r/SolidWorks • u/Allergic2Humans • 6d ago

Hardware Clone solidworks for Linux/Mac?

Now that people are reverse engineering using AI and rebuilding products for different platforms, are there thoughts on doing this for solidworks? Not to be fully feature compliant because yes solidworks needs a lot of hardware optimization from windows but atleast something that works for intermediate levels?

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13

u/IntelligentRevenue39 6d ago

I don't need a 1:1 clone. Wishlist for anyone thinking about doing this:

  • keep all workflows the same so I won't have to learn a new system.
  • output in .sldasm, .sldprt, .slddrw, x_t, .dxf, .pdf, .step, .igs, .stl
  • make it hostable so multiple users can share a strong GPU and work off a browser, and I can manipulate an assembly with a tablet

6

u/mxracer888 5d ago

Unfortunately the sldasm/sldprt/slddrw file specs are not publicly published, so I don't believe it's possible to output on Solidworks file types in the way that ArtCraft did with Photoshop, Adobe published the .PSD file type specification so that's why he was able to do it.

I've looked at tackling the idea though, currently working on an implicit model CAD software that should give a solid base of features to pull over into a parametric software though

3

u/IntelligentRevenue39 5d ago

CREO and other packages can import SLDxxx so maybe someone's already figured out the formatting?

5

u/Neither-Goat6705 5d ago

They just extract the parasolid geometry stream from the file. File is most likely a Structured Storage formatted file developed by MS with a specific extension and there are common methods and tools to open and read the storage streams

3

u/mildw4ve 5d ago

I'm pretty sure adding Solidworks file support to software like CREO costs money for licensing, might be wrong.

2

u/mxracer888 3d ago

It is licensed. They'll give you the spec for money

1

u/IntelligentRevenue39 5d ago

Interesting case study. To avoid legal issues, then, I'd be all for something that works like Solidworks but outputs Parasolid

1

u/TheBlackComet 6d ago

OnShape. Browser based and made by the original Somidworks team. Not the exact same workflow, but very similar.

1

u/art-n-science 5d ago

Build it with HYPERTHREADING from the friggin ground up.

0

u/experienced3Dguy CSWE | SW Champion 6d ago

Have you looked at the xDesign apps? They are 100% developed by SOLIDWORKS and run in a browser, even on Linux machines, Android tablets, Apple devices, Chromebooks, etc. I run them on my Amazon Fire tablet. They are not native SOLIDWORKS files. Instead they use the CATIA geometry kernel. But they dp export in all the popular neutral file formats. You can share your Collaborative clous storage space with users and work on projects together. If your device has a dedicated GPU, that will enhance performance.

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u/IntelligentRevenue39 6d ago

I have looked into xDesign. It's $2500/yr, in case anyone else is curious

1

u/experienced3Dguy CSWE | SW Champion 6d ago edited 5d ago

That's the commercial pricing. Are you a commercial user? The Maker version (which prohibits commercial use) is $48USD annually (and currently on sale for $24USD thru the end of October). There is also a student license of the xApps, in case you are a student.

Maker discount code = HALLOWEEN50OFF

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u/IntelligentRevenue39 6d ago

I believe there is a cap to how much revenue an individual can make before needing to switch over to commercial ... still, for a web-based solution $24 isn't bad at all. Thanks for letting me know about the sale

1

u/experienced3Dguy CSWE | SW Champion 5d ago

Yep. $2000USD is the PROFIT (not revenue) limits for income derived from using the Maker versions. The terms of the license prohibit using it for freelance or consulting work, or commercial endeavours. It is strictly for hobbyist and personal use and is not intended for any serious form of freelance commercial use. An Etsy storefront, yes. An engineering consultancy, no.

0

u/ktm1001 5d ago edited 5d ago

And files are marked as maker version or something(or perhaps not editable). Nobody wants some strange files in their system. Totally useless...

1

u/experienced3Dguy CSWE | SW Champion 5d ago

Edible? 🤔

SOLIDWORKS for $2 a month is useless? 🤔

Strange files? 🤔

1

u/ktm1001 5d ago

Idk how it works.... But I'm sure files are flagged like they are educational licence or something. No company can't take them and use them in their assemblies. Perhaps like step, but then is whatever how I make them

1

u/experienced3Dguy CSWE | SW Champion 5d ago

Yes. The Maker version native .SLD**** files do carry a digital watermark that prevents them being used by commercial or student/academic licenses. It's no secret. That info is published in the Maker version FAQs and other product literature. What's the big deal about it? It keeps unscrupulous folks from abusing the service that SOLIDWORKS and Dassault are offering .

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