Any Freelance Engineers Out There?

"Kailand09" (kailand09) 11/02/2014 at 16:25 • Filed to: None

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I really want to get into some freelance myself, need some advice.

Namely, I'm looking into MCAD packages, and honestly the big names are way out of my budget range. I see there are plenty of free-$500 range options out there, and just don't know if they are even useable in the professional environment.

I also have a few projects I need to start designing, and need the software for that. I don't want to rely on my works' solidworks and sit in the office longer just to use their software, not to mention if I want to freelance that becomes an issue.

Anyone tried anything like FreeCAD or alibre?

IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK > Kailand09 11/02/2014 at 16:31

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Honestly you probably need Pro-E, Solidworks or catia. None are cheap. Maybe try to get your hands on a student version? Or there is always this thing called bittorrent.

Kailand09 > IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK 11/02/2014 at 16:33

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IDK, from what I hear the lower cost ones can be OK. The big ones are way too expensive really for something I don't know will end up returning my investment.

For professional use, I refuse to use a student version or go illegal.

bob and john > Kailand09 11/02/2014 at 16:35

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then you SOL. no 2 ways about it.

BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest. > Kailand09 11/02/2014 at 16:36

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With Autodesk, the student versions are the same, just with a three year limited license.

Baeromez > Kailand09 11/02/2014 at 16:43

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1. torrent the software

2. earn money using software

3. buy software

4.????

5. profit

I'm sure the software companies would rather you 'rent to own' than simply not purchase their product.

Kailand09 > BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest. 11/02/2014 at 16:44

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yes, but I presume it cannot be used for freelance work? It is labeled "student version", and I am not a student.

Kailand09 > Baeromez 11/02/2014 at 16:46

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while true, it still bugs me on the ethical issue it raises. Everyone has done it, but if I intend to use it for profitable purposes, not only do I personally believe it is wrong, but the consequences could be a lot more than I'd prefer to put myself up to.

IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK > Kailand09 11/02/2014 at 16:47

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Well then youll have to pony up the cash or abandon your idea. Starting a business involves risk, no such thing as a free lunch.

BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest. > Kailand09 11/02/2014 at 16:56

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It's not actually. It's just the full version that expires after three years. That's all. I use it in college with no problem.

Baeromez > Kailand09 11/02/2014 at 17:01

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I can definitely understand not wanting to risk exposure to the "justice" system. Morally speaking though, it's equatable to walking into a store, looking at an apple, magically creating a clone of that apple out of thin air, then walking out of the store without paying. You haven't stolen anything, though the grocer would argue that you're benefiting from his work without compensating him. That's not stealing though.

Montalvo > BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest. 11/02/2014 at 17:08

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It isn't the same, the program itself is but the license is definitely not. If you are running a business then you need the appropriate license. The student license is for students who are using it for schoolwork and personal use. It is the reason why you can get student licenses for like 10% of the cost.

BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest. > Montalvo 11/02/2014 at 17:11

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The student license is completely free, you just need to prove that you attend a University or College.

http://www.autodesk.com/education/free…

Kailand09 > Baeromez 11/02/2014 at 17:12

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yeah, hitting that grey area. IDK, just rather not risk it.

Kailand09 > BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest. 11/02/2014 at 17:13

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That's the problem, I won't be using it for student purposes and am not currently a student. basically what M5 said.

Kailand09 > IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK 11/02/2014 at 17:15

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Well that's why I'm looking for input on the lower cost software packages. They may have their merits until I actually have enough business to buy the bigger stuff.

I also may not enjoy running freelance on my own, I'd just like to dabble a bit for fun and see what I think.

Yogurt > Kailand09 11/02/2014 at 18:06

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Even though purchasing a seat of Solidworks or whatever may seem out of your price range, you are usually able to deduct the full amount of it from your taxes as a business expense if you are doing freelance work with it. Additionally, sometimes it knocks you down a tax bracket which can be an added bonus to reducing the cost.

Jayhawk Jake > Baeromez 11/02/2014 at 18:31

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That example isn't really accurate. It's more like going to an apple orchard, taking some apples, then selling them while giving zero kickback to the grower.

