CAD Programs - Some free tools, and links.

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Tom
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CAD Programs - Some free tools, and links.

Post by Tom » Wed Apr 18, 2007 8:47 pm

Just thought I'd put together a few links for some of the free design tools I've heard of, or used.

Google Sketchup

Nice, easy program for quick sketches, or more detailed designs with practice.

http://sketchup.google.com

CadStd - Thanks to Vern
Free version, with a cheap ($30) full version, both available for instant download.

http://www.cadstd.com/lite.html

AutoDesk Student Resource Center - Thanks to Dang911

Autodesk, the maker of AutoCAD, has now set up a wonderful student resource center. They are offering several of their most popular and productive 3D Engineering and Graphical programs, including Inventor 11. All you need is a student e-mail address (ex. @school.edu) and you can sign up and download the full versions with free user licenses. This has been a great gift, giving so many students the ability to take home software well out of anyone's price range. It will also give Autodesk extreme publicity and ensure that they remain #1 in the CAD industry.

http://students6.autodesk.com/?lbon=1
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lights.png
An example of the SketchUp Feel.
(182.07 KiB) Downloaded 375 times
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ace_fedde
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Here's a nice laser scanner setup

Post by ace_fedde » Mon May 18, 2009 9:37 pm

Think this one should be here to.
pezman wrote:Here's a nice laser scanner setup. You can get respectable results with the free version and a cheap laser from a level. You can even use a shadow line for a scan, so you could probably get respectable results outside using a thin, straight stick and the sun.

http://www.david-laserscanner.com/
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ace_fedde
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Re: CAD Programs - Some free tools, and links.

Post by ace_fedde » Wed Aug 19, 2009 7:03 pm

Some helpful Autocad lisp routines:

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=4563

Thanks Joe!
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vturbine
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Re: CAD Programs - Some free tools, and links.

Post by vturbine » Fri Sep 25, 2009 2:50 am

CollabCad.gif
Collabcad free 3D CAD for Linux:

http://www.collabcad.com/download.html

QCAD free 2D CAD available for linux:

http://www.qcad.org/qcad.html

LISA free Finite Element Analysis for Win and WINE/Linux

http://www.lisa-fet.com/

TurboCAD 4 LE (2D CAD for Win) used to be available free on the internet from http://www.freecad.com, but this site seems to have changed, and the download link doesn't work any more.
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tufty
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Re: CAD Programs - Some free tools, and links.

Post by tufty » Fri Sep 25, 2009 6:57 am

It's not CAD, but OpenFOAM is a full-featured CFD package that you can lose an entire life in tweaking.

55dcyinely
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Re: CAD Programs - Some free tools, and links.

Post by 55dcyinely » Sat Jul 31, 2010 4:15 am

Here's a link. This works for me.
unfortunately, You still can't use a slip roll for those small cones. :x
http://www.pulserate.com/

Viv
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Multi-Platform CAD System Now Runs on Mac OS X

Post by Viv » Mon Aug 30, 2010 8:04 pm

Not sure if any one else posted this, Multi-Platform CAD System Now Runs on Mac OS X

Intro by Editor http://www.deskeng.com/articles/aaaycn.htm

Main article with download link for trial software http://www.deskeng.com/articles/aaaycp.htm

Looks interesting ad it has a Linux version too as well as the Mac or Windoz versions

Viv
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Viv
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topright Autodesk to Release AutoCAD for Mac, iPad and iPhon

Post by Viv » Tue Aug 31, 2010 12:25 pm

And yet another CAD going cross platform, but i knew about this one for a while as they did pol to find out if any one was interested

http://www.macrumors.com/2010/08/30/aui ... nd-iphone/

Viv

Update: here is a link to another article on Gizmodo with a bit more depth http://gizmodo.com/5626272/autocad-comi ... r-18-years
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Re: CAD Programs - Some free tools, and links.

Post by Viv » Mon Dec 20, 2010 3:20 pm

Hi People

Found this in my travels today "CADuntu has a new name: LibreCAD" this is now also in Ubuntu so easy to install. (but try not to confuse it with LibreOffice the free and open source office suit)

"CADuntu is a 2D CAD drawing tool based on the community edition of QCad ported to Qt4 and works natively on OSX, Windows and Linux. "

Link at http://www.webupd8.org/2010/12/caduntu- ... comes.html

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PyroJoe
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Re: CAD Programs - Some free tools, and links.

Post by PyroJoe » Fri Jun 17, 2011 8:05 pm

I found time to test DraftSight today.

http://www.3ds.com/products/draftsight/ ... -software/

It is nearly a ringer for a ACAD LT seat with a few more bells and whistles. Approx. 64MB download, they just ask for e-mail.

Has command line, and the majority of ACAD full commands and single command keys match :shock:
Contains an alias function much akin to the acad.pgp file.
It surpasses LT in that it renders, and extrudes.
the layer options are a close match.

Drafted a cone pattern and printed. On one print machine it printed perfect dimensionally, but on a different machine it was a little short.
Saved the cone pattern and a 3d model, which I opened under a full version of ACAD 2011.

It opened up after the default "this was not created by official ACAD" window. Everthings there, and the 3d model rendered without fault.


What a strange brew created with the look and feel of Solidworks, but the function of LT plus rendering.

On the down side I didn't see anything comparable to the 3d "slice" command.
3d cone was only available in mesh.
Inquiry command was missing details for volumes.
Didn't find anything to subtract one solid from another.
IMO Dassault is a little whimsical about how long something is available, or free.
(Hope this one is around for awhile)

http://www.solidsmack.com/cad-design-ne ... mac-linux/
Attachments
test.JPG
Shade mode in DraftSight

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Re: CAD Programs - Some free tools, and links.

Post by metiz » Fri Jun 17, 2011 10:03 pm

Quantify the world.

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