CAD Program

[Big Smitty]

Can anyone recommend a cheap or free (free is better) basic CAD drawing program that I can use to draw knife profiles. I do not know CAD at this point, but want to learn. Any direction is appreciated.

 

[Barkes Knife Shop]

WordPerfect has a drawing program that you can use to draw knives in, and it works good to. But for me I just set down with paper and do it myself. Then I put on steel and cut it out.

 

[Big Smitty]

I draw mine out on paper also, but I am wanting to email a design to David at Great Lakes Waterjet and have him cut a number of blanks for me.

 

[fludunlimited]

http://www.alibre.com/xpress/software/alibre-design-xpress.asp

this one is free

 

[rmd]

I've played around a little with the free version of CadStd (http://www.cadstd.com/). I haven't really worked with it enough to be able to do much but it beats the heck out of Paint.

rmd

 

[Keith_H]

Google Sketchup!
Such a fun and easy program. I have been drawing out lots of knives on there recently.

 

[pageophile]

You can try BrixCAD (very similar to AutoCAD) for 30 days and the program is 50 bones(http://www.bricscad.com/en_INTL/bricscad/features.jsp)

It's a good starter program. I'd still recommend AutoCAD but it's a very pricey option.

Just for reference, I'm a 15+ yr CAD operator and currently the CAD Administrator for a large oil company

 

[Lucky Bob]

David at GLWJ is also awesome in that if you send him a dimensioned drawing, he'll convert it to CAD for you. Hell, I had mine in an (incompatible) CAD format, and he ended up re-CAD-ing it anyhow!

He's also pretty awesome in general, but that's the relevant way.

 

[greatlakeswaterjet]

Big Smitty, I have a CAD program I can send to you on a disk. Its the same one I use. I need your info so e-mail me. Anyone else that needs this, let me know. Thanks, David.

 

[rpaladin]

Nice...

 

[greatlakeswaterjet]

I will have license to give this software to any CUSTOMER I want. It cost over 10k for this stuff, so I'm not just gonna throw copies everywhere. I will give this to customers or potential customers to help them in design and it saves me time from doing so many drawings. Use me but don't abuse me

 

[Big Smitty]

Email sent, Thanks David!!!!

 

[gpwknives]

David , by the way when run new page ?

 

[ken erickson]

I have downloaded and used this program for years now. Its free and pretty basic and easy to use.

http://www.emachineshop.com/

Ken

 

[micad]

David,

Email sent!

-Mike-

 

[David Wesner]

David, I just shot an email message to you through the forum.

 

[greatlakeswaterjet]

Hey guys, I had to go pick up some more disks to burn these. I will send everyone their copy Monday.

 

[Big Smitty]

Hey guys, I had to go pick up some more disks to burn these. I will send everyone their copy Monday.

Thanks David!

 

[GTAsteel]

David, hit me up with one of these too, please!

Les George

 

[greatlakeswaterjet]

Les, you got it. I burned 11 disk yesterday and will ship tomorrow.