GO

"Greg O"

26/06/2007 8:30 PM

CAD program?

Anyone know of a cheap, (freeware?), drafting program? Nothing fancy, I just
want something simple to layout cuts on sheet of plywood before cutting, and
similar tasks.


This topic has 22 replies

LH

Lew Hodgett

in reply to "Greg O" on 26/06/2007 8:30 PM

27/06/2007 1:45 AM

Greg O wrote:
> Anyone know of a cheap, (freeware?), drafting program? Nothing
fancy, I
> just want something simple to layout cuts on sheet of plywood before
> cutting, and similar tasks.

A couple of sheets of graph paper and a pair of scissors.

Fast, cheap, simple, and foolproof.

(We used to call it "making paper dolls" in our industrial engineering
plant layout classes)

Lew

GO

"Greg O"

in reply to "Greg O" on 26/06/2007 8:30 PM

26/06/2007 10:06 PM


"Lew Hodgett" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:%[email protected]...
> Greg O wrote:
> > Anyone know of a cheap, (freeware?), drafting program? Nothing
> fancy, I
> > just want something simple to layout cuts on sheet of plywood before
> > cutting, and similar tasks.
>
> A couple of sheets of graph paper and a pair of scissors.
>
> Fast, cheap, simple, and foolproof.
>
> (We used to call it "making paper dolls" in our industrial engineering
> plant layout classes)
>
> Lew


Fine, but too cheap, and not geeky enough!
Greg

MJ

Mark & Juanita

in reply to "Greg O" on 26/06/2007 8:30 PM

07/08/2007 9:47 PM

Puckdropper wrote:

> "Mr P" <[email protected]> wrote in
> news:[email protected]:
>
>> Alibre express is waaaaaay too tough to learn unless you are going to
>> do some serious designing. Same with Sketchup in my humble opinion.
>>
>> Free, 2D, Scalable, Easy to Learn, and upgrading to pro is only $30
>> bux.
>>
>> Drum roll, CadStd http://www.apperson.org/cadstd/ or
>> http://www.cadstd.com/ (Same site, just different addresses)
>>
>
> I'll second, and mention that the Pro version is worth the money. While
> the free version is very much functional, the Pro version makes things so
> much easier. If you're familiar with pencil and paper drafting, CadStd
> will take maybe 30 minutes to get used to.
>
> Puckdropper

Anybody know a good 3D CAD program for Linux? I've looked at Varicad, it
looks promising but expensive. Turbocad won't load using Cross-Over (Wine)


--
If you're going to be dumb, you better be tough

Jj

John

in reply to "Greg O" on 26/06/2007 8:30 PM

08/08/2007 7:01 PM

On Tue, 07 Aug 2007 21:47:55 -0700, Mark & Juanita wrote:

> Puckdropper wrote:
>
>> "Mr P" <[email protected]> wrote in
>> news:[email protected]:
>>
>>> Alibre express is waaaaaay too tough to learn unless you are going to
>>> do some serious designing. Same with Sketchup in my humble opinion.
>>>
>>> Free, 2D, Scalable, Easy to Learn, and upgrading to pro is only $30
>>> bux.
>>>
>>> Drum roll, CadStd http://www.apperson.org/cadstd/ or
>>> http://www.cadstd.com/ (Same site, just different addresses)
>>>
>>
>> I'll second, and mention that the Pro version is worth the money. While
>> the free version is very much functional, the Pro version makes things so
>> much easier. If you're familiar with pencil and paper drafting, CadStd
>> will take maybe 30 minutes to get used to.
>>
>> Puckdropper
>
> Anybody know a good 3D CAD program for Linux? I've looked at Varicad, it
> looks promising but expensive. Turbocad won't load using Cross-Over (Wine)
>
>
Take a look at the available links here. I use linux as my primary
system, but I still use windows for three programs, including Turbo CAD.
Varicad is supposed to be quite good, but as you observe, expensive.

