Drawing Program ( Cad ) ??

[DougM]

I am looking for a free drawing program

I am wanting to draw out lines of a building and roofs
and am wanting some thing easy not a $ 399 program

Your help is needed

 

[J F]

https://www.google.com/search?q=ske...s=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

 

[bennettfarms]

You can get AutoCAD and SolidWorks for free if you are a student or know someone who is willing to give up their student email. The AutoCAD student software lasts for ever but the SolidWorks will only last for a year

 

[J F]

Pretty steep learning curve for a newb, though.

 

[DougM]

Still working with this program and I am still lost

 

[Mendonsy]

You may want to read this.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build-yourself/267375-ways-sketching-out-new-ideas.html

 

[tmc_31]

I have been using Draftsight for a year or so now. It is free from Dassault Industries (the French aircraft maker, they also own Solidworks).

It (Draftsight) is a free download. It is and was intended to be similar to AutoCad but only 2 dimensional. I cut my teeth on Autocad but the price of the upgrades was getting burdensome. Also most of my drafting is 2D. If I need 3D, Sketch-up (also free) has met my needs just fine.

Most of the commands in Draftsight are like those in AutoCad, which is to say the learning curve can be pretty steep if you are starting from scratch. I took a couple of classes on Autocad at our local community college. I was working for a small engineering firm at the time and needed the jumpstart. I am not sure that any cad package free or not is very easy to learn. You just have to pick one and jump in the deep end.

Good luck in your search,

Tim

 

[tmc_31]

oops, sorry for the double post, don't know what happened.

Tim

 

[Localmotion]

I use Google Sketchup - it's free & fairly easy to use (def a good start to cad if you're not used to it): Google SketchUp Free 8.0.15158 download - V3.co.uk

Also you can download ready made models of lots of items here: 3D Warehouse

:thumbsup:

 

[3v0]

Cad programs are one of the most complex programs to use. Because of this once a person learns to use one program all others seem wrong. For this reason it is hard to get good advice.

Personally I use sketchup. You can export to inkscape to get 2d renderings of 3d objects. From inkscape you can get output to run CNC machines. Have not done this in a few years so I forget the exact details.

 

[MikeFarm]

Hi

I used DraftChoice ages ago. Being older it is a simpler program to use. Much simpler than Inkscape! It's no longer being developed but still available for Windows.
www.triusinc.com View topic - DRAFTChoice for Windows - Free!
also see DCWin postings.
www.triusinc.com View forum - DRAFTChoice CAD Program (Old Product)

If something is free and small in size give it a go

Mike

 

[cockeyedMFer]

Another vote for sketchup...here's some samples I've done. There are several official tutorials that explain the basics, but it can be tricky when you try to make complicated shapes, or fill in textured areas. Took me a good 10 hour day to learn the basics enough to do the garage layout below. It also helps that Google has an image warehouse that you can download shapes like cars, shelves, trusses, etc.

 

[DougM]

What a car in Sketchup8 ????/

I am in outer space still trying

all I want is to draw out lines of a build ing and Put in distances

 

[3v0]

To understand sketchup you need to watch the tutorials. You are not going to get too far poking at it.

 

[SanDucerro]

What a car in Sketchup8 ????/

I am in outer space still trying

all I want is to draw out lines of a build ing and Put in distances

Then Sketchup will work for you. I use it to plot out our fence lines and vineyard rows. The program can do FAR more than I can make it do, but it works great for simple stuff - and the learning curve isn't too steep (but it ain't 15 minutes either).

 

[MikeFarm]

Hiya

Here is another possibility, its open source.
FreeCAD: An Open Source parametric 3D CAD modeler
"FreeCAD is a parametric 3D modeler. Parametric modeling allows you to easily modify your design by going back into your model history and changing its parameters. FreeCAD is open source (LGPL license) and completely modular, allowing for very advanced extension and customization.
FreeCAD is multiplatfom, and reads and writes many open file formats such as STEP, IGES, STL and others. etc..."

Mike

 

[sawduster98]

Sketchup8. Free and very well supported/documented. Tons of tutorials on YouTube. I've been using it in my woodworking business for years.

 

[cockeyedMFer]

What a car in Sketchup8 ????/

I am in outer space still trying

all I want is to draw out lines of a build ing and Put in distances

Don't worry, that was one of the downloadable models. I can't do cars yet either.