July 25, 2016 - SolidWorks’ computer-aided drafting software is now available to EAA members as a free member benefit in the form of SolidWorks Student Design Kit—EAA Maker Edition.

The new benefit was announced Monday, July 25, by EAA Chairman and CEO Jack J. Pelton with Suchit Jain of SolidWorks and David Kasinskas of GSC.

The EAA Maker Edition of SolidWorks provides the ability to create fully detailed parts, assemblies, and drawings; the ability to generate complex surfaces, sheet metal flat patterns, and structural welded assemblies; and will include wizards to automate designs, check for interference, and perform simple stress and flow analysis.

Cirrus, MakerPlane, Rainbow Aviation, Sonex, Synergy, and Zenith are among the aircraft designers using SolidWorks software.

While the EAA Maker Edition license does not include technical support services, EAA members will also receive guest membership to MySolidWorks, which provides introductory lessons, access to the SolidWorks manufacturing network, and millions of components.

To help EAA members get started with the new SolidWorks member benefit, GSC, a 3-D engineering solutions provider and authorized vendor of SolidWorks, will conduct forums at its booth from 10 to 11:15 a.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday during AirVenture.

SolidWorks Student Design Kit—EAA Maker Edition is being provided for personal and educational purposes, but EAA members who desire to commercialize designs they produce with the software can work with GSC to convert their SolidWorks license.

More information is available at www.EAA.org/solidworks.