CAD advice

[Schulze]

Guys I need some advice for personal/ future business use for a CAD program to use for some designs I have and revisions of different items. Reuirements are NON AUTOCAD, 2d, some 3d solid modeling. Price must be affordable for personal use.

Thanks

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[ChrisJ]

If you want affordable, 2D and 3D, then get Alibre Design for $800. But get it fast, the prices are going up June 1st.

Chris

[Dave's_Not_Here]

Schulze...

I have been looking for two months now and have come across this:

http://www.kentechinc.com/KipwareM.shtml

I posted a request for opinions and or experience and got no responses.

Depending on what you are planning on doing, this might be an alternative. You have to really check out the entire site to get a feel for all the "claims" and screenshots, etc. I think it is worth your time.

Also, it does show a bunch of other support packages available as a suite. Since you mentioned business use, perhaps some of them are useful.

Ignore the prices, though reasonable to some extent, because I found this site through an Ebay listing where the entire suite is $495.

Another alternative is Rhino 3.0 for 3D DXF files, (student/teacher discount $195), MeshCam to generate G-code toolpaths (on sale through the end of the month) and Mach2 as your controller for the axis movement....(think I have the process flow right...)

Lastly, Rhino 3.0 does have a RhinoCam 1.0 plug-in that also qualifies for a student/teacher discount (can't tell you how much because I have not called them)

No affiliations... just a newbie in your same shoes...

Good luck... I have researched a bunch more if you have any questions....

[Hack]

Check out turbocad at TurboCad.com. Nice product. They have a 2d version available for free download. This is not a trial version, but I beleive Version 4. Yes it is old, but functions well and easy to use and learn. For newer versions, check out EBay. You can easily have new "standard" versions for 50 bucks or less and "pro" version for less than 200 bucks.

I am vurrently using version 8 standard and drew the pic bleow. Deluxe and Pro versions will do a better "Photorealistic Presentation", but this works for me for now. And it can read Turbocad files as well as DXF and DWG file extension. Big plus when sharing files from other programs including AutoCad.

[Schulze]

thanks. I am downloading turbo trial. If I can do full blown prints I will be happy

[ger21]

I'd look into DesignCAD as well. Very powerful program for the price. easy to use, too. http://www.imsisoft.com/faminfo.asp?fam=2