It also means I can't import files to it, as it is not compatible with the newer stuff.
Solidworks suits me because of the fact that it fits my thinking concepts in terms of the way I design things - the extrusion, cut hole, rotate to form a solid, they all fit my rather prosaic engineering way of thinking about a task. I tried Autocad, but just couldn't get my head around it. I know there is a learning curve, but somehow the philosophy Solidworks employs just works well with me.
So if I was looking for (preferably free of course) similar capability and useability software, what would you guys point me to? Remember, I am not interested in advanced physical modelling, photo realistic rendering, I just need a simple to use engineering orientated modern CAD program that runs on modern hardware and software. It doesn't have to do anything else that Solidworks can't do.
Cheers
Les