http://www.tech-edv.co.at/lunix/CAD.html

J

MJ

Mark & Juanita

in reply to "Greg O" on 26/06/2007 8:30 PM

08/08/2007 10:34 PM

John wrote:

> On Tue, 07 Aug 2007 21:47:55 -0700, Mark & Juanita wrote:
>
... snip
>>
>> Anybody know a good 3D CAD program for Linux? I've looked at Varicad,
>> it
>> looks promising but expensive. Turbocad won't load using Cross-Over
>> (Wine)
>>
>>
> Take a look at the available links here. I use linux as my primary
> system, but I still use windows for three programs, including Turbo CAD.
> Varicad is supposed to be quite good, but as you observe, expensive.
>
> http://www.tech-edv.co.at/lunix/CAD.html

Thanks. I'll take a look. I may check to see if VMware works. My
machine does have W2K loaded on it (our company offers employees old
refresh machines at a great discount and they load them with W2K when they
go out the door) -- so maybe that is another option.


--
If you're going to be dumb, you better be tough

JJ

in reply to "Greg O" on 26/06/2007 8:30 PM

27/06/2007 5:22 PM


CAD program?

Group: rec.woodworking Date: Tue, Jun 26, 2007, 8:30pm (EDT-1)
[email protected] (Greg=A0O) did query thusly:
Anyone know of a cheap, (freeware?), drafting program? Nothing fancy, I
just want something simple to layout cuts on sheet of plywood before
cutting, and similar tasks.

Yep. Very versitile, cheap too.
http://www.mrx.no/albums/stilllife/Pencil.sized.jpg



JOAT
If a man does his best, what else is there?
- General George S. Patton

DH

"David Harper"

in reply to "Greg O" on 26/06/2007 8:30 PM

26/06/2007 11:37 PM

This is a multi-part message in MIME format.

------=_NextPart_000_001B_01C7B84A.F3CDA5E0
Content-Type: text/plain;
charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

Greg

Have you heard of Alibre Express.
It is a Free , it is a 3D solid modeling program that also does 2d.

I have tinkered with it,I use AutoCAD2006 and Acad Inventer10 at work, =
and was just experimenting with it.

It is a parametric modeling / drafting program , the express is a free =
download.


http://www.alibre.com/xpress/software/alibre-design-xpress.asp
"Greg O" <[email protected]> wrote in message =
news:[email protected]...
Anyone know of a cheap, (freeware?), drafting program? Nothing fancy, =
I just=20
want something simple to layout cuts on sheet of plywood before =
cutting, and=20
similar tasks.=20

------=_NextPart_000_001B_01C7B84A.F3CDA5E0
Content-Type: text/html;
charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META http-equiv=3DContent-Type content=3D"text/html; =
charset=3Diso-8859-1">
<META content=3D"MSHTML 6.00.6000.16481" name=3DGENERATOR>
<STYLE></STYLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Greg</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Have you heard of Alibre =
Express.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>It is a Free , it is a 3D solid =
modeling program=20
that also does 2d.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>I have tinkered with it,I use =
AutoCAD2006 and Acad=20
Inventer10 at work, and was just experimenting with it.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>It is a parametric modeling / drafting =
program ,=20
the express is a free download.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><A=20
href=3D"http://www.alibre.com/xpress/software/alibre-design-xpress.asp">h=
ttp://www.alibre.com/xpress/software/alibre-design-xpress.asp</A></FONT><=
/DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE=20
style=3D"PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; =
BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV>"Greg O" &lt;<A=20
=
href=3D"mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</A>&gt; =
wrote in=20
message <A=20
=
href=3D"news:[email protected]">news:1383feearhoga6f@cor=
p.supernews.com</A>...</DIV>Anyone=20
know of a cheap, (freeware?), drafting program? Nothing fancy, I just =
<BR>want=20
something simple to layout cuts on sheet of plywood before cutting, =
and=20
<BR>similar tasks. <BR></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>

------=_NextPart_000_001B_01C7B84A.F3CDA5E0--

Jj

JeffB

in reply to "Greg O" on 26/06/2007 8:30 PM

29/06/2007 11:25 AM

Free programs:
CutList - http://www.delphiforfun.org/Programs/CutList.htm
Google SketchUp - http://sketchup.google.com/
--
JeffB
remove no.spam. to email


Greg O wrote:
> Anyone know of a cheap, (freeware?), drafting program? Nothing fancy, I
> just want something simple to layout cuts on sheet of plywood before
> cutting, and similar tasks.

