CAD experts?

[Anonymous Poster]

Hi Ron...

I didn't know what experience you had with CAD... a number of people think it's just like "another word processor"... just open up the program and type... /w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif/w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif

I also started with Generic Cadd and 6.1 is the last version from AutoCAD... mainly used for doing deed/surveys... I just got SiteComp I started tinkering with for surveys...

Like I said earlier, get a copy of 3D Home Architect and I think you'll be amazed at the power of this program and the speed at using it... /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[RoyJackson]

My thoughts are that I need to be able to output to a file protocol ( .dwg?)

You might want to ask the printing company what their systems use and can recognize.
I expect you're going to end up using ".dxf" format (I think that stands for <font color=red>d</font color=red>rawing e<font color=red>x</font color=red>change <font color=red>f</font color=red>ormat).

By the way, if you compress (zip) these files, they're pretty small. I've ended up putting some large files on a 1.44Mb floppy.

 

[Chris99320]

I currently use TurboCad. I like it better than AutocadLT. It will run under Win95, 98 NT 2000 or XP. I think you can get it for ~$200. It will import and export a wide variety of other CAD file formats.

 

[Paul_in_CT]

Ron
John metioned Chief architect. I know/work with a custom home builder. He primarily uses a very good architect. But has used this to design certain things for building and has found it satifactory. So I`m assuming that it will meet your needs. The nice thing is it is geared toward homebuilding. I have used afew CAD programs and the big ones can be used for many things. This is great but it makeds them much less user freidly until you get to know all there menus and functions. AutoCad is a safe as far as compatability because if the shop doesn`t use it chances are they support it. I have used CADKey, Auto Cad, CadStar, 3D home , and Chief Artictect. I would check out Chief Architect I think they will send you a demo version .
Hope this helped not made things worse


Ok I just did some searching (I peaked my own curiousity)
http://www.qualityplans.com/Chief_Architect.htm
http://www.cadsupersales.com/
http://www.compuconcal.com/index2.html (this page has a demo download button also)
You also could get version 7 for cheaper or on ebay like someone else mentioned

 

[JohnMiller3]

Re: CAD experts?-Chief Architect

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[Paul_in_CT]

Re: CAD experts?-Chief Architect

Hey John are trying to show me up.../w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif.?

 

[RonL]

Re: CAD experts?-Chief Architect

John, Paul, and the rest of you gentlemen,

Thanks for all the information, it should keep me busy for a while. The web site for Chief Architect alone should keep me busy for a while, although Doc Watson showed up and booted me out for an access violation.

RonL

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Re: CAD experts?-Chief Architect

Actually Paul... I thought you said what I was trying to say... better... /w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif

Chief Architect is a dedicated home building CAD program... plain and simple... /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

So, I was only trying to enhance/magnify what you already said Paul... /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

 

[RoyJackson]

Re: CAD experts?-Chief Architect

Chief Architect is a dedicated home building CAD program... plain and simple...

I downloaded the demo (147Mb). Only gone through the tutorial so far.
This looks pretty neat...but you are in the AutoCAD price range now. The cheapest, base version, is almost a thou...

Gads, I love them cable modems..150Mb done in 14 minutes!!! This used to be a two night (always downloaded big files at night) on a 56K modem (USR Courier V Everything)

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Re: CAD experts?-Chief Architect

<font color=blue>...I downloaded the demo (147Mb). ...</font color=blue>

/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Roy...

Can you imagine coming to work tomorrow morning and checking your web site... seeing ...say 4000 downloads overnight... (of a 150 meg program - no less!) /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

I don't know the current price... but about 2-3 years ago... it was about ~ $595 (hardware key- copy protected) (AutoCAD base now is about ~$3800.)