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Author Topic: CAD program  (Read 7888 times)

wideawake

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CAD program
« on: December 06, 2007, 09:06:16 am »
Hi folks

Can anyone recommend a cheap and cheerful 2D CAD program.  I'm looking for something simple to understand which I can use for things like frame templates and the like.  I've downloaded a trial copy (non-printing) of Qcad but would be interested in other people's views.

Cheers

Guy
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Bunkerbarge

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Re: CAD program
« Reply #1 on: December 06, 2007, 09:38:29 am »
Hi Wideawake,

I have very limited experience of such programs but in the past I have used Turbo-CAD and Auto-CAD LT both of which were quite similar but both of which seemed to require a degree to know how to use.

It, as always, depends on what you want it for but at the level I have needed CAD I have found Visio to be around my level.  It is very template based and most of what you do is made up of pre-drawn modules that you put together into a drawing or an assembly which you can then keep as a new template.

Have a Google for Visio and see what you come up with.
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banjo

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Re: CAD program Qcad
« Reply #2 on: December 06, 2007, 09:42:03 am »
Wideawake

The Qcad @ 24 Euro seems value for money.

Did I read that price right?
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chas

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Re: CAD program
« Reply #3 on: December 06, 2007, 10:21:14 am »
Hello guy,
            your question seems fine to me, good English, and in the correct place.
   I too need a suitable program but have no experience with these at all. I am considering downloading a freeware program from http://freewarehome.com/ . In the drawing/cad menu is a program called DELFTship supposedly purpose made for the ship industry. The description says it will do hull forms etc.
   Perhaps someone out there has already tried this program and will tell us what it's like, and if the site is safe to download from.
 Chas
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tigertiger

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Re: CAD program
« Reply #4 on: December 06, 2007, 10:39:36 am »
I have looked at DELFT, and it is 3D and for my little brian, well frankly a bit to much work for me.

I too am looking for a (free if possible) 2D CAD application. So will follow this thread with interest.
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Martin13

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Re: CAD program
« Reply #5 on: December 06, 2007, 11:03:47 am »
Quote from: tigertiger on December 06, 2007, 10:39:36 am
I have looked at DELFT, and it is 3D and for my little brian, well frankly a bit to much work for me.

I too am looking for a (free if possible) 2D CAD application. So will follow this thread with interest.


Tigertiger, I second the motion - I want to scale up a hull I have and believe a 2D CAD app would do the job O0 O0 O0

Martin Doon Under
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wideawake

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Re: CAD program Qcad
« Reply #6 on: December 06, 2007, 11:41:42 am »
Quote from: banjo on December 06, 2007, 09:42:03 am
Wideawake

The Qcad @ 24 Euro seems value for money.

Did I read that price right?

Yes.   I thought it looked cheap enough, given I won't use it that often, but was just using the forum to check that someone else didn't know a better prospect.

Cheers

Guy
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chas

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Re: CAD program
« Reply #7 on: December 06, 2007, 11:42:36 am »
Ok TigerTiger,
                    you're right. I downloaded the Deft program and was lost immediately. My problem is that I don't even understand the terminology. I think my human brain only has 1 meg of memory!!
    There are other 2d cad programs on the freeware site but as I don't know what the descriptions are saying it needs someone who's clever with these things to say what, if anything is good.

 Chas
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elmo

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Re: CAD program
« Reply #8 on: December 06, 2007, 11:50:31 am »
My son suggested having a look at :

http://www.cadlogic.com/products/draftit/
 
I understand there is a free version and also enhanced versions which you can buy.

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chas

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Re: CAD program
« Reply #9 on: December 06, 2007, 11:51:47 am »
 I only just thought to search the forum for cad and came up with this link from a year ago.
www.free2design.org It seem to have been well received. Would anyone like to comment on learning to use it?

Chas
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RickF

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Re: CAD program
« Reply #10 on: December 06, 2007, 12:09:49 pm »
I downloaded a program called TurboCAD (Learning Edition) for free. Haven't used it yet, but it looks the part.

http://www.imsidesign.com/

Rick
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Martin (Admin)

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Re: CAD program
« Reply #11 on: December 06, 2007, 12:40:11 pm »

Topic cleaned up - admin.   O0
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chingdevil

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Re: CAD program
« Reply #12 on: December 06, 2007, 01:13:20 pm »
http://www.free2design.org/
I use this one at home, fairly simple to use and it is cheap (FREE). You can do 3D drawings in it but for frames and side elevations of ships it is pretty good, and easier to use than AutoCad. It will open AutoCad drawings so you get the best of both worlds

Brian
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boatmadman

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Re: CAD program
« Reply #13 on: December 06, 2007, 05:49:18 pm »
I have used both free2design and delft.

Free 2 design is good and easy to use, delft takes a bit of work, but the results from the free edition are great - I am designing my next project on it.

Ian
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Bryan Young

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Re: CAD program
« Reply #14 on: December 06, 2007, 07:02:59 pm »
Quote from: tigertiger on December 06, 2007, 10:39:36 am
I have looked at DELFT, and it is 3D and for my little brian, well frankly a bit to much work for me.

I too am looking for a (free if possible) 2D CAD application. So will follow this thread with interest.

