A Reasonable CAD Program

[Lionelgee]

Hello All,

I just brushed off the cobwebs off the box and went to load a copy of TurboCAD Pro 15 onto my 12 month old laptop.

Hmmm no CD port.

A closer examination at the box... "for Windows Vista and XP" ... hmmm

What is a reasonably priced downloadable version of a CAD program that can be used for:

Landscape and house design, irrigation plans?

Draw up fabrication plans for projects such as modifications to trailers and construction of things like a mobile tool/work bench trolley?

Able to talk to a 3D Printer or CNC machines like a lathe or mill drill. Also something that can make sense of input from a scanner too?

I am a Landscaper, Parks and Gardens by trade and used to use CAD for trade related activities - I would like to learn more about the CNC aspect of things now too. I used to use AutoSketch too.


Kind regards
Lionel

[incisor]

LibreCAD - Free Open Source 2D CAD (https://librecad.org/)


no idea whether it will do what you want but i have seen it around a bit

[workingonit]

Hello All,

Landscape and house design, irrigation plans?

Draw up fabrication plans for projects such as modifications to trailers and construction of things like a mobile tool/work bench trolley?

Able to talk to a 3D Printer or CNC machines like a lathe or mill drill. Also something that can make sense of input from a scanner too?




FreeCAD: Your own 3D parametric modeler (https://www.freecadweb.org/)

FreeCAD does not talk directly to 3D/CNC. FreeCAD and most other CAD programs have their work converted through other programs to G Code for use by machines. Some (presumably expensive) CAD apps may wrap all this process up in one program?

[Slunnie]

Sketchup although I'm not sure about scanner input.

Oh Lionel, do you still have access to an edu email address? If you do then you can access quite a few of them as an educational version without paying up.

[Landyv8]

I use Inkscape, its kind of like a simplified version of Corel Draw and its free. I downloaded it to design display images and menus for Arduino screens and also recently using it to operate a mini cnc mill.
It can export in various formats. I haven't experienced any issues with it or heavy advertising.

[Landyv8]

Its probably worth mentioning, I export to Easel to interface with the CNC. Cut depths are set in Easel, but i use Inkscape for the patterns. It can probably do 3d, however i have only used in 2d.

A couple photos of my recent projects:

Welcome screen on a touch screen interface i am currently making
159874

CNC radiator fan panel made out of arcylic. This was made on a desk top CNC from China, cost less than $400NZD, well worth it just for learning more about cnc.
159875

[Tombie]

What CNC mill? Care to share a link?

[Lionelgee]

What CNC mill? Care to share a link?

Hello Tombie,

It is more of a conversion that someone has done to their machine - not a factory product... Access 19th April 2020 from, YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIVfUVCHqI8)

Kind regards
Lionel

[Disco-tastic]

I haven't tried freeCAD but i tried LibreCAD a few years ago and foubd it frustrating coming from Autocad at work. I'm keen to hear if you try them out which one you like.

Sketchup is good for house and landscaping plans, though you'll need to buy the pro version to get the ability to easily create dimensioned plans (I think its about $1000 outright or you can pay on a monthly subscription). With some plugins (some paid) you can also get some really nice photrealistic renders from Sketchup. You can use it for 3d printing (not sure about CNC) but Fusion360 is better.

For 3D printing and CNC Fusion360 is the best i have tried and seen others using. It has a free license for personal use.

Ive tried Inkscape for vector graphics, and I've used it to create laser cut plywood designs, but its a completely different user experience to any of the other cads. Its seems to be designed primarily for graphics, so creating accurate dimensions and curves is more artistic and I found it hard to create complex objects with accurate dimensions.

[workingonit]

Hello Tombie,

It is more of a conversion that someone has done to their machine - not a factory product... Access 19th April 2020 from, YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIVfUVCHqI8)

Kind regards
Lionel

Could be wrong, but looks like he has incorporated a TDI300 harmonic balance at 7:50 minutes[thumbsupbig]

[Guyeth]

I’ve stuck with Turbocad, not bad price still for brand new, I’m actually about to trial their new Mac version, V12, the ones before have been absolute rubbish on Mac sadly, so dual boot for cad haha

[CrustyNoodle]

I use OnShape (https://www.onshape.com/) full featured, browser based and free - so long as you are willing to share your designs.