Pp

Puckdropper

in reply to "Greg O" on 26/06/2007 8:30 PM

07/08/2007 7:52 AM

"Mr P" <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:

> Alibre express is waaaaaay too tough to learn unless you are going to
> do some serious designing. Same with Sketchup in my humble opinion.
>
> Free, 2D, Scalable, Easy to Learn, and upgrading to pro is only $30
> bux.
>
> Drum roll, CadStd http://www.apperson.org/cadstd/ or
> http://www.cadstd.com/ (Same site, just different addresses)
>

I'll second, and mention that the Pro version is worth the money. While
the free version is very much functional, the Pro version makes things so
much easier. If you're familiar with pencil and paper drafting, CadStd
will take maybe 30 minutes to get used to.

Puckdropper
--
Wise is the man who attempts to answer his question before asking it.

To email me directly, send a message to puckdropper (at) fastmail.fm

dd

d2e2

in reply to "Greg O" on 26/06/2007 8:30 PM

27/06/2007 7:22 PM

Greg O wrote:
> Anyone know of a cheap, (freeware?), drafting program? Nothing fancy, I
> just want something simple to layout cuts on sheet of plywood before
> cutting, and similar tasks.
Linux has it all and its free, best of all.

ch

cavelamb himself

in reply to "Greg O" on 26/06/2007 8:30 PM

07/08/2007 6:08 AM

Mr P wrote:

> Alibre express is waaaaaay too tough to learn unless you are going to do
> some serious designing. Same with Sketchup in my humble opinion.
>
> Free, 2D, Scalable, Easy to Learn, and upgrading to pro is only $30 bux.
>
> Drum roll, CadStd http://www.apperson.org/cadstd/ or http://www.cadstd.com/
> (Same site, just different addresses)
>
> "Greg O" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
>>Anyone know of a cheap, (freeware?), drafting program? Nothing fancy, I
>>just want something simple to layout cuts on sheet of plywood before
>>cutting, and similar tasks.
>>
>
>
>


My favotite!

DesignCAD

http://designcadunleashed.com/

Ag

"AKA gray asphalt"

in reply to "Greg O" on 26/06/2007 8:30 PM

26/06/2007 11:22 PM

I like "Sketchup" from Google. It's easy and fun and free. It was $500 until
bought it and made it public.
www.sketchup.com


"Greg O" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Anyone know of a cheap, (freeware?), drafting program? Nothing fancy, I
> just want something simple to layout cuts on sheet of plywood before
> cutting, and similar tasks.

Pn

"Pop`"

in reply to "Greg O" on 26/06/2007 8:30 PM

29/06/2007 11:07 PM

http://www.caddprimer.com/cad_software_vendors/cad_cam_general_purpose.htm
See the General Cadd, lower on the page.

Pop`


JeffB wrote:
> Free programs:
> CutList - http://www.delphiforfun.org/Programs/CutList.htm
> Google SketchUp - http://sketchup.google.com/
>
> Greg O wrote:
>> Anyone know of a cheap, (freeware?), drafting program? Nothing
>> fancy, I just want something simple to layout cuts on sheet of
>> plywood before cutting, and similar tasks.


Cc

"CW"

in reply to "Greg O" on 26/06/2007 8:30 PM

27/06/2007 1:15 PM


"AKA gray asphalt" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I like "Sketchup" from Google. It's easy and fun and free. It was $500
until
> bought it and made it public.

It still is in that price range. The version they give away is somewhat
stripped down. Good enough to mess with but not for professional use.

