backofanenvelope Posted June 26, 2011 Share Posted June 26, 2011 Here there is going to be a list of links that keep us up to date with all 3D/CAD Software Applications. Please post here only links as it is a jump point and not a topic thread which should be placed in the normal group discussions.Alibre CADPayware: PChttp://www.alibre.com/Autodesk AutoCAD & 123DFreeware: PChttp://www.123dapp.com/Autodesk Inventor FusionFreeware/Trialware: Mac/PChttp://labs.autodesk...nologies/fusionBlenderFreeware: Mac/PC/Linuxhttp://www.blender.org Catia Payware: PC - High Endhttp://www.3ds.com/ Cubify inventPayware: PChttp://cubify.com/pr...vent/index.aspx DesignSparkFreeware: PC http://www.designspark.com/eng/page/mechanical DraftSight - 2D DrawingFreeware: PC/Mac/Linuxhttp://www.3ds.com/p...e-cad-software/DeltaCadPayware: PC/Machttp://www.deltacad.com/ Makehuman Freeware: PC/Mac/Linux http://www.makehuman.org/Meshpad - 3D Viewer for iPadFreeware: Via Mac App Store orhttp://www.meshpad.org/OpenScadFreeware: Linux/PC/Machttp://www.openscad.org/ProgecadPayware: PChttp://www.progecad.co.ukRhinoceros 3DPayware: PC/Machttp://www.rhino3d.com/Solid Edge 2D DraftingFreeware: PChttp://www.plm.autom...lidedge/free2d/ Solidworks Payware: PC - High Endhttp://www.solidworks.co.uk Trimble SketchupFreeware: Mac/PChttp://www.sketchup.com/TurbocadPayware: PC/Machttp://www.turbocad.com/ViaCAD 2D/3DPayware: Via Apple App Store orhttp://www.punchcad....ad-2d3d-v8.aspx Unigraphics NXPayware: PC - High End http://www.plm.autom...us/products/nx/ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Etched Pixels Posted September 23, 2011 Share Posted September 23, 2011 Blender http:/www.blender.org Free and can do colour output for shapeways too Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
backofanenvelope Posted October 10, 2011 Author Share Posted October 10, 2011 Just noted a CAD package for mac users on the Apple App Store ViaCAD 2D/3D not sure how good it is as I have no experience. Tom Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lyneux Posted October 10, 2011 Share Posted October 10, 2011 It might be worth noting that the head of Shapeways (Peter Weijmarshausen) used to work for Blender. This may or may not be of any relevance, however, the two do seem to inter-operate very well. There is lots of help on the Shapeways website for using Blender to prepare objects for printing. My experience is that all Blender-produced files that I have uploaded have been accepted for printing without issues. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lyneux Posted October 10, 2011 Share Posted October 10, 2011 On a related note, I used MeshLab's free 3D viewer (http://www.meshpad.org/) on my iPad whilst on the DEMU stand at Scaleforum this year to demo my LTF-25 bogies. It's only a viewer (you can't create 3D models with it), but it was a great way of grabbing people's attention and engaging them in discussion about the 3D modelling process. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium jamie92208 Posted October 10, 2011 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 10, 2011 I use Progecad after having it reccommended on here. It;s free for personal use. Jamie Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
45609 Posted November 2, 2011 Share Posted November 2, 2011 It is not 3D but if your requirement is for 2D only then Solid Edge 2D Drafting is a pretty good choice. http://www.plm.autom...lidedge/free2d/ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
49395 Posted November 2, 2011 Share Posted November 2, 2011 A colleague pointed me in the direction of DraftSight http://www.3ds.com/products/draftsight/free-cad-software/ A complete 2D CAD package that seems almost exactly like AutoCAD Mike Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
siltec Posted November 29, 2011 Share Posted November 29, 2011 I have used DeltaCad for over ten years and have not found another basic CAD programme that is so easy to use. They have recently introduced a MAC version. It is not expensive. I use it to create .dxf files which I then transfer to Serif Draw and use that to finish off the 3D card models which is a great way of getting 3D concepts up quickly. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Etched Pixels Posted March 6, 2012 Share Posted March 6, 2012 Another one to add is OpenScad. It's basically a programming style tool with no mouseclicking, so ideal for some applications, oh and its free... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
whistlehead Posted August 22, 2012 Share Posted August 22, 2012 I use Cubify invent - it's specifically designed for 3d printing so there are few-to-no mesh errors when creating a 3D print file. May I make a suggestion? Update the first post as new programs are added, to reduce the amount of scrolling through the thread required Cheers, Chris Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pugsley Posted August 22, 2012 Share Posted August 22, 2012 What do you export the files in please for this program, as the etching boys are not keen on the bitmap files (tiff bnp jpeg psn) as they don't give so good lines. It'll do DXF and DWG formats, both of which are accepted by PPD. HTH Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajoker Posted September 27, 2012 Share Posted September 27, 2012 These are industry standard CAD packages used by the Automotive, and Aerospace isndustery. Unigraphics NX http://www.plm.automation.siemens.com/en_us/products/nx/ High end packages good for complex surface modeling also good for parametric solids Solidworks http://www.solidsolutions.co.uk/?gclid=CJCz6ZSd1bICFSPHtAodpisAEw Budget industrial package good solid modeling and kinematic functions, not so good for surface modeling Catia http://www.3ds.com/ In my oppinion the best CAD package out there user friendly and very powerful modeling tool. Automotive industry and aerospace predomenet users. None of these are cheep packages but student versions are avalable, other sources are also avalable. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Etched Pixels Posted January 23, 2013 Share Posted January 23, 2013 Something a little more specialist and right now probably mostly of use to large scale work.. http://www.makehuman.org/ which does exactly what it says on the tin. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
