Good CAD program that isn't AutoCad?

[Geoff]

Since I'd rather spend $3000+ on a Laguna band saw than on AutoCAD, does anyone have a recommendation on design software other than AutoCAD

2005?

[Fred]

AutoCAD

I had one a few years back called DesignCad. Seems like it was around $399 for the 2D version, the 3D version was a little more. It worked pretty well and was fairly easy to use. It helps to have a digitizer board to go with it but not absolutely necessary.

Fred

[TeamCasa]

This is asked several times a year. A search will reveal most common suggestions, however, I have recently been using AutoSketch 9. Made by Autodesk and it works well enough for my uses.

Dave

[John Carlson]

I've been using TurboCAD for several years and I like it. Last time I looked, it was available in several flavors ranging from free to a few hundred bucks. I started with the free version and decided I liked it and upgraded to one that was ~$60-70 IIRC and haven't needed anything more.

Published e-mail address is for spam collection only. If e-mailing me, use jc631 at optonline dot net

-- jc

[Guess who]

What are your needs? AutoCad will let you design a 747 complete. What did you have in mind?

[Bill]

Try DesignCad. It has the power of AutoCad but costs less than $100.00. it does 2d and 3d drawings. My wife has been using it for years doing architectural drafting and I use it for shop projects and business site plans. Here is a link to their site:

[bc]

AutoCAD

Hi Geoff, I use an older version of TurbCAD (ver. 8.0 standard to be exact). I picked it up 7 or 8 months ago for about $14 because it isn't the latest and greatest version, but it's more than adequate for my designs. It does 2D and 3D, auto-dimensioning and a whole lot more that I haven't figured out yet. I got it because one of the woodworking mags. recommended it and I decided that for $14 and since I was used to drawing my plans by hand, even if I didn't like it I wasn't out much. I hope that helps. Happy sawdust. BC

[J. Clarke]

Well, if you've got three grand to spend then Ashlar-Vellum Cobalt is pretty nice.

Intellicad is a fair AutoCAD clone for $50-175 depending on options--you can give it a free try at "

". If you've never been trained on Autocad though plan to spend a while learning it.

has a list of free and/or inexpensive CAD products one of which might suit your needs. You might want to go through them before you buy anything.

If you can find someone with a copy, many years ago Cadkey put the fully-functional DOS version of their product up on their Web site as a Christmas present to their user community after the Windows product had become established--if you can find someone who has the download it's still a very, very capable 3D CAD program--I'd email you a copy if I hadn't lost mine.

[Leon]

AutoCAD "LT" about $700.

You really do not need the 3D perspective with diminishing points of view for woodworking that AutoCAD offers.

[Leon]

Wow Dave , Auto Sketch 9. My last version of that program was 2.1 and that version was pretty impressive. I have been using AutoCAD LT since leaving

2.1 AutoSketch.

[Tom Dacon]

I just found a 3d modeling package called SketchUp

You can download a full version that lets you use it for up to eight hours. It seems to be really intuitive and easy to learn. There are demo videos on the web site. I you have a high-speed internet connection, they'd be worth a look. It does lighting, even seasonal lighting if you're doing architecture, surface textures, and animations. It's around $450, I think. Give it a try and see what you think.

Tom Dacon

[Leon]

for me. I'll have to look at DesignCAD again. Old habits are sooooo hard to break as I am quite comfortable with AutoCAD LT.

[Leon]

FWIW, I down loaded this program to try out and went to the site for a quick overview of the program. The speaker on the demo stressed that Sketchup IS NOT a CAD program, which the OP is looking for. IIRC it is a design program.

[johnny999_99]

The OP asked about CAD in the title and design in the text.

If you are looking to a software solution to aid in the conceptualization of a design, then Sketchup is wonderful. Less good if you are looking to use it as part of a CAD-CAM process.

[Guess who]

You might want to look at "Solid Edge" if into modelling. It has comprehensive tutorials. However, this and other suggested software is WAY overboard for non-trained draftsmen wo want to do simple woodworking design ...unless writing the book. Most is just Tim the Toolman grunting. Try DeltaCad for most purposes.

[Leon]

Will Sketchup so Dimensioning?

[Don Dando]

I'm a proponent of DeltaCad. It is quite intuitive and easy to use. You can go to

and download a 30 day trial version to see if you like before you pop for the big $39.95 to purchase it!

[Lawrence L'Hote]

Will Sketchup do Dimensioning? Yes it will and very nicely too. Larry

[Leon]

[Guess who]

It does seem to have a mechanical design component.