Affordable CAD software?.

[Bob McParticipant @bobmc91481]

Please let me know if this has already been discussed, however I can't find any reference in the Threads for this topic.

I would like to make a start producing drawings using some sort of CAD, however I was blown away when I saw the price of Autocad..!!

is there anything that would be suitable for model engineers and which could be used for uploading to ME magazine for example, surely there must be something reasonably priced….well less than £50 in my case or its out of my league.

Have looked on Ebay and although there are copies of what is claimed to be Autocad, it appears that they are either free trials or somewhat legally 'iffy'; in the first case I don't want drawings disappearing from my files after a certain time, and in the second case I don't want to end up in clink..!!

[Bob McParticipant @bobmc91481]

Would like to use CAD but software seems expensive.

[TSHParticipant @tsh73987]

Hi Bob,

If you are content to use a 2D package you might like to look at Solid Edge 2D which is free so long as you register with Siemens. See **LINK**

There's a bit of a learning curve but there are plenty of tutorial videos and other resources online.

Good luck.

Trevor

[John HinkleyParticipant @johnhinkley26699]

I use QCAD from ribbonsoft.com. It's free, open source software, unless you want to upgrade to the professional package (around £20). Suits me fine. Try it – after all it won't cost you anything. You'll doubtless get everybody suggesting their own favourite flavour of program, so I thought I'd get in first!

John

Or, more accurately, second!  Trevor beat me to it.

Edited By John Hinkley on 12/12/2015 20:02:18

Edited By John Hinkley on 12/12/2015 20:03:27

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

Draftsight is free and popular.

The way to search the forum is to go to the home page of the whole site not the forum and a little way down you will see a box called 'google search' which works much better than the forum search. enter "drawing" and see what comes up.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Have a look at the threads within the "CAD- Technical drawing and design" topic here

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

For 2D drawings my vote is for QCad too. Although the free version is sufficient for most purposes I paid for the Pro version because it has extras that simplify some common drawing functions. QCad is relatively straightforward to use.

A disadvantage of full featured packages like Autocad is the learning curve. They include functionality you may not ever need.

I use FreeCAD to experiment with parametric modelling. It's a development project and a bit prone to crashing. Nonetheless I've found it very useful for learning about 3D design and, in the real world, for visualising complex objects. There are some good tutorials on the web.

 

 

Edited By SillyOldDuffer on 12/12/2015 21:12:58

[John BaronParticipant @johnbaron31275]

Qcad gets my vote too ! Though Draftsight is good. Both are candidates for replacing expensive Autocad, but like any piece of software it takes time to learn how to use it effectively .

[Another JohnSParticipant @anotherjohns]

Another QCAD user here. Does not need an Internet connection to run, which is an issue for me with some other tools.

I did purchase the "professional version" – not much, and I do believe in supporting people who develop software. (I'm in the same boat…) It's not much to purchase.

3D-wise, for the little I do – SCAD, and FreeCAD.

But, really, for the majority of what I seem to do, 2D CAD – QCAD – is the go-to tool. It runs on Linux, OSX, and – most probably – Windows.

John.

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

http://www.rs-online.com/designspark/electronics/eng/page/mechanical

[Swarf MakerParticipant @swarfmaker85383]

QCAD is brilliant. It can be used in much the same way as conventional drafting. It does not 'time expire' so you can use any version as long as you wish. It operates on just about any operating system, windows, linux, MAC, and does not 'embed' itself with lots of calls to the operating system. If you purchase a copy you get free updates throughout the following year and you can run different versions alongside each other if you are worried about any of the update versions. If you choose to subscribe for a further year you can do so with a loyalty discount. If you find a problem with it (there is continuous development) then the response is (in my experience) rapid and exemplary.

The dxf files seem to work correctly with the needs of laser, etc cutting programmes but I don't have CNC to check it with.

For 3D stuff the files import OK into TurboCAD v21 Pro, Onshape and Fusion 360.

[Peter KroghParticipant @peterkrogh76576]

Swarf Maker,

Do you find that QCAD will import from AutoCAD without too many problems? I've tried to use TurboCAD on my MAC but it won't import AutoCAD very well. Leaves out layers, colors, etc.. I'm almost desperate to find a 2D that will run on my MacBook Air 'cause it's just so convenient to sit here in my easy chair compared to at my desk with a PC!

