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Post by nigel21 on Mar 16, 2014 9:12:45 GMT
Hi all,
Just up graded my PC to windows 7 from XP, problem is my old cad programme Auto CAD LT will not work with new PC, seam to remember some time back somebody suggested a CAD programm on here.
I only realy use it to draw items I want to get laser cut but it was very useful.
Regards
Nigel
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Post by wdiannes on Mar 16, 2014 10:05:20 GMT
progeCAD is a clone of AutoCAD that is free to download in version 9 (which can be run on Windows 7 in compatibility mode) and the current version is not very expensive if you want full capabilities.
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uuu
Elder Statesman
your message here...
Posts: 2,808
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Post by uuu on Mar 16, 2014 10:19:12 GMT
I'm using Solid Edge 2D Drafting (Free 2D) from Siemens.
Since it's the only CAD I've ever used, I can't say how it compares to others. But it's free and seems to be very thorough.
Wilf
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Post by andrewsleigh on Mar 16, 2014 18:43:00 GMT
draftsight also.
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fang
Seasoned Member
Posts: 100
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Post by fang on Mar 16, 2014 22:31:20 GMT
The closest I've found to Autocad is draftsight. Totally free to download and use, you just have to update the license once a year, again totally free. Solid edge 2d drafting is totally different to use to Autocad, if your familiar with Autocad then draftsight would be the best for you. www.3ds.com/products-services/draftsight/overview/ |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 16, 2014 22:56:59 GMT
Thanks for the link fang... I've been wanting to get to grips with a CAD program.. a free program to play with helps... mind you after taking a quick look I'm lost...lol guess need to do a little R&D into Draftsight..
Cheers
Pete
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davet
Seasoned Member
Posts: 139
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Post by davet on Mar 17, 2014 0:14:29 GMT
Hi all
I have been using progeCAD for a while and it is good, menus and commands the same as AutoCAD. But with moving from windows xp to windows 7 was not good. progeCAD note that the program is not compatible with windows 7, running in compatibility mode in windows 7 has slowed it down and saving takes a long time.
I have now loaded dtaftsight, very good, very quick . The only minor complaint is that some the command are nit 100% as AutoCAD, changes are easily picked up.
If you are using windows 7 go for draftsight.
Kind regards
DaveT
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Post by Roger on Mar 17, 2014 8:16:45 GMT
Thanks for the link fang... I've been wanting to get to grips with a CAD program.. a free program to play with helps... mind you after taking a quick look I'm lost...lol guess need to do a little R&D into Draftsight.. Cheers Pete If you can get a free 3D CAD, I'd try that. 2D is fine but it's just a half way step and you still need to draw all of the views that you want. When you create a 3D model, it takes about the same amount of time to draw as in 2D but you can then just ask it to generate whatever views and sections you want. It's a much more powerful concept. |
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davet
Seasoned Member
Posts: 139
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Post by davet on Mar 17, 2014 8:45:39 GMT
Hi Roger
Can you suggest any free 3d cad packages ?
Kind regards
DaveT
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Post by Roger on Mar 17, 2014 8:59:09 GMT
Hi Dave,
One that fang (Andy) mentioned to me was FreeCAD, he's had a play with it an seemed impressed considering it's free. I've only used Alibre Design, now called Geomagic Design, so I don't know how any of the other stack up. For me, half of the issue is the 3D modelling/drawing and the other half is getting the CAM output.
My daughter's boyfriend recently got a cheap copy so he could share files with me, and I can add the CAM stuff without him buying that. I don't think it was outrageously expensive. If you don't have CNC then you don't need the CAM output which is separate from another company, Mecsoft.
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ennech
Active Member
Posts: 26
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Post by ennech on Mar 17, 2014 9:49:15 GMT
I agree with Roger. In my time I have done thousands of manual drawings but a few years ago I adopted Alibre (Geomagic)3D CAD and have been using it ever since. The big advantage you have with 3D CAD is visualisation and after that you get the 2D drawings for free. I would never go back to 2D again.
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Post by ejparrott on Mar 17, 2014 16:58:38 GMT
Anything above Win 7 Home has the ability to run an XP emulator, which will allow you to run AutoCad LT - I run 98 that way at work. The problem is the installer, rather than the program itself.
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fang
Seasoned Member
Posts: 100
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Post by fang on Mar 17, 2014 22:27:07 GMT
Having used Autocad, the nearest I have come across as proper free software is Draftsight. If all you want to do is create drawings to have laser cut parts cut from then if you like Autocad draftsight is ideal. Solidedge 2d is basically a 2d version of solidedge 3d, and works in a totally different way to autocad/draftsight. If you are not really a CAD person, and can only just draw 2d drawings on AutoCAD, then it will take a lot to learn a 3d programme, and for laser cut parts no benefit For those wanting a 3d package I'm playing around with freecad at the moment. It's totally free and open source so in theory should keep improving. www.freecadweb.org/ |
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Post by GWR 101 on Mar 24, 2014 13:54:31 GMT
Hi this morning I popped into my local model engineers who specialise in 1 gauge as I needed a few brass rivets. Whilst in the office there I noticed a 3D printer making some parts, I asked what they used as a drawing tool and they said SketchUp, which they say is free. Has anyone used this system and if so how do you rate it. Paul
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uuu
Elder Statesman
your message here...
Posts: 2,808
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Post by uuu on Mar 24, 2014 19:40:03 GMT
Tried it once, didn't like it. Fun, though. Perhaps I should try again.
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fang
Seasoned Member
Posts: 100
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Post by fang on Mar 24, 2014 19:48:00 GMT
I have tried sketch up. I lot of people seem to like it, but I didn't. I found it more of a creative 3d programme, rather than an engineering type programme. It seemed to lack some of the most basic functions, and I found it all a bit too cartoony for my liking!! I guess if you have never used a 3d programme, and you start out with this you might well get on ok, but as I'm used to 2d cad drawing, I found there was no natural progression to 3d with it.
Having said that I believe for proper 3d creativity, as in more like 3d sculpture, rather than engineering based stuff, it is probably pretty good!!
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Post by GWR 101 on Mar 24, 2014 19:57:21 GMT
Unfortunately my days in the Drawing Office were "T" squares and slide rules so I have completely missed the CAD era. It was their use of it as a 3D printer input tool that caught my attention, am I correct in assuming that most 3D drawing systems would work with these type of printers or is that a generalisation too far. Paul
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fang
Seasoned Member
Posts: 100
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Post by fang on Mar 24, 2014 20:27:22 GMT
You need another piece of software to run the 3d printer, so you can use pretty much any drawing package to draw what you want to print. 3D printing is the same really as cnc machining, you draw a pretty picture of what you want, run it through some other software to convert to code suitable for the final process, and then print, machine or whatever!!!
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fang
Seasoned Member
Posts: 100
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Post by fang on Mar 24, 2014 20:27:32 GMT
You need another piece of software to run the 3d printer, so you can use pretty much any drawing package to draw what you want to print. 3D printing is the same really as cnc machining, you draw a pretty picture of what you want, run it through some other software to convert to code suitable for the final process, and then print, machine or whatever!!!
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Geoff
Hi-poster
Posts: 169 
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Post by Geoff on Mar 24, 2014 22:42:35 GMT
I've played around with sketchup quite a bit and have drawn a loco on it but it took me FOREVER. One of the biggest issues with it is the way it draws circles, as triangular wedges, so its really hard to get an accurate intersection point.It drove me mad trying to draw the running boards and wheel splashers. Now, I'm not a draftie, and perhaps there is another way to make this work and those boys with their 3D printer must know something that I don't.
Sketchup is quite fun though.
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