As I mentioned in a post last week, I finally have SolidWorks 2009 on my desktop. Unfortunately, the project I’ve been working on all these months just got shelved, so I was only able to mess around with the files a little before we archived. However, they’re firing up another project and, it would appear, they’re going to keep me around. This will provide me the opportunity to create a similar project, mostly from scratch, in 2009.
My first impression of 2009? Not too bad, but it’s a first impression with limited use. The install went smoothly, I haven’t had any template issues and nothing seems too amiss. I am developing a love/hate relationship with the dynamic sketch dimensioning. First, it didn’t appear to work. Then I realized you had to tick the ‘Keep Dimensions’ box. Ok, no worries there, though not overly intuitive. However, between the dimensions and auto-relations, I keep getting sketches that are over-defined. I’m hoping it’s just because I’m being an idiot and not one of those new features that are only half done. Time will tell.
Creating a sheet metal part from a solid is pretty slick. I created a semi-complex part and SolidWorks gave me a sheet metal part in no time. I’ve always been a proponent creating sheet metal parts as sheet metal from the get-go. With this new functionality, I could definitely see myself changing my stance. Again, time will tell.
While I opened up the "old" project’s drawings in ’09, and they did open faster, I really haven’t gotten into any of the new functionality available. That will come in a few weeks when we start producing the drawings for the new project.
Currently, I’d give SolidWorks 2009 a ‘B-’. I haven’t experienced any of the issues I’ve seen reported elsewhere but, aside from the sheet metal improvement, I haven’t seen anything Earth shaking either. The sad thing is I’ll be at SolidWorks World in just a few weeks and on the last day we’ll see a preview of SolidWorks 2010 which will only wet my appetite for all the new functionality.
Time will tell.
