Free CAD Program

[Poprock]

All you inventors, new product developers, redesigners of the fabled and fabulous XS 11 Motorcycle may find this program useful. You'll like the price. http://www.sketchup.com/

[Jeff]

Interesting program but more suited to 3D drawing than engineering.

My personal choice for a free CAD program is Alibre Design Express.

Alibre Design Express

[mro]

not free

easy to use...........
I use TotalCAD 2D/3D,
can be saved and imported to other cad programs.


mro

[JWSanders]

I use Autocad.

Free is such an abstract term, with many definitions.

[mro]

I use Autocad.

I did in the early 90's,
but TotalCad was cheaper than upgrading
and I can import to AutoCad when needed.
($20.00 and does 80% of AutoCad)

Add on's cheep too if you need em.



mro

[TADracer]

To CAD or not to CAD

I do alot of AutoCAD work and have investigated most of the 'free' and 'cheap' cad programs. They leave alot to be desired but are good for lightweight sketching.

I use AutoCAD LT for most of my work and AutoCAD in those rare instances I need 3-D modeling.

But if its free, go for it.

[randy]

I use AutoCad for most of my enginnering dwgs, and Visio for quick sketches and typicals.

[xswilly]

anyone out there use mastercam

[JWSanders]

anyone out there use mastercam

I've been getting familiar with it. I'ts not all that different from Autocad, in a lot of ways. The Art feature of it is really amazing.
Can't wait to try it out on a machine.

About a month ago I started building a small CNC router table (around 18"x12"x3"). Hope to have it working in the next week or two. Will be using it mainly to make circuit boards, but I'd like to try some wood and glass carvings as well.

[mro]

Hi JWSanders

I started building a small CNC router table

When done, would very much like to see how it "turns out"


mro

[xswilly]

if you check out the new sears tool catalog
they actually sell a computer controlled router
about 12" x 12"
and sells for about 1800.00
its one of thier new products

[JWSanders]

When I'm done with this one, I will have spent around $800 altogether. I'm using THK linear rails, Powermax steppers, and a Bosch colt palm router. The controller is a a hybrid of a design available for free on the internet. The first thing I rout (besides the top table itself) will be the circuit board for the controller.

Just got the router yesterday. It's a nice little unit. 15k-36k RPM and a full horespower in a device just a hair over 2.5 inches around. Have already got a lot of consumables, too. enough micro drills and router bits to last a while. Really looking forward to seeing what all I can do with it.

Was planning on doing a write-up on it all when I'm through. I've been documenting the proecess fairly well.