[ian4002000]

when i purchased a new laptop i found the lack of CD to be a small problem. I setup a network back to the old laptop and gave permissions for the new laptop to use the CD drive in the old laptop.
When i put the program Cd, it ran as normal and loaded the program.
I have also seen a virtual Cd program that is you can load the image data it will read it like a cd. That is what i was supplied from AULRO with the D3 workshop manual.
PS if you get the chance start using solid state drives they are wonderful and very fast....

Ian
Bittern

[GrahamH]

Take a look at nanoCAD.

It's very similar to autoCAD LT.

I use the free version 5.0 as I use it only a little and it's free (but you must register). The pro product, nanoCAD plus, is at Ver11.0 but even registered versions seem to be quite reasonably priced.

nanoCAD (https://nanocad.com/products/nanoCAD/download/)

Good luck.

[Lionelgee]

What CNC mill? Care to share a link?

Hello Tombie,

Another Australian conversion accessed 29th April 2020 from, YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DV2xmDpioIM)

Kind regards
Lionel

[Lionelgee]

Hello All,

So, time moves on ... I found a YouTube clip by Karl Fischer from Make it Kustom or JapHands that details the three software programs that range from making a CAD drawing, transferring the drawing to a cutting program and then the CNC plasma cutter itself.

The programs used back on the 30th of December 2021 were:

Draftsight for the CAD drawing = DraftSight(R) 2D CAD Drafting and 3D Design Software (https://www.draftsight.com)
Lazycam to convert the CAD drawing to a plasma cutting path Newfangled Solutions LazyCam Pro (Beta) – License (https://www.machsupport.com/shop/lazycam-pro)

and

Mach3 to operate the plasma cutter. Mach3 CNC Plasma Software (https://ez-plasma.com/cnc-plasma-torches-accessories/cnc-plasma-software/cnc-plasma-software-mach3.html)


Just wondering whether any one else here on AULRO use similar programs to make a CAD drawing and then have the product cut out with a plasma cutter. From electronic drawing to finished product.

Taking on suggestions from LandyV8 I have currently watching Inkscape for complete beginners accessed 8th November 2023 from, The Absolute Beginner's Guide to Using Inkscape for CNC - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EA6m7w40E2E)

Kind regards
Lionel

[Lionelgee]

Hello All,

For the plywood drawings so I can design some new kitchen cabinets I downloaded Sketchup 2017 which as suggested by King's Fine Woodworking Learn SketchUp in 20 Minutes - Complete Sketch Up Tutorial of a Coffee Table Accessed 8th November 2023 from,98 - Learn SketchUp in 20 Minutes - Complete Sketch Up Tutorial of a Coffee Table - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ay583JF7uk)

I also watched Broader Custom Woodworks Sketchup video Accessed 8th November 2023 from, Google Sketchup for Woodworkers Beginner Tutorial Series: Part 1 - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onipS7nr1M4&t=914s)

Between the both clips the process is fairly well explained.

Kind regards
Lionel

[goingbush]

LibreCAD - Free Open Source 2D CAD (https://librecad.org/)


no idea whether it will do what you want but i have seen it around a bit

LibreCAD is good but I like QCad better , QCad is a pay version of LibreCAD but its only $35 one off (or similar)

I tried a few & this is the easiest to learn & use IMO . It only 2D I'd never get my head around 3D . Half my truck is made from parts I drew in QCad , email dxf file to my mate with a plasma cutter and go pick up later in the day.

heres a pedal box for example

187689 187690 187691 187692

[Lionelgee]

Hello All,

Going back to CNC plasma cutting Brent from Halfass Kustoms converted a CNC engraver over to a CNC plasma table Accessed 8th November 2023 from Simple DIY CNC plasma table with plasma cutter for 600$ off Amazon. - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8l06c7oYqTo&t=137s)

Apparently the CNC engraver is no longer listed on Amazon. The costs in Australia blows the budget mentioned in the video clip. The cost of the CNC engraver is close to 700 Australian dollars.

I already have the plasma cutter so that is one less cost.

Kind regards
Lionel