New CAD Forum Site

With SolidWorks announcement that they are pushing their Forum to the 3D Experience site, I thought this might be a good time to create an independently run forum managed by a face familiar to the community.

So I’m officially announcing the newly minted CAD Forum. I know, a very creative name, that’s kind of my specialty, thanks for noticing. There are a few ways to get there. You can click on the image above, or this link or just key in https://www.cadforum.net.

This place is so new that I ask you not to lean on the walls, you may get wet paint on your shirt. And you may have to bring your own chair, as we’re running low.

Why do we need a new CAD Forum? We all have known the day was coming when SolidWorks pulled the plug on the forum. They changed SolidWorks World to 3DExperience world, and after that it was just a matter of time. They’ve been adding a lot of moderation to the old forum, possibly as a way to start making it less palatable to the people who visit frequently.

This morning I got an email from SolidWorks that made it official. From We-Care-Feedbacks no less! I think the switch pulling date is April 2. Which is of course the day after April fools day, but I get the feeling that this is no joke. The DS people have long been jealous of SW’s success, and now they get to either destroy it or steal it or both.

So how are we going to attract new people? Well, you’re reading this, right? And you’re going to forward this to all your friends, right? And you use a bunch of social media apps, right? That’s how. You’re going to do it for me. This will only work if we get a lot of people coming here. And from the looks of things there will be plenty of people looking for a new home, because the 3DXperience 3DSwym or whatever you call it is going to come up short.

At least we have an excuse. No budget. Brand new site (like I just registered it before lunch kind of new), and run by some renegade amateur. It’s so new, I haven’t even banned Jon Ban*er yet!! Now that’s new.

Anyway, it doesn’t look like much now, but it soon will. Plus, we’re going to include more than just SolidWorks. I’ll have sections for other CAD aficionados there as well. And you can still bring your kitty litter and water coolers and other off-topic junk because there will be a home for that too.