Results 1 to 10 of 10

Thread: Easy to use CAD programme

  1. #1
    Senior Member Brewster0101's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    2,614
    Thanks
    45
    Thanked
    54 times in 44 posts
    • Brewster0101's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus m5a99x evo
      • CPU:
      • AMD FX 8350
      • Memory:
      • 8GB (2x4) Corsair Vengence DDR3 1600mghz
      • Storage:
      • Western Green 3TB + Samsung 850Evo 512MB SSD, + 2TB NAS
      • Graphics card(s):
      • MSI 280X
      • PSU:
      • Corsair AXi760
      • Case:
      • Corsair 650D
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10 Pro
      • Monitor(s):
      • LG 27" 27EA63 IPS LED
      • Internet:
      • 120Mb Bt

    Easy to use CAD programme

    Anyone recommend a easy and simplish CAD programme. I want to design a
    couple of mods for my case and send them to a company to make/cut.

    A programme that is free to use too would be good.

  2. #2
    DDY
    DDY is online now
    Senior Member DDY's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Posts
    2,789
    Thanks
    177
    Thanked
    597 times in 412 posts
    • DDY's system
      • Motherboard:
      • ASRock Z390M Pro 4
      • CPU:
      • i5 9600k
      • Memory:
      • 32GB (2x16GB) 3600MHz
      • Storage:
      • Adata SX8200 NVME 1TB
      • Graphics card(s):
      • RX 5700
      • PSU:
      • Seasonic Focus Gold 550W
      • Operating System:
      • Win 7 Pro
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell U2715H

    Re: Easy to use CAD programme

    Google SketchUp springs to mind, it's the easiest 3D CAD software I've ever used.

  3. #3
    RIP Peterb ik9000's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Posts
    7,334
    Thanks
    1,680
    Thanked
    1,277 times in 954 posts
    • ik9000's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus P7H55-M/USB3
      • CPU:
      • i7-870, Prolimatech Megahalems, 2x Akasa Apache 120mm
      • Memory:
      • 4x4GB Corsair Vengeance 2133 11-11-11-27
      • Storage:
      • 2x256GB Samsung 840-Pro, 1TB Seagate 7200.12, 1TB Seagate ES.2
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Gigabyte GTX 460 1GB SuperOverClocked
      • PSU:
      • NZXT Hale 90 750w
      • Case:
      • BitFenix Survivor + Bitfenix spectre LED fans, LG BluRay R/W optical drive
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7 Professional
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell U2414h, U2311h 1920x1080
      • Internet:
      • 200Mb/s Fibre and 4G wifi

    Re: Easy to use CAD programme

    have a look at http://www.vectorengineer.com/

    Not used it myself but I've heard good things about it

  4. #4
    RIP Peterb ik9000's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Posts
    7,334
    Thanks
    1,680
    Thanked
    1,277 times in 954 posts
    • ik9000's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus P7H55-M/USB3
      • CPU:
      • i7-870, Prolimatech Megahalems, 2x Akasa Apache 120mm
      • Memory:
      • 4x4GB Corsair Vengeance 2133 11-11-11-27
      • Storage:
      • 2x256GB Samsung 840-Pro, 1TB Seagate 7200.12, 1TB Seagate ES.2
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Gigabyte GTX 460 1GB SuperOverClocked
      • PSU:
      • NZXT Hale 90 750w
      • Case:
      • BitFenix Survivor + Bitfenix spectre LED fans, LG BluRay R/W optical drive
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7 Professional
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell U2414h, U2311h 1920x1080
      • Internet:
      • 200Mb/s Fibre and 4G wifi

    Re: Easy to use CAD programme

    Quote Originally Posted by Brewster0101 View Post
    I want to design a
    couple of mods for my case and send them to a company to make/cut.
    Do you know who you'll be sending your designs to? What are their requirements? Hand-drawn paper drawings will be acceptable for some companies. Others may request CAD for importing directly into CNC machines, and this has the added benefit that there is less likelihood of someone misreading something or entering the wrong value when working from paper prints.

    There are a plethora of different CAD packages, each with its own merits, but if you want to supply an electronic file for the manufacturer to work from, I'd start by asking them what file formats they require and select software accordingly.

    If it's for a one-off job lots of professional software is available on 30-day free trials. Just make sure you plan your timings well to ensure that you have the licence available for any revisions that may be required to clarify/alter details for the manufacturer .

    Be interested to know what you're trying to do to your case. Do you definitely need to out-source it?

  5. #5
    Oh Crumbs.... Biscuit's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    N. Yorkshire
    Posts
    11,193
    Thanks
    1,394
    Thanked
    1,091 times in 833 posts
    • Biscuit's system
      • Motherboard:
      • MSI B450M Mortar
      • CPU:
      • AMD 2700X (Be Quiet! Dark Rock 3)
      • Memory:
      • 16GB Patriot Viper 2 @ 3466MHz
      • Storage:
      • 500GB WD Black
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Sapphire R9 290X Vapor-X
      • PSU:
      • Seasonic Focus Gold 750W
      • Case:
      • Lian Li PC-V359
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10 x64
      • Internet:
      • BT Infinity 80/20

    Re: Easy to use CAD programme

    Sketchup is probably the easiest to used and it is free but it is very basic.
    DoubleCAD XT is a free AutoCAD alternative. Its not very easy to use unfortunately but you can get good detail from it.

