Simple drawing software

[bojan]

Hi guys,
Could someone recommend low cost drafting software to be purchased for work?

AutoCAD, Solid works, SolidEdge are wonderful, but expensive.
I think something similar, but not as powerful would be quite adequate for the purpose (drawings of simple mechanical parts).

Thank you in advance!

[pluto (Hugh)]

Not sure if it will do what you want but there's a free version of SketchUp.

[RickS (Rick)]

Inkscape, perhaps? https://inkscape.org/en/ If it does what you need the price is right

[AstralTraveller (David)]

There is Free autoCAD 360, which I haven't tried.

https://www.autocad360.com/free-cad-software/

Then there is Inkscape, which I have tried and found OK but it's only a vector graphics package and may not be up to the task.

https://inkscape.org/en/

[CJ (Chris)]

+1 for Sketchup.

[bojan]

Thank you guys, I will try all of them !

[Eden (Brett)]

Originally Posted by RickS

Inkscape, perhaps? https://inkscape.org/en/ If it does what you need the price is right

+1

I use Inkscape in conjunction with Wacom tablet/stylus and it's great. Unless you need something which is heavy on 3D, it's really good for free product.

[sheeny (Al)]

I use Autocad and Solidworks at work, but I have both Sketchup and Freecad at home. Sketchup has a pretty intuitive interface. Freecad is a bit clunky after using Solidworks, but its slowly developing and for the price (free) it is excellent.

Al.

[Starless (Brian)]

Try these
FreeCAD
https://github.com/FreeCAD/FreeCAD
LibreCAD
http://librecad.org/cms/home.html

[bojan]

It seems LibreCAD is a winner here.. it works with dxf format, and the user inteface and philosophy is similar enough to AutoCAD, which I am aacustomed to. Price is also right

Anyway.. Thank you all again

[I.C.D (Ian)]

G'Day Bojan,
Their is a windows visio free program you can down load and you can convert any of the drawing to cad ,what and how far you can go on the free program I can't help their but it may be worth a look .
Ian

[algwat (Alan)]

Edraw is good for 2d plans, visio like.... rgds,alan

[julianh72 (Julian)]

I give a really strong recommendation for Onshape https://www.onshape.com/ which is a SolidWorks "look alike" 3D parametric mechanical CAD package, complete with automatic 2D-drawing generation, import / export to most of the recognised standard formats, etc. (It is actually developed by the originators of SolidWorks.)

It's free for hobby / personal use, and even free for use in a corporate environment (with restrictions on number of files etc).

It's 100% cloud-based, which means you need an active internet connection to use it, and it runs in a browser, so you don't need to "install" any software, and you can pick up your designs and carry on anywhere, such as at work or in a library. It even runs on Android and iOS devices (with a native app, rather than in the browser) - finish your designs on the bus on the way home from work!

As long as you have a reliable internet connection, it's really worth a look - it has become my primary CAD modelling software.

[bojan]

Thank you guys for additional recommendations.

Julian,
OnShape looks fine but the cloud is definitely a no-no.
Not only because required internet connection... data security is also of a concern.

I prefer the old-fashioned, local machine application.. with no strings attached.
And no working during the bus ride.. otherwise my boss will just have an excuse to load me with even more work

[julianh72 (Julian)]

Originally Posted by bojan

OnShape looks fine but the cloud is definitelly a no-no.
Not only because required internet connection... data security is also of a concern.

That's fine - every business needs to decide its own strategy for data and application security, etc.

Personally, I am reminded of "Dr Strangelove ... Or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb Cloud".

Originally Posted by bojan

And no working during the bus ride.. otherwise my boss will just have an excuse to load me with even more work

My after-hours use is spent designing astro-bits to make on my 3D printer! So far I've designed and printed a 127 mm aperture dust cover for my NexStar 5 SE, a solar finder, and a guide scope mount, and I'm working on an adapter bracket to hold the handset in a more convenient position for use while I'm at the eyepiece.

[rogerco (Roger)]

I haven't seen Turbo Cad mentioned yet. Its not free but is a lot cheaper than AutoCad. It comes in 2D and 3D variants plus a lot of spin off products like Garden design etc. Its a good well developed package.

If you only need 2D there is QCAD (no relation to QGIS if you are into mapping).


Roger