FZRSupport: the FZROnline Archive

Hi,
Many moons ago I did do my stint in a drawing office with pencils and paper / film (I know some of you wags will feel it was with hammer & chisel on rock )

I also trained on Auto cad 10 /11/12 in late 80's thro to 92 and that was the last of it.

What I am looking for is a simple 2D / 3D package and wondered what you guys with shops used or in your day job.

Hopefully these will not cost telephone numbers :-}

Alibre are doing one for 99 USD comments ?
http://cts.vresp.com/c/?AlibreInc./a6ba ... b00b7698e3

Check out Google Sketchup : http://sketchup.google.com/

I have it, but haven't checked it out yet, so I don't know how powerful it is.

I've played with:
Google Sketchup
Alibre Design
AutoCad
Solidowrks
Catia.

I'm going back and forth between Solidworks and Catia currently.

Sketchup (even the pro version) was a bit strange for me to deal with so I can't say that I like it.

I really liked Alibre and would recommend it I just couldn't find a free copy that was fully functional so I went with Solidworks-which is my favorite program to use.

sweekster wrote:
Sketchup (even the pro version) was a bit strange for me to deal with so I can't say that I like it.

I've done a good bit of work on SketchUp and it has about as obtuse of an interface you could imagine, but hey, it's free!
BUT, you can export SketchUp models into other programs. I know you can for POVray, and think you can for Mathematica.

I'd say download it [free] and fiddle around with it.

Alibre looks like a pretty slick program. Especially for the price.

I myself started working on AutoCAD version 10, 11, then 13. I continued all the way through the current version. I've also worked with TurboCAD, Microstation, Fastcad, Sketchup, Solidworks (since February), along with a couple of others. I like AutoCAD the best. I've found that most people who prefer the program they learn on if they use it for any amount of time. For me it is more that I am twice as fast on AutoCAD compared to any other program. There is one called Intellicad which is a reverse engineered version of AutoCAD. It works just the same as AutoCAD but was shareware a few years ago.

Here is the real question for you. Are you looking to be able to design something for production or just for yourself? I ask only because different programs are better for different things.

Here is a run down.

Sketchup - Great for quick sketch style drafting. Not very accurate but getting better each release. Free
Fastcad - Not a very good program. Only good for 2D really. Cheap
TurboCAD - A few steps above Fastcad. Fairly inexpensive
Microstation - On par with AutoCAD. If you are use to AutoCAD, don't bother to switch. It will only confuse you. Expensive - as much as AutoCAD
AutoCAD - Very capable program. 2D & 3D. Can do very complex parts. Expensive
3D Studio Max / AutoCAD Inventor - AutoCAD based programs. These are used for high end computer generated renderings and direct to CNC production programs (respectfully). Very Expensive
Solidworks - Is the main competitor to AutoCAD Inventor. Probably easier to work with. I like this one a lot. Only thing I don't like about it is that it forces you to draft a certain way. Very Expensive

If you are looking for something to be create a part for CNC you can use AutoCAD, but you will have to have the file translated by another program to go into CNC. Inventor and Solidworks allows for direct translation. If you want to do a quick design study, Sketchup is great not to mention free. Any other 2D / 3D drafting, I would stick with AutoCAD since you have a base knowledge of it already. One more thing to consider here is if you can get the program. Not everyone makes a version for Linux OS.

Hmm. this is for my personal archives of bits I at the moment paper sketch 2D & 3D I am still far faster with a pencil than a PC (mind you the autocad was on a 386 DX 40

AutoCad hmm I will have to find a bank to rob for sure if I go even for a student crippled version.

Ok Sketchup I will download and see what it is like, I have a pal who works for Solidworks but I must say I have tried it and found it counter-intuitive.

Microstation I have seen and played with at a pals office but they went bust (probably because of the licence fees)

Alibre & Turbo cad I have never seen but I know guys on the CNC list who do but I know they are LONG time users.

Autodesk inventor works pretty well, and has many of the same commands that autocad uses.

Autodesk has a free student edition, but you must be registered at a university for that to work. Otherwise you might just have to stick with sketchup until it pisses you off. (took me about 3 sittings to hate sketchup, coming from SW and inventor.)

I just tell the minions what I need and hook them up with a discount on gear. I'd love to learn a new program but with everything else, there just aren't enough hours in a day.

yamaha_george wrote:Solidworks but I must say I have tried it and found it counter-intuitive.

That is because you were thinking in AutoCAD. Switching to Microstation causes the same effect, but Solidworks seems to be amplified on this. I had the same thing happen the first time I looked at Solidworks. Once I went through a tutorial, the light at the end of the tunnel got really bright instead of flickering into nothing.

cad600 wrote:

yamaha_george wrote:Solidworks but I must say I have tried it and found it counter-intuitive.

That is because you were thinking in AutoCAD. Switching to Microstation causes the same effect, but Solidworks seems to be amplified on this. I had the same thing happen the first time I looked at Solidworks. Once I went through a tutorial, the light at the end of the tunnel got really bright instead of flickering into nothing.

Hi,
well sketch up is out no linux version (google should be ashamed of them selves.) I will have to get my Solid works mate to cyber teach me if I go with that. I will ask a mate who lectures at uni if he can sponsor a student copy of "Automatically expensive Cad"

TK I agree it is always like playing catch up with your own tail. besides if you never farm work out it is really of no interest to draw just read the drawings & suss out if they are right.


Thank you all for your views and offers of help.
Y_G