lightweight cost-efficient CAD software ?

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Pogo's Avatar (by Gravatar)Pogo posted on
February 15, 2007, 2:46 pm
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Hello everyone.

I am looking for some cost effective CAD or drawing software to make =
some assembly drawings for simple parts, like extrusions, etc. Nothing =
really fancy. Just asking what everyone's favorite software is ? ( =
Windows XP platform )

I don't need to do photo-realistic modelling or anything like that, just =
some decent 3-d drawings to show how some parts go together. Mostly =
because sometimes drawings are better than actual photos.

I am considering TurboCad for the moment. It would also be nice if I =
could use the same software late on to generate input files to control a =
Sherline CNC setup --- but that is waaaaay down the road.

Open Source or free is good. My absolute top budget is about $130 or so. =
Would prefer much less for the amount I expect to actually use it.
Thanks for any suggestions, as always !
JCD

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Gordon McComb's Avatar (by Gravatar)Gordon McComb posted on
February 15, 2007, 3:29 pm
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Re: lightweight cost-efficient CAD software ?


the same software late on to generate input files to control a Sherline CNC
setup --- but that is waaaaay down the road.

The consumer version should be fine. I have the pro version, and an
older consumer 2D-only version (version 6) that I use with my CNC rig,
and both output DFX files. That's all you really need. Any decent CNC
software should be able to read a DXF file.

You can save extra money buy purchasing it with your ed discount. Way
under $130, in any case.

-- Gordon

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Pogo's Avatar (by Gravatar)Pogo posted on
February 15, 2007, 3:48 pm
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Re: lightweight cost-efficient CAD software ?


Sherline CNC setup --- but that is waaaaay down the road.

Thanks! Great advice, as always!
JCD


Nick's Avatar (by Gravatar)Nick posted on
February 15, 2007, 7:20 pm
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Re: lightweight cost-efficient CAD software ?


assembly drawings for simple parts, like extrusions, etc. Nothing really fancy.
Just asking what everyone's favorite software is ? ( Windows XP platform )

decent 3-d drawings to show how some parts go together. Mostly because sometimes
drawings are better than actual photos.

the same software late on to generate input files to control a Sherline CNC
setup --- but that is waaaaay down the road.

prefer much less for the amount I expect to actually use it.

Take a look on VariCAD: http://www.varicad.com/
It is true 3D tool; educational version cost $99,
and you can download free full featured (one-month)
trial version.

Robert Roland's Avatar (by Gravatar)Robert Roland posted on
February 16, 2007, 4:25 am
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Re: lightweight cost-efficient CAD software ?

On Thu, 15 Feb 2007 14:46:00 -0500, "Pogo"


assembly drawings for simple parts, like extrusions, etc. Nothing really fancy.
Just asking what everyone's favorite software is ? ( Windows XP platform )

Google Sketchup is not a CAD program, but, as the name suggests, a
program for drawing sketches. It is very easy to use and it allows you
to draw with any precision and detail you like.

The free version is very capable and lacks almost no features,
compared to the pay version (which costs an impressive USD 500).

Even if it does not fulfill your needs for a CAD program you will
probably like it enough to keep it for other uses.
--
RoRo


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Joe's Avatar (by Gravatar)Joe posted on
February 16, 2007, 8:49 am
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Re: lightweight cost-efficient CAD software ?

Alibre has a light version of their 3-d parametric modeling package.
It it complete free, and is quite a capable program. It includes an
associative 2-d drafting feature. One limit is that you can only use
10 parts in an assembly (if you have a more complex assembly you can
make sub-assemblies and convert them into a single part).   Of courrse
they are baiting you for the $1,000 upgrade.

However, you said "lightweight".  A complex program like this is not
as quick to learn or use as a one without the parametrics.

They have paid supplemental programs, but I don't know if any of them
will help you with CNC machining.  The free program will export STEP,
IGES, and SAT models.

Joe Dunfee


Pogo's Avatar (by Gravatar)Pogo posted on
February 16, 2007, 6:37 pm
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Re: lightweight cost-efficient CAD software ?



Yeah I downloaded this last night. Haven't tried it yet.

Thanks to everyone! (including Nick & Robert Roland !)

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