Best, Easiest CAD Program??

Dr.Lathe

Dr.Lathe

Joined
Aug 4, 1999
Messages
2,596
I've lost access to FREE, UNLIMITED use of AutoCad!! As you can imagine, I CANNOT afford this for home use
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!!
What is the best, simplest, easiest, least expensive, and user friendly CAD program that can be used to design and draw folders??
I don't need 3D or wireframe modeling, stress analysis, or thermo nuclear 9th dimension vector rendering... etc!!!!!
DXF. output would be great but not necessary.
Neil
PS: Mayo, don't tell me to use a pencil, T square and hole templates
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There, beat you to it
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Talonite???Stellite!!!
Knives in STOCK!!


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Neil-

AutoCAD 2000 of course
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We had some flyers at school that showed the base unit of AutoCAD, stuff like Mechanical Desktop for anywhere from $150-400 depending on which software you got. The same company was selling the real deal for $1300, so that's quite some savings.

The only difference is supposed to be the lack of 3D wire frame modeling. I'd just look at some of the online software sites and look for entry AutoCAD.

Just an idea.
Nick
 
Hey there Neil,
been using Rhino 3D for awhile now for designing folders, if you're familiar with AutoCAD already the learning curve is *very* fast, it outputs to pretty much all of the major CAD formats(I've personally used it several times to export geometry to MasterCAM with great results).
Also if you're so inclined, doing surface/solid modelling is a cakewalk, as is rendering.
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http://www.rhino3d.com/

Rich
 
Neil go to ebay and bid on a program. I just picked up Money 2000 for $10.95.I'm going to go look so don't out bid me OK
Take Care
TJ
 
hey neil....a t square, pencil, hole templates and an eraser will work fine! actually there are a LOT of free cad programs out there......the guy to talk to about it is Jay Harkins...I understand he is a wizard and knows where you can download all kinds of free autocad programs...
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and when your computer freezes up or the blue screen of death appears...you can go back to the pencil etc.......
 
Thanks Everyone!
I think I might be up and running with ______ again! I'm a bit pressed for hard drive space but some of my wifes "Yahoo Yak for free on the internet" programs might be sacrificed
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Neil


------------------
Talonite???Stellite!!!
Knives in STOCK!!


blackwoodknives.com
 
Howdy There...!
I got Turbo CAD and it works great for less than a $100. You can doig 3d rendering with also if you like. Give it a look.
"Possum"


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Thomas Clegg
 
I have been using BobCad for several years. It has been a boon to my machine shop and the other nice thing is that it is a true CAD/CAM program. It will output G-Code to a CNC . The learning curve is pretty short and it does nice 3d renderings. Rhino is really a modeling program which is totally different from a true CAD package. BobCad sells for $995.00 everywhere, but I have several copies ( I sometimes get a couple of seats to sell to my customers when they buy a CNC machine from me). If you get stuck and want to buy a program, let me know and I'll give you the Forum discount! In the meantime, there are lots and lots of free or shareware programs out there that you can find on the internet. Download away until you find something that you can work with comfortably.
 
Jim,
Thanks!! I'll keep it in mind. We use Gibbs at work for simple CNC programing but have to play with the AutoCad files from our engineering dept to create part geometry. We are going to UNIFY the entire company after the new year so everyone can use compatible files. I'm not sure what software it will be but it will be expensive!!
Neil

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Knives in STOCK!! I just updated my website, PLEASE take a look :)


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