I have a client who needs files to work with in his pro version to create molds.
How can I make sure the files we send to him will work if we only have the educational version?
we were able to take blender files and thru magics create solids and opened them in solidworks.
to save as solidworks part files.
Jim
so you are saying there's no way to use the files by someone who has a commercial version?
or are you saying its unethical to work between education and industry?
I'm sure Josh will answer for himself, but it's my understanding that it's unethical to use the Educational version of Solidworks for commercial purposes (and probably leaves you vulnerable to legal action). It sounds like that might be what you're attempting to do. Is that not correct?
I was only made aware of this when we sent a file to the guy who is working on the molds, we are not really working on the project, we are simply transferring files form Blender into solid works so another pro can use them to work with. We do printing here at the college and help people get a start developing new products and industry. However I would like us to be able to work on projects for commercial use, but at the moment we only do prototyping help.
James Harmon wrote:
I was only made aware of this when we sent a file to the guy who is working on the molds, we are not really working on the project, we are simply transferring files form Blender into solid works so another pro can use them to work with. We do printing here at the college and help people get a start developing new products and industry. However I would like us to be able to work on projects for commercial use, but at the moment we only do prototyping help.
As Josh said, check with your VAR. There's an option for those situations that doesn't violate your licensing agreement.
James Harmon wrote:
so you are saying there's no way to use the files by someone who has a commercial version?
or are you saying its unethical to work between education and industry?
The person who is using the commercial version (assuming it's up to date) will have no difficulties opening and using your files.
It is unethical and against your licensing agreement for work done in the educational version to be used for commercial purposes.
If you are actually an educational institution doing academic work in partnership with an industry sponsor, you may want to consult with your VAR - I'm definitely no lawyer. If you're a business that's just trying to cheap out by using the student version, competing in the marketplace with companies that have paid for a proper commercial license, that's wrong.
Thanks for being frank. We are indeed an educational institution helping entrepreneurs and industry develop their use of 3D printing and CAD. Students work on real world solutions to learn and help get things moving. I believe our efforts promote the use of Solid works.
Hmm, definitely a tricky spot. The "client" wording is what set off my warning bells, but it's great for students to get some real-world exposure and get used to using commercial language... If I were in your shoes I would try to get VAR involvement. I imagine there's a line somewhere between what you're doing and having students do all the CAD work for a commercial venture. They should be able to help you find that line in a mutually beneficial way.
Thanks so much for this response, Josh, I will defiantly look into this with my VAR, and see how to proceed.
James Harmon wrote:
Thanks for being frank. We are indeed an educational institution helping entrepreneurs and industry develop their use of 3D printing and CAD. Students work on real world solutions to learn and help get things moving. I believe our efforts promote the use of Solid works.
So you don't take any payment for anything you do?
This just sounds all nonsense TBH.
You are teaching people the way of the world yet you don't understand the most basic terms of a educational license. I mean someone aged ten could understand what is spelt out under the use of the educational licence - it's not small print, it's not hidden away it is the main headline for the use of the software.
Actually we don't take money for most of what we do, we need payments for materials for printing, but that's about it.
And I am also not a lawyer. geez you guys are grumpy!
James Harmon wrote:
Actually we don't take money for most of what we do, we need payments for materials for printing, but that's about it.
And I am also not a lawyer. geez you guys are grumpy!
So why are you making molds? Is it just to see how something works and then gets scrapped?
Who doesn't take money for most of what you do? Your institution?
Am I correct in saying the people at the institution using the educational software are using it for real world projects?
Richard, if you read the messages you would realize I am not making any molds. we are only translating files to be used by pros who have solidworks pro.
I find your discourse to be pretty coarse and disagreeable, we are not using this educational software for commercial benefit, we are working to help spread the news about Cad and 3d printing, to a suffering industrial climate here in NEPA, and to educate students in real problems, I don't know what you mean about who doesn't take money, I'm guessing you couldn't possibly imagine not taking money for what you do. If you can't be helpful then please stop interrogating me about my goals, you have no idea what we do here and are making assumptions that are probably incorrect.
Richard, you can probably understand that some of us who pay for this product are sensitive about those that don't. We are subsidizing all of the educational licenses as well as 12.3 million pirated licenses in China.
Your situation was just a little questionable, that's all. Hope your question was answered, your edu files will open in pro as long as there is no version compatibility issues (ie you are in 2019 and whoever has pro is still on a version from a couple of years ago).
Thanks for your response Dan, I totally get it, but everyone jumped down my throat first, before trying to understand my problem. If anything I am an advocate for Solidworks and it's use, to receive insults about my intelligence along with threats, I don't consider good forum procedure.
Hello,
If, as you say, this is just a translation from Blender to SW and you're not adding an SW ops to the translation, then I suggest sending Parasolid files (x_t) to the "client" instead.
SW files will be stamped as EDU and once they leave your facility, you've lost control of their usage (and the files made from these SW files) even if this context is legit-ish.
If a dumb part (no feature tree ops) is what the Blender-to-SW file is, send the dumb Parasolid instead (File>Save as).
Kevin
Kevin,
Thanks for this! I'll try this, and see if that works, I just told the "client" I wasn't sure what we were doing this if he has a solidworks pro doing the work, I suspect he wants us to try it first so he doesn't waste the engineers time and his money. Anyway, I appreciate the insight on this and will try it for our own knowledge base. and let you know. AT this point the files open and with no tree of course, but appear the same as an stl file and not a solid, I've imported stl files before, and they do appear to be a solid with the same procedure. using the custom import and selecting solid.
Sorry, this is unethical and wrong.
Pro will be able to open educational version files. They will be watermarked as created by the student version. Any file that references a file that is watermarked will become watermarked itself.
If you are using SolidWorks for commercial purposes you must purchase a commercial license.