free cad drawing so...
 

MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch

[Closed] free cad drawing software?

15 Posts
12 Users
0 Reactions
72 Views
Posts: 1343
Free Member
Topic starter
 

Anyone know where i can get some free relatively easy to use CAD software, I need some to do some more complex stuff for fabrication drawings and hand drawing takes way too long. cheers!


 
Posted : 10/12/2009 9:40 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

If you happen to be a student you can get a AutoCAD for nowt easily.


 
Posted : 10/12/2009 9:41 pm
Posts: 21
Free Member
 

or google sketchup is cad like


 
Posted : 10/12/2009 9:43 pm
Posts: 1343
Free Member
Topic starter
 

Was about 20 years ago... i think my union card may be out of date...


 
Posted : 10/12/2009 9:43 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

I have the free download on my Pc (student copy) works great. The printouts will have student version on them tho.
http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?siteID=123112&id=10916786


 
Posted : 10/12/2009 9:46 pm
 cp
Posts: 8945
Full Member
 

drawing by hand can be a dam site quicker than CAD if you're not a regular user. CAD software is, er, quirky!

Do you know any one who uses AutoCAD or similar? They'll probably have 'a copy' or know someone with one 🙂


 
Posted : 10/12/2009 9:47 pm
Posts: 0
Full Member
 

You can get a legit copy of turbocad from Amazon for less than £30.


 
Posted : 10/12/2009 9:49 pm
Posts: 1343
Free Member
Topic starter
 

Well yes I do, we use auto cad at work and a few more, but i don't really like them because of the "quirky" nature of some..(our main CAM stuff takes years to learn!). most of my requirements dont need much more than basic drawing capability...


 
Posted : 10/12/2009 9:54 pm
Posts: 45693
Free Member
 

most of my requirements dont need much more than basic drawing capability...

I would say Google Sketchup then


 
Posted : 10/12/2009 9:57 pm
Posts: 1343
Free Member
Topic starter
 

Now i could get a legit copy but its for work and i aint paying, they wont pay cos they will insist i use autocad and i cant be bothered..god i'm a pain in the a***...


 
Posted : 10/12/2009 9:57 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

try fastcad


 
Posted : 10/12/2009 9:59 pm
Posts: 1343
Free Member
Topic starter
 

well, whilst i was posting this iv'e downloaded sketckup so lets see! cheers fellas.


 
Posted : 10/12/2009 10:01 pm
Posts: 6886
Free Member
 

Sketchup is not a AutoCAD replacement nor is it really much like it. It is a 3D modelling tool and very quick and easy to use at that, but for doing orthographic drawing its not great. I should know as thats what they got me doing at the mo.

Saying that if you must. First set up your units probably millimetres then go up to camera and turn off perspective this will give you your 'orthographic' view (note its not true orthograhic, you can still orbit around it)

Personally I'd turn off the lineweigths this is done in styles, as is your background colour.

Highlight right click make group is useful for not getting all tangled up.

Hope tyhat helps, there are alot of tutorials online, as well as a communinity.


 
Posted : 10/12/2009 10:14 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

PC Pro has TurboCad 12.5 as a freebie this month. Have used version 15 before and it is fine, have not played with this earlier version.

V15 is 2D/3D and has import/export options for virtually all CAD file formats. Assume V12.5 is similar.


 
Posted : 10/12/2009 10:30 pm
 Bear
Posts: 2318
Free Member
 

try ALLYCAD, been using it for quite a while now so fairly familar with it, just produce basic plans and pipe schematic isometrics which are easy on it. And it's free


 
Posted : 11/12/2009 8:07 am
Posts: 17
Free Member
 

If it's for 2D stuff you can download a free edition of SolidEdge - great bit of (pro-level) kit, I was using it before switching to NX.


 
Posted : 11/12/2009 8:14 am