Free CAD software?
- Thread starter markshan
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
Here's a list:
http://cad.about.com/od/Personal_CAD/tp/Five-Top-Free-Cad-Packages.htm
I have a free copy of AutoCAD, but I guarantee that doesn't fit your requirement of short learning curve.
http://cad.about.com/od/Personal_CAD/tp/Five-Top-Free-Cad-Packages.htm
I have a free copy of AutoCAD, but I guarantee that doesn't fit your requirement of short learning curve.
jhtstone
StarShine 10/23/2014
Thank-you for the links. That Google version might be worth playing with.
As for AutoCAD, as a first year student, I'm running the free student download of Mechanical 2013. As long as you are a student (I assume you are not), you get a free 3 year license of the educational version. I have it on both a desktop and laptop. It's been great fun learning what I have so far and I have seen what real skill can do with it.
Good luck.
As for AutoCAD, as a first year student, I'm running the free student download of Mechanical 2013. As long as you are a student (I assume you are not), you get a free 3 year license of the educational version. I have it on both a desktop and laptop. It's been great fun learning what I have so far and I have seen what real skill can do with it.
Good luck.
I was a student when I downloaded it two years ago. Challenging, but lots of fun. I wonder if it will still load...
markshan
Sir Thrift a Lot
Here's a list:
http://cad.about.com/od/Personal_CAD/tp/Five-Top-Free-Cad-Packages.htm
I have a free copy of AutoCAD, but I guarantee that doesn't fit your requirement of short learning curve.
I taught myself Photoshop, Au3 and ProTools. How does the learning curve on these compare? Thanks so much for the link.
mikte15
Active Member
After the head of our IT department decided we weren't going to maintain our upgrade and support for AutoCAD (we use Solidworks now) we had to rely on Draftsight to service our legacy ACAD designs.
http://www.3ds.com/products-services/draftsight/overview/
http://www.3ds.com/products-services/draftsight/overview/
markshan
Sir Thrift a Lot
It's good to have that recommendation. After looking at Fisherdude's link, I was torn between Google SketchUp and Draftsight. I thought maybe the Google would run on my Android, but I like that the Draftsight comes close to the industry standard.
You already used AutoCAD, so you may not be in the best position to tell me how the learning curve is, but perhaps you can give me some tips. Any pitfalls to watch out for? Thanks.
You already used AutoCAD, so you may not be in the best position to tell me how the learning curve is, but perhaps you can give me some tips. Any pitfalls to watch out for? Thanks.
GuyK
Addicted Member
I used Draftsight as well. It is only a 2d program, so if you need to work with 3d you're out of luck. Draftsight is almost an exact clone of Autocad ...the commands all worked the same, but some were labeled differently, and there is a short learning curve, but much is very intuitive. Want to draw a line? Type 'L'. Want a circle? Type 'C'. Things like that. It also uses a .dwg file, so any Cad variant should be able to open it. I don't remember what type file Sketchup used. I fought with that for a month before I gave up. After Autocad it seemed soooo primitive.
And I found bunches of tutorials online for using Draftsight.
And I found bunches of tutorials online for using Draftsight.
nashvillebill
Super Member
Draftsight for me, same interface as AutoCAD.
markshan
Sir Thrift a Lot
I'm pretty sure that 2D will be fine, but having never done this sort of thing before, I'm not 100% sure. It seems that in 2D you would just make a separate drawing from each aspect, wouldn't you?
GuyK
Addicted Member
Yes, that's the way I had to do this until recently (I was able to bring SurvCad home from work). You can still draw with perspective, but you'll have to know how to draft manually to know how to construct this. Easier to just draw each face of whatever object right next to each other in the same .dwg file. You can plot whatever part of the file you wish. What are you going to draft?
markshan
Sir Thrift a Lot
Wooden side panels and a sheet metal cover for a tube amp restoration. I see it very clearly in my mind, but that does the metal shop no good.
markshan
Sir Thrift a Lot
I'm on a Win7-64 box with a dual core 2.4. Not modern, but not ancient either.
GuyK
Addicted Member
Then you'll probably be ok in this regard. When I used Draftsight, I had to use my little notebook with an Intel Atom @ 1.6GHz and 1G RAM. Absolute bare minimum. The mouse would not quite keep up.
The parts you mention should be a piece of cake.
truevis
Well-Known Member
http://www.123dapp.com/ "123D Design is a free, powerful, yet simple 3D creation and editing tool"
