Simple CAD software.

[Peter G. ShawParticipant @peterg-shaw75338]

Brian Hutchings,

I use Design Cad having migrated to it from Draft Choice for Windows. Initially, I used v2000 (DC2K), and ok, it's an old version but it did all that I want in 2D. It does have 3D capabilities which I'm currently trying to get to grips with.

Some years ago, I upgraded to v 17.2 (DC17). For me, iIt did not offer anything much over DC2K, but nevertheless, I still used it. DC17 is also 3D.

DC2K cost me £13.00. DC17 cost maybe £25 purely because it was already an old system when I bought it. I believe the current version is v.24.

Two years ago, I moved over to Linux Mint v.13 with the Mate GUI. I then discovered that using Wine v.1.4, DC17 would not run, but DC2K did albeit with a couple of minor niggles. Using Wine v.1.6, and DC17 worked better, but not perfectly whilst DC2K was more or less perfect. Using Mint v. 17, Wine 1.6, and DC17 became very much more usable apart from one niggle which was easily surmounted. Unfortunately, I do have a problem with another program which means that I have to continue using Mint 13, hence am stuck with DC2K. Having said that, DC2K does have the better help system.

I apologise to non Linux users for the jargon used above. Linux users will immediately know what I'm talking about.

The bottom line is that if you can pick up an old version of Design Cad, it will be quite cheap, it will run quite well under Windows, and certainly DC17 and earlier can, if necessary, be made to run under Linux.

For what it's worth, I tried to use TurboCad, and had so much trouble that would actually dissuade anyone else from trying it. I found DesignCad much easier to use and understand.

Regards,

Peter G. Shaw

[stan pearson 1Participant @stanpearson1]

I had problems with Fusion 360, I contacted them and they sorted it out for me. My problem was it wont run in Direct x 11 you will have to change it in general settings to 9.

Stan

[Chris DentonParticipant @chrisdenton53037]

Anyone used OneCAD?

[David Clark 13Participant @davidclark13]

I purchased a copy of TurboCAD 20 deluxe yesterday from Maplins for £7.99. Now I can learn to use it properly.

[IanTParticipant @iant]

That's very good news David and at that price, maybe it's time I upgraded from v15 !!

By the way, prompted by the discussion about whether to use 3D (or not) the other night I watched a few YouTube videos by Paul Tracey on the subject (and he really does make TurboCAD look easy). I wish he had been there when I first started learning TC (v4) many years ago.

I thought I'd have another go at 3D TC, nothing too serious, just a play with the 3D tools to see what I could do. I found it much easier this time around. I think trying to learn a very different approach just from a book is much harder than seeing someone else show you how (and explain things a little). YouTube can be very good for online training although some YouTube 'contributors' leave a great deal to be desired I'm afraid.

Paul is an excellent tutor though, his videos being very well structured and he has a nice way of taking his viewer through some potentially complex topics. I'd recommend anyone looking for a CAD system to watch his TurboCAD introductory videos (and indeed any existing TC user too) as they will give you a very good insight into both it's 2D & 3D capabilities.

As a result of this, I had decided to make a more 'systematic' attempt at learning 3D using TC. I will probably wait now until I have upgraded to v20. May as well learn on the later version if that's what I will be actually using (latest version is v21 I think). Better get myself down to Maplins!

Regards,

IanT

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