Thanks,

Pete

[John McNamaraParticipant @johnmcnamara74883]

Hi Bob MC

Have a look at fusion 360. It is free for Hobby use.
There is plenty of Youtube videos that will get you started.

It can create Gcode for mills and routers (Laser is under development)
Or create files for 3D Printing

Yes you can make 2d paper drawings too.

Link to thread in this site

**LINK**

Regards
John

[Swarf MakerParticipant @swarfmaker85383]

Peter Krogh,

I don't normally require to import files but I have just checked an import of an AutoCAD file from the net. It seems to have imported perfectly OK with all of the layers and attributes as one would expect them to be. Also, I am PC based so I suggest that you give QCAD a try on your MacBook. The latest version (3.12.4) is around $36.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by John Alexander Stewart on 12/12/2015 22:34:56:

Another QCAD user here. …

I did purchase the "professional version" – not much, and I do believe in supporting people who develop software. (I'm in the same boat…) It's not much to purchase.

.

John,

I have been trying QCAD on the Mac, and am impressed

Agreed … the 'pro' upgrade appears very reasonably priced

Do you have any opinion regarding the CAM extension

Thanks

MichaelG.

.

Edit: added links

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 13/12/2015 10:20:51

[Peter KroghParticipant @peterkrogh76576]

Swarf Maker, MichaelG, this QCAD information is very good, thank you. I will be investigating this program today!

Pete

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

Designspark has been good for me, if you can get it running on your pooter

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

Just downloaded and installed QCAD, it looks very interesting!

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

In ecumenical spirit … I recommend the first video in this series:

**LINK**

She uses QCAD for 'pattern-making' … but not as we know it.

It's one of the best 'introduction' tutorials I have seen for any software.

MichaelG.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

I use Turbocad. Older versions are very affordable.

[Bob McParticipant @bobmc91481]

Thanks everyone for the responses…

its great to know that once you are a member of this forum there is a wealth of information from people that understand the situation and have the experience to provide a solution…

Thanks .. will be spending some time looking at your suggestions.

..Bob..

[Peter KroghParticipant @peterkrogh76576]

Neil, do you use TurboCAD on a PD or a MAC? I've tried the MAC version and was very disappointed with it.

Pete

[Gary WoodingParticipant @garywooding25363]

I can also recommend TurboCAD, which I've been using for many years, and Fusion 360, which is a fully fledged parametric program made by AutoDesk. Whereas older versions of TurboCAD are very reasonably priced, Fusion 360 is totally free for students and home users.

A word of warning though. All powerful CAD programs are large and complex, and take a considerable period to master. Many people are seduced into using one with the mistaken belief that they will be productive in a week or so. For most people it just doesn't work like that. They get despondent after several weeks of encountering errors with no obvious solutions and then simply give up. If you've never used a CAD program before, be prepared for a steep learning curve and don't give up.

If you persevere you'll get there in the end, and the rewards will be immense. I can create rough drawings with TurboCAD faster than I can draw on the back of the proverbial fag packet, then, with a little more effort, transform them into fully detailed and dimensioned drawings in 2 and 3D. But it didn't come overnight. My first set of drawings for a knurling tool took me about a month, I can now do the same thing in an afternoon or so. Practise, and more practise, gets results.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

I have TC for PC, but i don't think they are materially different.

+1 for what Gary says, cad is not intuitive because there are so many conventions and functions to learn. Personally I think they ought to have a beginner mode with reduced set of functions displayed.

Patience, working through tutorials and not being to proud to type 'whet I want to do turbocad' into google all help!

Neil

[John McNamaraParticipant @johnmcnamara74883]

Learning CAD from scratch is never a doddle, It takes a certain amount of work, well worth the effort in the end. Whichever program you choose make sure there is a strong user base and active discussion forums and Video to get you over the hurdles that will pop up. The miracle of the internet and Video from Youtube and others makes a huge difference.

Think about your current and future needs when deciding upon a program. Unlike say a word processor CAD programs are all different. Switching is not easy, I know…. as I work my way around Fusion 360 It works differently to AutoCad I know well. Relearning can be harder than starting from scratch

Regards
John.

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