Thread: A Reasonable CAD Program

I use OnShape full featured, browser based and free - so long as you are willing to share your designs.

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

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

Good luck.

Originally Posted by Tombie

What CNC mill? Care to share a link?

Hello Tombie,

Another Australian conversion accessed 29th April 2020 from, YouTube

Kind regards
Lionel

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
• Lazycam to convert the CAD drawing to a plasma cutting path Newfangled Solutions LazyCam Pro (Beta) – License

and

• Mach3 to operate the plasma cutter. Mach3 CNC Plasma Software

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

Kind regards
Lionel

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

I also watched Broader Custom Woodworks Sketchup video Accessed 8th November 2023 from, Google Sketchup for Woodworkers Beginner Tutorial Series: Part 1 - YouTube

Between the both clips the process is fairly well explained.

Kind regards
Lionel

Originally Posted by incisor

LibreCAD - Free Open Source 2D CAD


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

Screenshot from 2023-11-08 22-12-03.jpg IMG20230613170320.jpg IMG20230624161446.jpg IMG20230624161600.jpg