How good is solidworks and what can you achieve career wise with it,?
Asked by mark
The thing is i just started a new job as a design engineer working with solidworks i was a draughtsman in my previous jobs i have AutoCAD experience 2d and 3d in mechanical and HVAC can solidworks benifit me even more and if anyone is the same as me what career path would you choose. I really want at least 3 or 4 yrs experience of solidworks first

Best Answer:
I love solidworks, I never thought I would switch from AutoCAD, I have used it for a long while now and would not recomend anything else.
Certified Solidworks user
Answered by Zenkai

Solidworks is a good program...it rates up there with AutoCad. For high end CAD, engineers kind of look down on it though. They prefer Catia or something of that caliber.
Answered by Lord Tyrant

Hi I'm a self employed design engineer and been involved in CAD since 1982 (long time). I have used most cad packages over the years AutoCad, Pro-E, UG but currently use Solidworks as my main design package, with a few customers still requesting Autocad format drawings. SW allows me to out-put these from my 3D models using DWG-editer. Pound per Pound Solidworks is very good value and easier to learn than some of the high-end packages like UG and Catia. The user base is also larger with SW and as such will give you more career options but probably at a lower salary. You should look into whats used in your industry - is their a preference. ie the Aero-space industry tends towards UG and Catia. I work in the plastic parts industry and SW is becoming the industry std - 3d Hope that helps.
Answered by nevillewebster@btinternet.com