Good CAD program that isn't AutoCad?

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

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

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

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

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:

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

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 "

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.

AutoCAD "LT" about $700.

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

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

I just found a 3d modeling package called SketchUp

Tom Dacon

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.

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.

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.

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.

Will Sketchup so Dimensioning?

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

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

It does seem to have a mechanical design component.