I no longer have access to a CAD system via work and I need a CAD system to draw out some stuff for my garage plans. Does anyone have a recommeded one that works on a crappy cheap laptop, isn't completely terrible and is cheap or free? 3D would be nice (that be moved to 2D) but I could work with 2D for now.
Edit: Long term I am going to rebuild my desktop and get a student copy of Solidworks.
SketchUp?
In reply to SVreX (Forum Supporter) :
Does that do 2D or just 3D?
SketchUp does 2D and 3D. You can set the camera to Perspective or Orthographic.
Its real failing is output. If you don't need to print scaled hard copies, it would work fine. You can query dimensions or place them in the drawing as needed. Not sure about the resolution of the units.
In reply to Duke :
Ok that may work well enough for now. I'd like to be able to print scaled hard copies but I may have to work around it if needed.
In reply to 93EXCivic :
There is an add-on called LayOut that is like AutoCAD's paperspace, if you are familiar with that. That gives you scaled output. It used to be part of the SketchUp Pro package, which cost money, but they may have added that functionality to the free version by now.
OnShape is another option for free CAD. It is all cloud based and runs on a browser, so your computer shouldn't have any trouble with it. It was created by former employees of Solidworks and has a lot of similarities, but handles constraints a little differently.
I have no experience with this so do not think I know what I'm talking about; I wonder if TinkerCAD might be viable for something like this. It's from AutoDesk and it's free, online, cloud-based 3D CAD that seems from a glance capable of doing what you want.
Here's a video of someone laying out a room in TinkerCAD; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J95YoKpZL7A
I use FreeCad for my design work.
It's a full 3D parametric CAD package.
I might still have your address from the Xmas game. If I do, I'll send you a jump drive with 3d home architect on it
We are still offering a free home version of our CAD/CAM product, Mastercam, along with free training for a bit on Mastercam University. It'll do everything you want, and the CAD side is pretty easy to get the hang of.
I'm not sure if the free training is going away after this June or not, but the free edition is always available.
If you just need to do 2D garage layout plans, I would recommend downloading the free version of Nanocad.
https://nanocad.com/products/nanoCAD/
People still print CAD drawings to scale? :P
WonkoTheSane said:We are still offering a free home version of our CAD/CAM product, Mastercam, along with free training for a bit on Mastercam University. It'll do everything you want, and the CAD side is pretty easy to get the hang of.
I'm not sure if the free training is going away after this June or not, but the free edition is always available.
I need to investigate this.
I've been playing with my CNC router a bunch recently, but Easel is very limiting since I can only import 2d, so multi-level cuts I need to do in layers
ProDarwin said:WonkoTheSane said:We are still offering a free home version of our CAD/CAM product, Mastercam, along with free training for a bit on Mastercam University. It'll do everything you want, and the CAD side is pretty easy to get the hang of.
I'm not sure if the free training is going away after this June or not, but the free edition is always available.
I need to investigate this.
I've been playing with my CNC router a bunch recently, but Easel is very limiting since I can only import 2d, so multi-level cuts I need to do in layers
Unfortunately, with the home/free version, you can't post anything. You could import/export geometry as STL, Step, DXF, etc., but it probably won't help you with your router. Sorry!
There is a severe discount for home/small gamers available via Titan Academy. So you could look into that. I'm not sure what the price/stipulations are, but I know it was way under regular retail. So if it'll solve your needs and you can actually use to make a bit of money, you can probably offset the cost with the productivity improvements.
In reply to ProDarwin :
Oh, if you do start using it, though, let me know and I'd be happy to spend some time showing you how to toolpath things efficiently.
WonkoTheSane said:We are still offering a free home version of our CAD/CAM product, Mastercam, along with free training for a bit on Mastercam University. It'll do everything you want, and the CAD side is pretty easy to get the hang of.
Back in the dark ages, I was working as a machinist at a plant for a few weeks, and back 6 months later for several weeks, that had a Brigeport Mill converted to a 2 axis CNC, and I got quite good with it. They also had AutoCad LT, and I got a student copy of 97 for myself, and got to learn a fair bit albeit self taught.
I changed carrers about then, and never did play with either till I got this job, and the newest version of autocad is on my computer. A lot has changed!
In the meantime, I got started with Google Sketchup, (now no google, and online only for free) and can make decent parts drawings or layouts with it, but have no clue how to DO anything with them!
I tried tinkercad, but I think you could teach a monkey easier than me!
I am interested in more info on your mastercam.
How about Fusion 360. I use it for 3D design for 3D printing.
mainlandboy said:If you just need to do 2D garage layout plans, I would recommend downloading the free version of Nanocad.
https://nanocad.com/products/nanoCAD/
I am not doing like legit layouts more like stuff for myself to figure out where I want to put things plus drawings for building a workbench and stuff.
+1 for nanoCAD for basic 2D stuff.
It replaced Draftsight on my home computer and I can't complain. It's another Autocad clone that can use DWG files.
Somebody had to do it. I'll be the luddite today.
Toyman01 + Sized and said:How about Fusion 360. I use it for 3D design for 3D printing.
+1
93EXCivic said:I am not doing like legit layouts more like stuff for myself to figure out where I want to put things plus drawings for building a workbench and stuff.
Build it in Minecraft?
Toyman01 + Sized and said:How about Fusion 360. I use it for 3D design for 3D printing.
After getting a bit familiar with sketchup, and a bit familiar with 20 year old AutoCAD, I downloaded a trial version of Fusion 360 (as well as TinkerCad, and a couple others), and was no where near smart enough to even figure out how to start. Even with looking at the tutorials that came with. Made me feel like a highly trained monkey, past its prime. I felt like it would have been easier if I did not know a thing about the other two, but I may still not have figured a thing out.
I had a bit of help starting with AutoCad back then, but with a bit of advice here and there over two 7 week contracts, I was better with it than the in house guys... although they were all better machinists than me.
That ant Paint on windows helped me with Sketchup - but I was LOST on the others.
In reply to Streetwiseguy :
I prefer the ruler and unlined paper, myself. 2D or 3D. Cant do circles very well, and shading is WAY beyond me!
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