Consensus on CAD?

Is there a consensus on the best overall CAD program for the hobbyist metalworker? Oh, and what is it, or what are the best choices out there? Another oh. I know jack about CAD. :-)

I'm a big fan of Alibre. Design Xpress is free.

Rhino!

--Winston

??? really??? does it have any analytic type capabilities - for example create a couple of parts and then connect them together and see motion? it looks like, from a quick scan of hte web site, that it specializes in beautiful renderings not articulated wireframes

See the comments in yesterday's thread "Basic 3D & CAD programs." I think Alibre is probably better suited than Rhino to the stuff most folks here work on, but that may not apply to you.

On Thu, 29 May 2008 05:41:03 GMT, with neither quill nor qualm, Winston quickly quoth:

How about a program which is priced -less- than a grand (or $995)?

-- I wish the Department of Homeland Security knew what ol' Unca Doug did, instinctively, so many years ago:

There is no security on this earth, there is only opportunity. -- General Douglas MacArthur

Get a wife who teaches school, or a kid who is *in* school. It will save you a major bundle on software. It's almost worth having the kid.

-- Ed Huntress

I just got my V.4 upgrade of Rhino for $95. I don't know what I'd pay if this was an original purchase, since I was one of the original 50 or so beta testers and have had it ever since. Michael Gibson used to answer the phone when I called in with questions or suggestions.

Maybe I could rent out my wife or son for software purchasing purposes...hmm...

-- Ed Huntress

Howzabout $773 in Portland, Larry?

--Winston

On Thu, 29 May 2008 19:22:37 GMT, with neither quill nor qualm, Winston quickly quoth:

I've been looking for some construction cad progs lately [UDA Construction Suite, Chief Architect, SoftPlan ($$$$, Eek!) and probably settling on a v10 Punch! as3000 for small remodels], but for my taste and budget, I like Alibre for $773 less than Rhino, thanks. I believed you missed the shining facetiousity factor of my post.

Carry on.

-- I wish the Department of Homeland Security knew what ol' Unca Doug did, instinctively, so many years ago:

There is no security on this earth, there is only opportunity. -- General Douglas MacArthur

So they really *did* drop 'gullible' from the dictionary, then?

:0)

--Winston

Thanks. Not 30 seconds after posting this did I scroll down about three inches to see the previous post on the same subject. And I should have added that I have a Mac.

On Fri, 30 May 2008 04:03:57 GMT, with neither quill nor qualm, Winston quickly quoth:

Yuppers. Go look it up.