Who is your little brian? Anyhow, there are many 3D drawing progs available for free on the net. But they (at least all the ones I have looked at) all seem to require a bit more than a basic knowledge. As a very good "starter" may I suggest Google "Sketch-Up". Free and easily downloaded. Many of the forum members will have discovered this , but for those who have not then I would say DO IT and play and enjoy. You can even design your own ship both externally and internally.....and then walk around inside the cabins ...and furnish the cabins etc. One of the best programmes you will ever see. BY.
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explorer750

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Re: CAD program
« Reply #15 on: December 15, 2007, 09:59:33 am »
I use Google sketchup for my designing and it's great! If you use the turtorials then you can pick up the basics in minutes. I have been using it for almost a year and can design most things. Including boats and yatchs. The hard bit for these is the hull but google have a online 'warehouse' full of other peoples designs and there are many hulls on there to help you start.

The only downfall is that it is not in 2d and 3d, at the moment. But as Bryan said its free so just have a play. ;D
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wideawake

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Re: CAD program
« Reply #16 on: December 15, 2007, 10:40:09 am »
I might have a look at that .   Following the previous messages I downloaded free2design to compare it with Qcad.   I have to say tha, ATM, I'm not finding it easy to get to grips with.  Probably just me as I didn't find Qcad intuitive either :-(

opertaions suspended 'til after Christmas now due to card writing duties etc!

Cheers

Guy
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tigertiger

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Re: CAD program
« Reply #17 on: December 15, 2007, 11:29:25 am »
I Downladed google sketch up for free.

Teh tutorial vedeos are really easy to follow. And being on teh puter you can flop between the windows and frezze the video to follow step by step.

Easy peasy. Even ofr a numptie like me
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Bryan Young

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Re: CAD program
« Reply #18 on: December 15, 2007, 06:03:32 pm »
Glad to be of service Tiger Tiger. I began to learn Sketch-up by doing a model of my house...interior and exterior, plus furnishings etc. and was chuffed about the intuitive nature of the program. It can be made to draw anything to 1/16th of an inch accuracy...or just be used as a toy. The "pull and stretch" engine makes doing compound curves pretty easy. I haven't used it for a while but this thread has made me think about using it again to see if I can get an electronic "Havelock". Worth a try anyway. Cheers.BY.
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omra85

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Re: CAD program
« Reply #19 on: December 15, 2007, 08:38:38 pm »
Brian, I too, have found Sketchup easy and the results VERY good.  I've even been using it at work (at a university) and I showed our Estates guys a fully rotating 3D model of one of our theatres with all the modifications we wanted and then gave them a dimensioned 2D full colour jpeg printout - they were amazed! (I've still got to get Autocad - and learn to use it - as they want "proper" drawings that THEY can modify)  ::)

On the hull design side, I have had no luck with compound curves, and only a little success with single curves.  I use the "follow me" tool, which is quite useful but seems to have a mind of it's own sometimes.  Maybe I'm not using it correctly.  Any tips?

Danny
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Bryan Young

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Re: CAD program
« Reply #20 on: December 15, 2007, 10:04:28 pm »
Quote from: omra85 on December 15, 2007, 08:38:38 pm
Brian, I too, have found Sketchup easy and the results VERY good.  I've even been using it at work (at a university) and I showed our Estates guys a fully rotating 3D model of one of our theatres with all the modifications we wanted and then gave them a dimensioned 2D full colour jpeg printout - they were amazed! (I've still got to get Autocad - and learn to use it - as they want "proper" drawings that THEY can modify)  ::)

On the hull design side, I have had no luck with compound curves, and only a little success with single curves.  I use the "follow me" tool, which is quite useful but seems to have a mind of it's own sometimes.  Maybe I'm not using it correctly.  Any tips?

Danny

Not yet, but I am still learning as well...if I have tips then I will post....you too? Let us promote this program!
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grantl

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Re: CAD program
« Reply #21 on: December 15, 2007, 10:26:24 pm »
Just thinking aloud, but is a CAD package really what most modellers need? It seems to me that CAD is OK for designing new things, but for replicating a ship it's not ideal. For example I'd personally like a tool that lets me scan in some drawings like frame outlines, create symmetrical copies, scale them, reduce their outline by my planking thickness, draw in keel slots, stringer notches and assorted holes, and then let me print them. Or would this be making it too easy? I doubt such a program exists, I'm merely thinking/dreaming aloud. What do others think?

Regards,

Grant.
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Bryan Young

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Re: CAD program
« Reply #22 on: December 15, 2007, 11:09:49 pm »
I think you are trying to re-invent pencil and paper! Which comes first...the idea or the sketch (drawing)? Unless you wish to pay £4000 plus for a "proper" design program (do cars with it as well) then you are better off with the old pencil and paper...and that doesn't take you another 10 years of you life learning how to use it. But follow the thread on Sketch-Up and play.
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RickF

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Re: CAD program
« Reply #23 on: December 15, 2007, 11:27:03 pm »
Granti, you have just described my methodology for converting existing drawings to constructional plans.

1. Obtain jpg files or scan in existing drawings.

2. Using Photoshop, scale jpgs to required size

3. Import into drawing package - I use Micrografx Designer, but there are cheaper ones (I didn't buy it, but I did retire from a fully-equiped office!!!)

4. Using layers, etc, trace the required components anddesign your model.

5. Print out components, glue to wood, cut out and start building!

Rick
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tigertiger

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Re: CAD program
« Reply #24 on: December 16, 2007, 05:23:23 am »
Grantl

Any good drawing office will have a CAD package good enough to convert 'paper to CAD' and 'CAD to paper'
And there services can be boght.

But for me anyway, I don't have the money to buy such software.
And such powerful products do take a lot of learning.

The learning is the big issue for me.
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