MP

"Mr P"

in reply to "Greg O" on 26/06/2007 8:30 PM

08/08/2007 10:36 PM

LOL, that website for designcad is busier than a dog at a flea circus. Just
curious, but how much is the bare bones software?

Oh, and a good tutorial for the CadStd is here.....
http://library.advanced.org/C0116628/lessons.htm

"cavelamb himself" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:C%Tti.1676$Aj6.1644@trnddc01...
> My favotite!
>
> DesignCAD
>
> http://designcadunleashed.com/

JC

"J. Clarke"

in reply to "Greg O" on 26/06/2007 8:30 PM

28/06/2007 9:14 AM

d2e2 wrote:
> Greg O wrote:
>> Anyone know of a cheap, (freeware?), drafting program? Nothing
>> fancy, I just want something simple to layout cuts on sheet of
>> plywood before cutting, and similar tasks.
> Linux has it all and its free, best of all.

Except that the free CAD offerings for Linux are pretty limited.

--
--
--John
to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)

Ag

"AKA gray asphalt"

in reply to "Greg O" on 26/06/2007 8:30 PM

27/06/2007 11:05 AM


"CW" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "AKA gray asphalt" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> I like "Sketchup" from Google. It's easy and fun and free. It was $500
> until
>> bought it and made it public.
>
> It still is in that price range. The version they give away is somewhat
> stripped down. Good enough to mess with but not for professional use.

It's not really stripped down. All of the tools are there but you can't
print at higher than screen resolution or export obj files or other formats,
but it is good enough for the kind of project mentioned above, I guess. One
cool thing is that you can export files that integrate with google earth, ie
can be uploaded and seen on GEarths interface.

Hs

"Hugh"

in reply to "Greg O" on 26/06/2007 8:30 PM

26/06/2007 10:23 PM

Google Sketch Up should do the job

"Greg O" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Anyone know of a cheap, (freeware?), drafting program? Nothing fancy, I
> just want something simple to layout cuts on sheet of plywood before
> cutting, and similar tasks.

Lr

"Leon"

in reply to "Greg O" on 26/06/2007 8:30 PM

26/06/2007 10:34 PM


"Greg O" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Anyone know of a cheap, (freeware?), drafting program? Nothing fancy, I
> just want something simple to layout cuts on sheet of plywood before
> cutting, and similar tasks.

You may really be looking for an optimization program vs. a drafting
program. If you know the sizes you want and want a program to determine the
best way to get the most out of a piece of plywood or board, you probably
want something like Sheetlayout or Cutlist Plus.

www.sheetlayout.com

www.cutlistplus.com

Both programs come in affordable versions and both IIRC have a trial
version.

MP

"Mr P"

in reply to "Greg O" on 26/06/2007 8:30 PM

06/08/2007 9:57 PM

Alibre express is waaaaaay too tough to learn unless you are going to do
some serious designing. Same with Sketchup in my humble opinion.

Free, 2D, Scalable, Easy to Learn, and upgrading to pro is only $30 bux.

Drum roll, CadStd http://www.apperson.org/cadstd/ or http://www.cadstd.com/
(Same site, just different addresses)

"Greg O" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Anyone know of a cheap, (freeware?), drafting program? Nothing fancy, I
> just want something simple to layout cuts on sheet of plywood before
> cutting, and similar tasks.
>

LH

Lew Hodgett

in reply to "Greg O" on 26/06/2007 8:30 PM

27/06/2007 3:18 AM

Greg O wrote:

>
> Fine, but too cheap, and not geeky enough!


Picky, Picky.

Lew

JJ

in reply to Lew Hodgett on 27/06/2007 3:18 AM

27/06/2007 5:25 PM

Wed, Jun 27, 2007, 3:18am (EDT+4) [email protected]
(Lew=A0Hodgett) di sayeth:
Picky, Picky.

Requires too much operator input.



JOAT
If a man does his best, what else is there?
- General George S. Patton


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