You're using someone's software for your own profit without permission. It's pretty clearly illegal, and very questionably ethical.

IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK > Kailand09 11/02/2014 at 19:00

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If it's just dabbling right now why don't you ask your boss if you can use your work's software after hours? It's software it's not like it costs them anything extra. I don't know what type of relationship you have with you boss but that might be the best option for now. If the dabbling goes well then buy a full licence.

Kailand09 > IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK 11/02/2014 at 20:54

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I have thought about this for my personal side projects, though I currently have one thing going on that is working for someone else, so that's part of it.

I'm fairly new at my work, so don't want to push any buttons at this point. Though it is always good that engineers are expanding their knowledge outside of work, I'd say.

Kailand09 > Yogurt 11/02/2014 at 20:56

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I thought about this, but there are costs to running a business and taxes associated, no? My dad thinks it isn't worth declaring it a business at this point, though neither of us has experience with the freelance world. I definitely break that cost in taxes I pay every year haha. Though you can't really write off all of your taxes from income either.

Montalvo > BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest. 11/02/2014 at 21:32

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This is directly from Solidworks agreement and terms of service. The problem is that you are trying to earn money off of a license that explicitly states that you cannot do so. In order to use this program in a business sense you need to purchase the appropriate license which will have different restrictions and agreements. By using the program you are entering into a contract and you can be prosecuted by the means stated within it. Here are two excerpts regarding the limitations placed on the student license.

"Eligibility for Student Edition License; Distinctions from Commercial Version. You acknowledge that Student Edition Licenses are provided to individual students and faculty at accredited educational institutions at prices that are significantly less than the prices to commercial users. As a consequence, Student Edition Licenses contain use restrictions that are not found in commercial licenses of the Software. Only students and faculty who meet the following criteria are qualified to purchase Student Edition Licenses:

— You are a current, degree-, diploma-, or certificate-seeking student or full-time faculty member at an accredited educational institution. A degree-, diploma-, or certificate-seeking student is defined as a student who can confirm enrollment in three credit hours of courses per semester and is accepted into a degree- or diploma-granting program OR can confirm enrollment in a certificate-granting program having a duration of four or more months.

— You plan to use the Software and the files created by the Software for your personal learning purposes ONLY, e.g., not for in-person, remote or online instruction; independent consulting work; or any commercial purpose whatsoever. You may, however, use the Software and such files for any preparation of instructional materials for your own use."

"OTHER RESTRICTIONS ON USE. This Agreement is your proof of license to exercise the rights granted herein and must be retained by you. You may not use any portion of the Software separately from or independently of the Software and other than for your normal educational purposes. You may not provide access to or use of the Software to any third party; consequently, you may not sell, license, sublicense, assign, transfer, lease or rent (including via an application service provider (ASP) or timeshare arrangement) the Software or the license granted by this Agreement. You may not modify or make works derivative of the Software and you may not analyze for purposes competitive to DS SolidWorks, reverse-engineer, decompile, disassemble or otherwise attempt to discover the source code of the Software (except in accordance to Article 9 of this Agreement, if applicable), as it contains trade secrets (such as the Software's structure, organization, and code) of DS SolidWorks and its licensors. You may not use any computer hardware or software designed to defeat any copy protection or use limitations contained in the Software. You may not use the Software, the files generated by the Software, or Documentation for any commercial purpose nor may you enable others to use the files generated by the Software for any commercial purpose, such as distributing a file to a commercial entity; therefore, DS SolidWorks reserves the right to prevent files created by the Software from being read by commercial versions of DS SolidWorks software. You may not use the Software or Documentation for any purpose unless you meet the eligibility criteria outlined above."

Yogurt > Kailand09 11/07/2014 at 18:42

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Yes, there are costs associated with running business but there are also advantages like tax write offs and legal liability protection is some cases. (So your personal assets are separate and somewhat protected in case the business gets sued)

If you end up doing more and more freelance work to the point where you don't need a day job, I would look at creating business as it makes more sense then.