New_Expensive_Teeth Posted August 3, 2014 Share Posted August 3, 2014 I use Creo Elements/Direct Modeling Express 6.0, basically made by the people behind Pro/Desktop and features a largely similar interface to Solidworks. http://www.ptc.com/product/creo/elements/direct-modeling/express I've found it to be very good for making wagons due to it's very precise tools, it also beats Sketchup for modeling curves as I have found when modeling metropolitan carriages. It also exports directly to STL, though you'll need to work with the Facet Accuracy settings (right-click part, Part Properties, Facets tab) to adjust the resolution, to balance file size with detail. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExPatBrit Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 I'd like to mention IronCAD and its lower priced sibling Inovate. Both are pretty expensive but having used both and SolidWorks, I think both run rings round it. IronCAD is about the same price or similar to SolidWorks, Inovate somewhat cheaper. Both allow you to direct model in 3d solid models rather than having to construct the geometry for the solid first. Both also have a standard catalog of bearings, gears, structural sections, bolts and nuts, etc. and both allow animation. Both can write STL, dfx and dwg files. For 2d drawing, I prefer Mastercam, although 3d modeling is, in my opinion, a pita with Mastercam and this is very expensive software. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marbelup Posted August 11, 2015 Share Posted August 11, 2015 Rhino now have a version for Mac. It lacks some high-end features of the PC version but is considerably cheaper, and there is a special introductory price until 15 September 2015. See https://www.rhino3d.com/mac Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
richbrummitt Posted August 11, 2015 Share Posted August 11, 2015 Has anyone tried Onshape yet? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert Bridge Posted February 28, 2017 Share Posted February 28, 2017 Hi Sorry to reawaken this thread, but can anyone please point me in the direction of which cheap or free CAD software is closest to AutoCad, since I have now lost all my computers with it on. Thanks Bert Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
richbrummitt Posted March 2, 2017 Share Posted March 2, 2017 I tried QCad Draftsight and some others before settling on A9 Cad as being most like AutoCAD 2000 for me. If you use shortcut keys a lot you might have some frustrations because to use them you must click on the command aoace at the bottom of the screen first. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rue_d_etropal Posted March 19, 2017 Share Posted March 19, 2017 Before opting for any free package, check to see if it is only for personal use, ie not for any commercial use. If you intend to sell your designs, your need the right licence. You might get away with it, but will lose out if found out. Just noticed, this is a2D CAD program, my own interset at the moment is 3D CAD. Still worth checking the small print though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold MarshLane Posted April 15, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 15, 2017 Hi Sorry to reawaken this thread, but can anyone please point me in the direction of which cheap or free CAD software is closest to AutoCad, since I have now lost all my computers with it on. Thanks Bert Sorry to answer a bit late, but AutoCAD now has a free version for hobbits and small business use - Fusion360. Only just starting to try it out, but initially looks good - works on Mac and PC. Rich Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Re6/6 Posted June 10, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 10, 2017 Advice please for a computer-illiterate! Any recommendations for a free program offering very simple and easy to use 3-D sketching facility. Many thanks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Bigcheeseplant Posted June 10, 2017 Share Posted June 10, 2017 Advice please for a computer-illiterate! Any recommendations for a free program offering very simple and easy to use 3-D sketching facility. Many thanks. I use Fusion 360 and find it easy to use, and better than sketch up. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jol Wilkinson Posted June 10, 2017 Share Posted June 10, 2017 It has been my experience with 2D software for etching artwork (including running design workshops) that some of the free software packages bring difficulties when converting artwork to file formats that the etchers use. Some aren't that intuitive which makes learning how to use them more difficult. This may also apply to 3D and I would suggest it is worthwhile downloading/buying software that produces the correct format files for the printer/print company you intend to use and which has good instructions/help and is user friendly. It may be better to buy a "stripped down" version of a professional package than going for free software. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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