3D design software, any help

[Stue 3 doors down]

I am trying all stops as I have hit a wall with chasing software. As a cabinet maker I use to use an old 98r2a version of Quisine Insite and cant use it any more:( as they changed owner ship of the parent company:mad: which meant no support or updating.

Due to nerve damage in my dominant hand and wrist I am changing how we want to build kitchens to an Eco friendly kitchen which has no white board so the software has to be very flexible eg designing furniture and have full pricing, cutting list, 3d rendering with full rotation and hardware components. Not much.

I cant use most kitchen software's as they are geared to flat boxed modular kitchens and the one I have found that can do what I am after is $54,000.oo with an upfront pay now of $24,000.oo only:eek2:. I dont know about you but $24k extra outlay before we open the doors a bit much to ask for a small one man business. I will have to put in around 1000 hours to get to know the sofetware effeciantly before it gets used in the real world as we dont want to look like a clutz in front of potential clients. I have been working on it for the last 9 months with promising results except for a realistic software option.
I hope I havent crosses any moderators or rules but I am stuck with this obstacle.

Cheers
James

[Phoenix]

have you had a look at google sketchpad?

The basic version is free to try, and i'm told it's quite good.

Most other technical drawing programs are expensive. Autocad 2009 is about $6000 a licence from memory. Archicad isn't much better

[Stue 3 doors down]

I am looking at Google Sketch up is that the same? I cant find Sketch pad. Sketchup looks OK other than imperial sizing. As for Auto cad, I have been looking in to it and it wont link drawings to cutting lists and its a little difficult to learn with 3D rendering and running imports etc.
Thanks as I am going back to reassess the programs that I dismissed earlier based on small issues I wanted to avoid.
Thanks

[scanfor]

If you want 3D capable CAD, have a look at Progecad progeSOFT: progeCAD IntelliCAD, DWG CAD - the real AutoCAD Alternative (http://www.progesoft.com)

They have a free version for non-commercial use and the full shebang is only around $400 for a legit licence. It looks, feels and smells just like Autocad.

Another is Cadopia CADopia 8 The IntelliCAD source for AutoCAD users. (http://www.cadopia.com/) - also excellent and good value.

Neither of them can do solidworks type stuff, which may be what you're chasing.

Regards
Scott

[Psimpson7]

Solidworks is where I would be looking. Incredibly powerful tool.

www.solidworks.com (http://www.solidworks.com)

Australian Reseller is www.intercad.com.au (http://www.intercad.com.au)

Have sent you a PM also.

[Phoenix]

Oops, looks like I got the name wrong, yes, sketchup.

[mike 90 RR]

Another is TurboCad ... Full 3D rendering + does have a associated product costing & listing ... and fairly easy to use / learn ... (nothing like AutoCad)

Very cost effective ... but little support in OZ, other than online ... Tutors are available on the east coast // updates are cheap with version updates & release's every year

However ... it's your need for cutting lists that may be your sticky point ... I'm unsure what's required to get that to happen ..... But there are folks in OZ who could write associated programs to bridge it across

Mike
:)

[It'sNotWorthComplaining!]

Also have a look at BLENDER. it's a free with professional features, there is also a tutorial online for it.
There is a gallery , even has a Disco3 on the beach LOL
blender.org - Art Gallery (http://www.blender.org/features-gallery/gallery/art-gallery/)
http://www.blender.org/features-gallery/feature-videos/
blender.org - Education & Help (http://www.blender.org/education-help/)
This is open source avail in Window, Mac and linux version.
If it was not open source, expect to pay through the nose
Also some external renders
http://www.blender.org/download/get-blender/external-renderers/

[isuzutoo-eh]

Hi,
I use Solid Edge, which is fairly close to Solid Works. Solid Edge (SE) is a full 3D program, of course covers 2D as well.
I use SE because thats what my uni (UWS) teaches, my uni used to teach SW but changed to SE some time ago as SE has much much better customer support, friends at UTS have said to me that they get no backup from the SW people at all.
I have found free programs tend to have better support from people who use it rather than sell it, so thats worth taking into account.

I haven't used Solid Edge to create a cutting list as you describe, but it is easy to get the hang of and quite powerful. I started with SE16, now up to version 21.
Academic licenses are VERY cheap, $3.60 when I last bought one (SE version 18) so find someone at a uni and get some hands on research material :D
Hope that helps
-Mark

[Stue 3 doors down]

Thank you every one I am extremely grateful :TakeABow:as I have got more research info here than from woodworker forum! "Go the Landrovers Forum":banana:
Thanks all
Kindest Regards
James:D
PS my brother is in uni so I will get the research version for a test.