  6. #6
    RIP Peterb ik9000's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Posts
    7,334
    Thanks
    1,680
    Thanked
    1,277 times in 954 posts
    • ik9000's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus P7H55-M/USB3
      • CPU:
      • i7-870, Prolimatech Megahalems, 2x Akasa Apache 120mm
      • Memory:
      • 4x4GB Corsair Vengeance 2133 11-11-11-27
      • Storage:
      • 2x256GB Samsung 840-Pro, 1TB Seagate 7200.12, 1TB Seagate ES.2
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Gigabyte GTX 460 1GB SuperOverClocked
      • PSU:
      • NZXT Hale 90 750w
      • Case:
      • BitFenix Survivor + Bitfenix spectre LED fans, LG BluRay R/W optical drive
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7 Professional
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell U2414h, U2311h 1920x1080
      • Internet:
      • 200Mb/s Fibre and 4G wifi

    Re: Easy to use CAD programme

    if it's AutoCad he's after, Autodesk give a free 30-day trial of the full AutoCad software.

  7. #7
    Senior Member Brewster0101's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    2,614
    Thanks
    45
    Thanked
    54 times in 44 posts
    • Brewster0101's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus m5a99x evo
      • CPU:
      • AMD FX 8350
      • Memory:
      • 8GB (2x4) Corsair Vengence DDR3 1600mghz
      • Storage:
      • Western Green 3TB + Samsung 850Evo 512MB SSD, + 2TB NAS
      • Graphics card(s):
      • MSI 280X
      • PSU:
      • Corsair AXi760
      • Case:
      • Corsair 650D
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10 Pro
      • Monitor(s):
      • LG 27" 27EA63 IPS LED
      • Internet:
      • 120Mb Bt

    Re: Easy to use CAD programme

    Quote Originally Posted by ik9000 View Post
    Do you know who you'll be sending your designs to? What are their requirements? Hand-drawn paper drawings will be acceptable for some companies. Others may request CAD for importing directly into CNC machines, and this has the added benefit that there is less likelihood of someone misreading something or entering the wrong value when working from paper prints.
    Licom Systems AlphaCAM and Delcam ArtCam Express

  8. #8
    Senior Member gss03's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Scotland
    Posts
    725
    Thanks
    6
    Thanked
    28 times in 28 posts

    Re: Easy to use CAD programme

    I have a client that uses a product called ProgeCAD.
    I always thought it was free, but evidently it's not - works like a charm tho'

  9. #9
    0iD
    0iD is offline
    M*I*A 0iD's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Happy Llama Land
    Posts
    13,247
    Thanks
    1,435
    Thanked
    1,209 times in 757 posts
    • 0iD's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Leave my mother out of it!
      • CPU:
      • If I knew what it meant?
      • Memory:
      • Wah?
      • Storage:
      • Cupboards and drawers
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Slate & chalk
      • PSU:
      • meh
      • Case:
      • Suit or Brief?
      • Operating System:
      • Brain
      • Monitor(s):
      • I was 1 at skool
      • Internet:
      • 28k Dialup

    Re: Easy to use CAD programme

    Any CAD proggy that can export your project in .dxf format will be ok imo. That's the format that's most universally used for machine tools & lasers. To be sure, ask the company you're using for the work what they prefer & base your decision on that.
    [
    Quote Originally Posted by Blitzen
    When I say go, both walk in the opposite direction for 10 paces, draw handbags, then bitch-slap each other!

  10. #10
    RIP Peterb ik9000's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Posts
    7,334
    Thanks
    1,680
    Thanked
    1,277 times in 954 posts
    • ik9000's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus P7H55-M/USB3
      • CPU:
      • i7-870, Prolimatech Megahalems, 2x Akasa Apache 120mm
      • Memory:
      • 4x4GB Corsair Vengeance 2133 11-11-11-27
      • Storage:
      • 2x256GB Samsung 840-Pro, 1TB Seagate 7200.12, 1TB Seagate ES.2
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Gigabyte GTX 460 1GB SuperOverClocked
      • PSU:
      • NZXT Hale 90 750w
      • Case:
      • BitFenix Survivor + Bitfenix spectre LED fans, LG BluRay R/W optical drive
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7 Professional
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell U2414h, U2311h 1920x1080
      • Internet:
      • 200Mb/s Fibre and 4G wifi

    Re: Easy to use CAD programme

    Quote Originally Posted by Brewster0101 View Post
    Licom Systems AlphaCAM and Delcam ArtCam Express
    Did a google on the above and if it's this company you're looking at:

    http://www.millturncnc.com/offline_programming.html

    then they state:

    We are able to accept electronic files and drawings in most standard formats - including DXF, IGES, STL, EPS and AI eliminating the delays of sending drawings by post and enabling us to give a faster response to your requirements.
    I'd have a chat with them to see if they would prefer a 3D model or orthogonal 2D drawings. It will depend on what you're trying to get made. Still intrigued to know what you're trying to get done.

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Case with easy PSU fitting ?
    By cookie365 in forum Chassis and Mods
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 04-10-2009, 11:20 PM
  2. Windows Easy Transfer
    By THE F CLAN in forum Software
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 12-07-2007, 04:11 PM
  3. Linux for my HTPC ? Easy enough ??
    By g8ina in forum Software
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 03-03-2007, 07:01 PM
  4. new laptop needed for CAD work
    By fathazza in forum PC Hardware and Components
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 19-10-2004, 04:16 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •