Budgeting for Solid Works

[angleburt]

I am putting together a business plan and am looking for input on original purchase price and then cost of yearly maintenance for Solid Works (sheet metal required).

I have searched this forum and found anywhere from 4k to 8k for initial purchase - I am assuming this is a one time fee and the maintenance contract is used to obtain the latest versions?

I will be starting a small design/engineering company and will rely heavily on solid works for design - with one seat only being required.

Thanks in advance

Angleburt

 

[TheTick]

Maintenance is roughly 20% of purchase price.

Don't forget training. Also, count on SW being the driving force that obsoletes your workstations.

 

[cedarbluffranch]

The problem with SolidWorks is you will need maintenance to continue getting updates. I haven't used it in two years, but last time I used it the software was full of little annoying bugs and they released updates every 2-3 months to fix it. It wasn't anything bad but you did need the newest version.

The other problem is the models are not backwards compatible, so if you ever share models with people outside the company, you can only open models that are made with your version or earlier. If an outside shop has a newer version, you can't open their models.

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

SolidWorks Standard 2009 = $4834 + $1537
SolidWorks Professional 2009 = $6643 + $1809
SolidWorks Premium 2009 = $9674 + $2414

The lack of backwards compatibility is the same for the vast majority of solid model systems.

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it"
New SPs are only necessary if they fix a problem you are having.

 

[angleburt]

Thanks - I currently use solid works on a daily basis - and to be honest, couldnt see doing custom design build assemblies with out it -

CorBlimeyLimey - Thanks for the response!

All of the mentioned issues above have been noticed, but we currently manage to get around the little issues -

Tim

 

[MiketheEngineer]

Call Solidworks for pricing??

 

[tygerdawg]

Ditto MikeTheEngineer.

Get your allocated reseller's name from SW Corp. Call around and get the others in your area. Call them. Set up a relationship. The economy's in the tank, they are giving steep discounts. Even if they aren't, ask them for one to get the best price. I'm in the middle of re-establishing a SW presence in a company and the sales lady won't stop calling me with discounts and offers, trying to book a sale before the quarter ends.

TygerDawg
Blue Technik LLC
Virtuoso Robotics Engineering

http://www.bluetechnik.com