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 Post subject: Free Cad Programs
PostPosted: April 24, 2020, 7:43 am 
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Joined: January 7, 2011, 10:47 am
Posts: 143
Location: Bethlehem PA
What Free Cad programs are people using and what are the plus and minus of them. I have in past done 2d drawling on Autocad for work but I would like to start playing with 3d drawling for personnel projects. Nothing to complicated, I'm just tired of asking the cad guys to draw thing for my personal projects.

Let me know of your thoughts, Thanks

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Locost 7 type 1 power and a rear transaxle
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http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=13200


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 Post subject: Re: Free Cad Programs
PostPosted: April 24, 2020, 9:39 am 
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Joined: June 15, 2010, 8:29 am
Posts: 651
Location: Duxbury, MA USA
cwhite wrote:
What Free Cad programs are people using and what are the plus and minus of them. I have in past done 2d drawling on Autocad for work but I would like to start playing with 3d drawling for personnel projects. Nothing to complicated, I'm just tired of asking the cad guys to draw thing for my personal projects.

Let me know of your thoughts, Thanks

Tough to beat Fusion 360 with a hobby license. Really easy to learn. If you get into large assemblies or need to have complicated drawings it falls short of the pay packages. Every vendor has different user interfaces, but once you get the basics down that is the only thing you have to learn. I am assuming you are talking about full blown CAD programs, not things like TinkerCAD.
There are several threads on the site covering this.

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 Post subject: Re: Free Cad Programs
PostPosted: April 24, 2020, 9:41 am 
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Joined: April 1, 2010, 10:26 am
Posts: 564
My Covid-19 project has been to resurrect a Maxnc CL-15 mini milling machine. Updated to Gekodrive G540 and a Smoothstepper ESS. So I am also looking for a drawing package, I picked Fusion 360 from Autodesk. It's a full function package free for home use. It's complicated but simple enough that I have stumbled thru the process. There are also some great tutorials on YouTube, very basic beginner content. So I have stumbled thru designing a part and turning it into G code.

Watch these and make you own mind up

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5bc9c3S12g

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXRMzJWo0-Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zS8dYA_Iluc

Graham


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 Post subject: Re: Free Cad Programs
PostPosted: April 24, 2020, 12:13 pm 
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Joined: January 7, 2011, 10:47 am
Posts: 143
Location: Bethlehem PA
Fusion 360 is what I have been looking to play with, thanks for everyone's input.

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Chris White
Locost 7 type 1 power and a rear transaxle
Lotus Elise Sold
ND Club Miata
Nissan Titan Sold
Rubi Wrangler
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=13200


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 Post subject: Re: Free Cad Programs
PostPosted: April 24, 2020, 3:50 pm 
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Joined: September 30, 2005, 1:28 am
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Location: Sunny-Okanagan, Canada, eh?!
I happen to have my entire Drafting course online for free - what I use to teach kids both Fusion and AutoCAD.

If it helps you learn it, give'r!

https://www.gwellwood.com/subjects/draf ... 0-level-1/

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 Post subject: Re: Free Cad Programs
PostPosted: April 25, 2020, 4:44 pm 
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Joined: April 22, 2010, 4:43 pm
Posts: 432
Location: Livermore, Calif.
Thanks Graham and Skinny,
I'm just about ready to download a free copy of Fusion 360 from Autodesk. I've used AutoCad before and I'm hoping this new version is somewhat easier. I'll run through the YouTube videos that Graham posted first and then get into Skinny's drafting course.

Thanks again to both of you,
Cheers,
Roy

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 Post subject: Re: Free Cad Programs
PostPosted: April 26, 2020, 11:00 am 
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Joined: January 7, 2011, 10:47 am
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Location: Bethlehem PA
I was able to make something!
Attachment:
Capture.PNG


Thanks guys!


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Chris White
Locost 7 type 1 power and a rear transaxle
Lotus Elise Sold
ND Club Miata
Nissan Titan Sold
Rubi Wrangler
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=13200


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 Post subject: Re: Free Cad Programs
PostPosted: April 26, 2020, 1:34 pm 
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Joined: April 1, 2010, 10:26 am
Posts: 564
Lid and screws as well, I am impressed. This is the sample part from these audio desk tutorials .

Graham


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