[mike 90 RR]

Hi,
I use Solid Edge, which is fairly close to Solid Works. Solid Edge (SE) is a full 3D program, of course covers 2D as well.

Academic licenses are VERY cheap, $3.60 when I last bought one (SE version 18) so find someone at a uni and get some hands on research material :D
Hope that helps
-Mark

This would have been my choice of program to give a go ... :)

But I don't know a uni student ...

[isuzutoo-eh]

Solid Edge also comes with really good tutorials :D:D:D

[mike 90 RR]

and the TurboCad has the tutorials on CD also .... I have the latest release but haven't loaded it yet ... but I do know that the MAC version is a totally different platform to the windows version ... .... clicky .... (http://www.turbocad.com.au/Products/ProductList.aspx?cid=11&mid=48&tm=1)

[Dougal]

Solidworks is where I would be looking. Incredibly powerful tool.

www.solidworks.com (http://www.solidworks.com)

Australian Reseller is www.intercad.com.au (http://www.intercad.com.au)

Have sent you a PM also.

Heavy solidworks user here too.
Is this the P Simpson who emailled me yesterday or have I connected the wrong dots?

[disco2hse]

Also have a look at BLENDER.

Blender's great but not, I think, what you want it for. Have used it before and it really tends more towards the arts/animation side of things rather than CAD. For example, I doubt you could it to explode a design and identify parts lists, etc. or in your case, cutting specs.

Other CAD solutions are good and I guess one must try them out. There are open source options but there will be trade-offs in terms of how much effort you will have to put in to get them to work how you want. Proprietary systems will have many questions answered but not necessarily those you wanted.

Alan

[Psimpson7]

Heavy solidworks user here too.
Is this the P Simpson who emailled me yesterday or have I connected the wrong dots?

Yep sure is. Small world!

[mike 90 RR]

I am trying all stops as I have hit a wall with chasing software.

.... So, Which software are you trying???

[Stue 3 doors down]

.... So, Which software are you trying???

Micro Vellum was my first choice until I found out I would need to have Auto Cad as well plus $27,000 which is insane for a program that appears to be piggy backed on Autocad and MS excel, according to the demo I downloaded. I dont know if it can do full render 3 axis rotation not just a rendered single axis view? It is bewildering how they can charge so much for it :Rolling:and from reports I have read it is a very good program but has poor technical back up for the product. Maybe they need an $6,000 version to get the smaller shops online first. I wont buy it now unless I have CASH or if Solid Egde cant do what I want.

I am running with Auto Cad for now as I need to learn it and looking for an Academic version of Solid Edge to learn while I am getting my business off the ground.
Need to test it and play, Psimpson has sent me a PM and I will talk to him soon. This week has been a shocker as all three kids and my wife are all down with the flu :wheelchair: and stupid me doesnt get sick for more than 24 hours:Thump::clap2:.
I have a DVD that I am using for Auotcad called "introduction to AutoCAD". I have done the first 7 lessons and only a fraction of the way through it.:o. Its a joy and a big program we got the DVD from AutoCAD Training Online - netLearn Learning Systems (http://www.netlearn.com.au/) ( i hope they have an auto hyperlink :() through The University of Melbourne.
Cheers
James

[mike 90 RR]

It is bewildering how they can charge so much for it :Rolling: ($27000)

I wont buy it now unless I have CASH or if Solid Edge cant do what I want.

I am running with Auto Cad for now as I need to learn it and looking for an Academic version of Solid Edge to learn while I am getting my business off the ground.


Best of luck in learning it :)


Yes ... there seems to be a unparalleled ignorance about the value of software and the abilities of the "earning capacities" of the end user ... not all earning 2.7 million per year

I have 2 versions of AutoCad .... and both are in the bin .....

Coincidently enough .... the reps of AutoDesk are doing the phone calls around Perth at the moment ... I scored a 30 day trial CD of "Rivet" ... with promises of a "revolution to use" <_< ... This was after a lengthy conversation about the program I use and the other brands out in the marketplace /// so this I gotta see ..... ;) $10 says that will hit the bin also :p

Mike

[George130]

Depending on what you want check out
ARB Games (http://www.arbgames.com.au/)

[isuzutoo-eh]

Aaand I read this thread on another LR forum last night
Free 3D CAD software - LR4x4 - The Land Rover Forum (http://forums.lr4x4.com/index.php'showtopic=45694)
I haven't had a look at the software yet as the one I use works for what I do.
Cheers,
Mark