CAD software.

[JohnBoy]

I voted other. I use Visio for some projects. It's not cad software as such, more diagram/chart software, but it can do dimensioned drawings to a similar level as I am able to fabricate.

It's a kinda like computerized graph paper

I've tried using SketchUp a few times but never got my head around it

[Scotts]

I have this on the Linux box. https://librecad.org/

There is also https://www.freecadweb.org/ it is a 3d modeling thing. I have not messed with this much.

Scott

[arizonian]

I'm with Norm and Gerry. PAD is now my go to for around the house projects since I retired. Before retirement I had access to SolidWorks and if I could work in my projects after I punched out but before I went home, all was well.

[tigman250]

I have been using TurboCad for probably 15 years. All my drawings are 2D for fab purposes but it has 3D capabilities as well, I just have not taken the time to learn that aspect of it. I forget how much I paid for the last seat of it I purchased but it wasn't much. Pretty powerful software, easy to learn and reasonable to buy. I came from MasterCam, icons were similar so learning it was easy, do you have any CAD experience Ron?

[Shade Tree Welder]

Originally Posted by tigman250

...do you have any CAD experience Ron?

I have run TurboCAD for a long time, maybe 20 years, still a beginner, I have
dabbled in the 3D stuff mainly to get something to print on the 3D printer the
kids bought that is still here. I am currently on the TurboCAD 21 deluxe
version. Also I run PAD like Gerry does often too.

[unfinished]

Have used Autocad way back, like 20 yrs ago, 2D is just ugly, I want pretty 3D.

Messed around with Sketchup for a while. While is great to quickly get something drawn up, it is more intended for architecture. The free version can't export nicely to another CAD format. Dimensioning is also a pain. Also don't like the direction Trimble is taking sketchup, seems to get more online-ified and needing an account to download models, etc...

Briefly tried fusion360, but everytime i tried it, it was downloading a big update. And it also seems to lock you in to that platform. A lot of people like it but I wanted more open.

Now trying to learn FreeCAD. Open source parametric CAD. Seems pretty powerful, and much more like a real CAD application should be vs. Sketchup. Still learning the basics. Bonus it runs on win, mac and linux.

[imagineer]

I'm an AutoCAD addict since '94 or so. My 1st exposure to CAD ('91) was an architectural package called Arris. It was black screen, no user interface and all keyboard commands.

My co-workers say that Solidworks is more user friendly, but I'm fast enough with AutoCAD and Autodesk Inventor, that I can out produce all of them.

My secret to speed, is the command alias. I have a 1 or 2 key stroke alias for every AutoCAD command. Probably a throwback to my Arris days, but my AutoCAD user screen has no buttons to click.

[digger doug]

Originally Posted by imagineer

I'm an AutoCAD addict since '94 or so. My 1st exposure to CAD ('91) was an architectural package called Arris. It was black screen, no user interface and all keyboard commands.

My co-workers say that Solidworks is more user friendly, but I'm fast enough with AutoCAD and Autodesk Inventor, that I can out produce all of them.

My secret to speed, is the command alias. I have a 1 or 2 key stroke alias for every AutoCAD command. Probably a throwback to my Arris days, but my AutoCAD user screen has no buttons to click.

Same here, but I never got into customization.
Driving Inventor now, can you share some of these customizations ?
As of late, the pull down to get to a command has gotten worse.

[greywynd]

I used AutoCad, MasterCam, and ProEngineer back in the late 80’s, early 90’s. (There were a couple others too, can’t recall the names now though.)

Been too long since I used them to remember much, and would like to find something I can use easily on the ipad. Played a little with a few freebies and samples now, to really unlock them costs $$.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[imagineer]

Originally Posted by digger doug

Same here, but I never got into customization.
Driving Inventor now, can you share some of these customizations ?
As of late, the pull down to get to a command has gotten worse.

In the command line, enter ai_editcustfile and hit enter. ( thats ai_editcustfile )

At Custom File to edit: enter acad.pgp.

Your PGP file (Program Parameters File For AutoCAD) will open. It's a text listing of all AutoCAD commands and aliases.

Pick the ones to use frequently and change the command alias to what you want.

For example the "rectangle" command. I believe the existing command alias for that is RECT. I have mine changed to RT. Another one that I use often is MATCHPROP. I have that command alias set to MP.

When you're done, save and close it.

You will have to reinitiate the PGP file. Just type REINIT at the command line. Check the box for PGP file and click OK. Your new command aliases will be available for your current and future AutoCAD sessions.

It might not seem like a big time saver, hitting a few less key strokes, but not having to mouse around clicking on a command button makes a huge difference for me.

Note, before you start changing the PGP file, find it and make a copy renamed to PGP-ORIGINAL. That way if you goof up, you still have the original to revert to.