3D CAD

Hi folks, I am just trying to pick your collective brains. I would like to know what you think is the best 3d design package for the home computer. I worked before retiring with industry 3d systems like PDS and PDMS but they cost a fortune and require massive back up. I use 2d microstation at present but would like a useable 3d/2d package if I can afford it? I only design my own home ideas etc no busy business etc. Regards Alan

Reply to
jackary
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There's a free/demo version of Intellicad going round that was released without a time limit as I understand it, that does 3D, but package usefulness depends on what you want to do with it.

We do our metalwork drawings in Autocad, but use Intellicad to look at them in Windoze and print to our A3 laser. The Acad is an early DOS version which I prefer to the later cluttered screens of the Windoze versions.

You can configure intellicad to run on a command-line basis which I find useful, YMMV.

Peter

-- Peter & Rita Forbes Email: snipped-for-privacy@easynet.co.uk

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Reply to
Peter A Forbes

Autodesk Inventor can be had rather cheaply in a Student's version for non-commercial use. The 2008 version is limited to 14 months of use.

Alibre Design

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had a free 3d package that I tried for a short time a couple of years ago. I don't know how it is now, try looking at their web site.

Reply to
Erik Olsen DK

I've been using TurboCAD (TC) for years now. It has very good 3D modelling and photorealistic rendering. The following link from the IMSI (makers of TurboCAD) User-forum shows a helicopter modelled entirely in TC V14 Delux.

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do two basic versions: Pro and Delux, the Pro has all the bells and whistles you could want, and the Delux is simply their name for the standard version. V15 has just been released and is rather expensive. The best value is V11 Pro - a friend got one for about £20 on eBay about a month ago. Avoid V12 like the plague, it was a real dog. There wasn't a V13 and V14 is still expensive. I still use V11 Pro. According to the TC User-forum, TC's 3D facilities exceed those of Autocad. Since I have no personal experience of Autocad I can't comment.

Reply to
lemel_man

Thank you all for your replies. Gary You have told me exactly what I wanted to hear so I will look out for Turbocad V11 pro. In the past I have tried 2d Autocad and did not find it very user freindly. Microstation is a good logical 2d program in my opinion but I cannot use their 3d

Thanks again Alan

Reply to
jackary

I use Alibre which is good and not too expensive. There is a free version available with restrictions on the number of part you can have in an assembly. They are at

Hth,

Reply to
Boo

I have a copy of TC V14 - not really that impressed by it. It is a 2D drawing package with some 3D capability. There are too many things it won't do in 3D for me, such has shelling solids, drilled holes etc, which should be standard. The helicopter is really neat, but I don't need rendered images for engineering drawings.

Regards

Steve

Reply to
Steve

Before parting with your money take a look at Rhino.

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Has a free downloadable demo, exports fairly pukka single and 3 angle blueprints as well as just about any file format you can shake a stick at, works on a low spec pc easy enough, not much of a leaning curve. No excess cruft like "will it fit" or "will it work" or "will it be the same version".

Reply to
Guy Fawkes

Steve, Since the V11 Pro that I use can shell solids, I suspect you are using V14 Delux rather than V14 Pro. As I mentioned, the Delux version is really the standard version. Its not necessary to render the 3D models; they can be printed and displayed in a variety of ways: wire frame, hidden lines removed, standard render and photorealistic render - in ascending order of m/c time requirements. Wire frame and hidden line removed modes are very fast and can be rotated and zoomed in real time. Photorealistic renders require a fast m/c and lots of patience.

Reply to
lemel_man

Yes it is V14 Deluxe - it would better if they called it 2D Standard!

Steve

Reply to
Steve

Talking about 3D CAD, I have an original boxed copy of Autodesk Mechanical Desktop release 5 (forerunner to Inventor) sitting on my shelf which I have never used. This was given to me when a friends business closed down (should have been binned by the liquidators really), but I never used it as I had just got into Solidworks which was much more versatile and user friendly.

Anyway, if anyone who is not a lurker (i.e regular poster on the NG) wants this FOC, and is happy to struggle with it , then it's yours for the cost of postage. Of course you will probably need to obtain a license key, but I stress that this is a genuine item and not a dodgy illegal copy.

Peter

Peter

Reply to
Peter Neill

If not too late already, I would like to take you up on that please Peter.

Reply to
Charles Lamont

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