Advice on DT software in use

[themightymrp]

I'm trying to find out what software other schools are using in their DT departments. Amongst others, we are still running Corel Draw X3 (yikes!) and Solidworks 2013 (another yikes!). Neither of these play particularly well with Windows 10, worse on 1909. I've managed to use workarounds and fixes to get them functioning but could really do with getting some updated versions.

 

We use Corel Draw to also connect to our laser cutter (Laserpro Spirit GE). I've spoken with the teachers down there and they have struggled using Adobe Illustrator as an alternative, probably because of the learning curve. I've installed Inkscape for them to try out but have not received much in the way of favourable feedback.

 

Is Corel Draw something that people still use? I like to, where possible, provide software that gives as close to a real-world experience as possible. I don't know anyone using Corel anymore?!

 

Is there anything else I should be looking at? Or do you recommend pushing for the upgrades of these? In which case I'll have to go begging for extra cash come April.

 

Cheers

[synaesthesia]

It'll be tough as with changing tech the software needs to follow suit, and you ideally can't go head first just replacing software - you'll need to liaise closely with the staff involved and SLT as it'll likely involve training/CPD which generally isn't going to be down to you.

We use Solidworks (on subscription so always latest version) and 2D Design from TechSoft - I have the latest version in front of me and without kidding, it's on 3.5" floppy. Still, somehow suprisingly, still works and unlike Solidworks will deploy to a whole IT suite in about 30 seconds

Our cutting equipment still relies on legacy hardware so is on a standalone laptop on XP!

[themightymrp]

Yes we still have 2D Design too, as ancient as it is Our laser cutter laptop is actually running Windows 10 with my butchered version of Corel X3 and is working fine. It was more a case of wanting to NOT have to buther around to make it work :-/

 

Currently we deploy a 1909 image to DT with all the software included, except Corel. Later in the task sequence, after the image is deployed, it adds on Corel and sets to necessary fixits. If I try to incorporate it into the image, sysprep fails.

[rad]

Autodesk Fusion 360, just annoying home pcs update and the school ones need a manual update.

[PotNoodleTech]

We use Serif Drawplus X8 and 2D Design tools. They are both old but luckily appear to work OK on Win10.

 

In terms of the future, who knows. They're trying out Google Sketchup and Fusion360 but Fusion is a pain in the butt requiring every pupil to have alog in and not believing you are a school etc. Yuk, It's cloud software done wrong.

[Primus]

There's a new version just out of 2D Design - it's now called TS Design v3.

[synaesthesia]

Can't knock Techsoft, we were worried that V2 wouldn't work on Windows 7. Still going strong on 1909, especially considering the storage medium we have for it

 

And still not bad on pricing compared to some software!

[noelmm]

We use Autodesk Inventor, Autodesk Fusion 360, 2D Design, the Serif Suite, Photoshop CS6 and PicAxe for electronics. I'm trying to convince our new Head of DT to phase some of the software out as there is a lot in use for the same reason but at the moment that isn't going to happen.

[PyROm]

We use PTC ProDesktop 8.0 for 3D stuff (replaced with proengineer now but too complicated) and 2D Design. We have just updated to TS Design v3 which has a lot of improvements (eg. multiple undo`s). For laser cutting we design in 2D Design then export as dxf and import into laser cut/easy cut (same program different logos). We ran solidworks for a while but the teachers found it too complicated.

[kennysarmy]

We're running:

 

Corel X6

SpaceClaim 2019 R3

 

SketchUp

KeyShot 8

PICAXE Editor 6

Sweet Home 3D

[chazzy2501]

We're stuck on Windows 8.1 in Tech as CorelX4 is a hard no on Windows 10.

 

Software Windows 8.1, Corel Draw X4, Boxford Design tools, 2d design, Inventor 2019, Serif X4 and Office 2013.

 

[mavhc]

Autodesk stuff is free, although a pain to setup, wrote a post about it, had to use IE to register the key server.

 

FreeCAD is good, and free, installed via chocolatey

 

Sketchup is online, free and has Google OAuth

[Boredguy]

Sketchup is online, free and has Google OAuth

It also works with Office 365 SSO so you don't need to bother with Google

[hardtailstar]

2D Design still rocking.

 

School wont pay for upgrade!

[themightymrp]

We're stuck on Windows 8.1 in Tech as CorelX4 is a hard no on Windows 10.

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]56719[/ATTACH]

 

We have X3 but I've managed to get it working on Windows 10 1909. The trick is to install it AFTER the main image has deployed, not incorporate it into the image. I've used a Powershell script to sort the registry key permission automatically after its installed which makes the Start Menu and Windows apps work again. After testing it still allows Windows updates to install which is what I was worried about.

 

Happy to share the script if you want to have an experiment?

[Gusto_r53]

How are you guys deploying 2D Design? Im a fairly new IT Tech who's currently upgrading machines to Win10 and sorting apps out for departments and i can't seem to get 2D Design to deploy via GPO. Got a folder in the NETLOGON Share where all other apps/scripts sits with the MSI the LIC and the Config file but it just skips over it. Also tried a .Bat to run the msi but it just flashed up during boot and ignores it. Permission on the folder look fine too. Anyone who can give me some heads up on what i could be missing?

 

Here we use Solid Works/2D Design/ also got the serif suit.

[PyROm]

I just installed it locally on my machine, then copied the installed files to a network share and put a shortcut on the desktop, you could also just create a bat to copy it to their program files I believe.

[mavhc]

surprising the number of programs that works for, so much stuff I just put on a network drive, saves installing locally.

[Arthur]

There's a new version just out of 2D Design - it's now called TS Design v3.

I wonder if TechSoft will ever make a web-based version of 2D Design (ideally before 2030-2040)!

[keyboards]

How are you guys deploying 2D Design? Im a fairly new IT Tech who's currently upgrading machines to Win10 and sorting apps out for departments and i can't seem to get 2D Design to deploy via GPO. Got a folder in the NETLOGON Share where all other apps/scripts sits with the MSI the LIC and the Config file but it just skips over it. Also tried a .Bat to run the msi but it just flashed up during boot and ignores it. Permission on the folder look fine too. Anyone who can give me some heads up on what i could be missing?

 

Here we use Solid Works/2D Design/ also got the serif suit.

 

Should deploy easily, from memory place the msi and the lic key in a share holder on the network and gpo deploy it, I'll double check tomorrow

 

We have sketchup local and google, 2ddesign and solidworks which I'm convinced no one really knows how to use and we don't really need

 

Edited May 4, 2020 by keyboards

[noelmm]

I run a batch file that runs the msi and then copies the license file over into the program folder.

[Gusto_r53]

Thanks for the replies guys! We got it deploying from our deployment server via MDT after imaging. It was the first thing i tried and it just worked so i left it ahahah! The school was using an old sketchup version so i got us the google web browser one as its one less thing to push out via GPO's and we also use 2014-2015 Solid works!

[headoned]

Did you manage to deploy keyshot? we have had no end of issues with it! any pointers?

[themightymrp]

Never used it, how are you deploying it? I assume you've followed this page?

 

https://manual.keyshot.com/manual/installation/silent-install-pc/

[headoned]

The silent install isn't the issue is the fact that for shared computers the resources folder is writable and students will simply overwrite each other's settings