After my last post I decided to revisit the email chain I had going on with my CAD reseller regarding SP update.   Sent yet another friendly request and wouldn't you know it, received a quick reply saying oh sure no problem give us a call.   So I call and the individual I spoke with said all I needed to do was email their support team who would set me up with a download link.  Thats it??  Sent them an email and poof.  Done.  No charge.  Very happy camper right now.  Of course it was only a SP update for now older version but at least I can update windows if need be.   
 

Quote from: propforward on Apr 23, 2025, 11:52 AMI've been researching this a bit to help someone at work.

Onshape has a free version for Hobbyist users, and is well regarded. I intend to download it and try it, just to see how it is. Onshape requires cloud conectivity.

Solidworks for makers is significantly less expensive than Fusion, and allows you to install and store files locally.

I use Inventor and Solidworks every day, and Inventor doesn't even hold a candle to Solidworks. Autodesk products are about 10 years behind Solidworks.

Frankly, for a LOW COST CAD for home use, I recommend Solidworks for Makers. That's the direction I'll go when I can't afford 2.5K a year for engineering software.

Pity Solidworks have done such a crap job marketing their maker edition really.

Hmm I may need to investigate the "maker" edition.. 
I purchased a perpetual license of SW 2022 Standard back in late 2021 that still works perfectly except it runs on windows 10 but not on 11.   
So now if I want to keep my OS current and keep using SW, I have to have service pack 2.0 which they want me to pay essentially cost for another license.
Needless to say, that's not happening.

Let me just say I was on the drafting board for several years out of college in the 80's and have used AutoCad since essentially V1, Inventor since it's introduction late 90's and Solidworks since 2005
Problem I have is after using professional version CAD packages for so long, its very hard to go backwards to hobby type stuff.   Unless Autodesk offers a non-cloud based Fusion, that one is off my list.  Unfortunately dinosaurs like me are being forced out as most software is going cloud/subscription route.  SAS if you will.   I mean really why let people keep using something that works when you can force them into all the useless new features, flashy UI and keep them perpetually paying? 
Until I can figure out which way to go the old CAD workstation is staying Windows 10 and SW 2022  Air-gapped and sandboxed from the internet.

 

I'm 58 and retired this past May.  So far its been great no regrets.  Now my lawn finally can keep up with the neighbors LOL! and I get to the gym 3 days a week and do whatever I want during the day.  I've seen too many people my parents included, that worked to 67 or whatever and then die 5 years later.  Although I'm in very good health and plan to stay that way as long as possible, I decided my time left on earth is way more valuable than a few more $$  Fortunately, the live on way less than you earn ethos has allowed for the required savings and investments to do so.  I actually feel like I spend more money on life now than I did while working yet my net worth keeps increasing..   maybe due to the market lately so who knows so that will likely change.  For now though its working out. 

I was messing around on ChatGPT and decided to have a little fun. I asked it to design a two-cylinder Corliss engine to run at low RPM and put out 2 HP. What it came up with was rather interesting!

Bore and Stroke:  3" x 6"
60 PSI Mean Effective Pressure steam from a 120 PSI source
78 RPM
Flywheel diameter: 24"
Flywheel rim: 4" wide x 3.5" thick
Flywheel weight: 300 pounds
Crankshaft torque: 135 ft-lbs.

No, I do not intend to build such an engine! I just thought the details were rather neat and figured some of you would find them interesting as well.

In my case, I'm working and also trying to take care of my wife. I should say my daughter does most of the time. Taking her to her doctor appointments, getting test run, etc.

Hmmm, retirement, is that something like not going to work anymore? I think I did that part? But being at home now doesn't seem like I'm not going to work anymore. My wife has a honey-do list a mile long and is not getting any shorter. Could this be why the stats say wife's outlive the husbands?

My employer told me I couldn't retire. I will be 69 in January. Just went through the first round of kidney stone removal, two down, three more to go.
What has me pissed is Medicare. Just because I went on Disability at a early age for RH, I cannot get onto any of the part "G" insurance plans.  I can only get one of the Medicare Advantage plans.  For me to get the RH treatment I need, I can only afford it through a "G" plan.  Way too expensive if under a Advantage plan. Just a little "Heads Up"

So how many of us here are retired?  How many haven't but plan to soon?  Mostly just curious, no need to answer if you don't want to.

I reach my full retirement age next April at 66 and 10 months. Still feeling good, strength and balance are both good, and they say a body in motion tends to stay in motion. I might just wait and go out at 68 instead, but not sure what I should do. I can tell that I'm not as young as I once was, but I am doing better physically than a lot of my high school classmates.

My employer REALLY wants me to stay on. My pay is better than I've ever made, last year they purchased a new excavator for me, in August I got a new truck, and last week I picked up a brand-new lowboy for hauling the excavator. I am currently training my son to take over my spot when I do retire.

I still need to spend some serious money on my house, and I want to insulate and heat my shop/garage. It all costs money and working an extra year would really help with that expense instead of using retirement funds.

On the other hand, I would like to enjoy retirement for a little while, I certainly don't want to be one of those guys that works a few extra years, finally retires only to fall over dead very shortly after. My wife is three years younger than I am, so she is going to work a little longer if her health allows.

Decisions, decisions.  

I almost forgot to add a photo of the castings that I purchased from Gary Martin while I attended the show.

In the pic you will find two (2) cast iron six-inch flywheel castings, with six tapered spokes.  There is also a cast iron 12" camelback straight edge and a silicon bronze 6" camelback straight edge. 

Now I have work to do!