'Cheap' CAD package

[greenamex2]

I need a CAD package for designing stuff that will, ultimately, be made using CNC machinery.

Any recommendations?

Cheaper the better but not at the cost of functionality/usability.

[Al Weyman]

Yes Dennis, Turbo cad by Serif, very cheap, very powerful and the interface looks very similiar to Autocad in fact the program seems to work very similiarly. In fact most Serif products are extremelly good value and work well.

[skmanuk]

I assume as the output is for CNC you are looking for a 3D CAD package?

[greenamex2]

Originally Posted by skmanuk

I assume as the output is for CNC you are looking for a 3D CAD package?

Yes.

[skmanuk]

Are you designing predominately prismatic or organic parts, will you be creating assemblies of parts or just working with single parts?

Is the ability to produce photo realistic images of the models important?

Will you need to export any particular file formats, ie, Iges, Step etc.

What CNC (CAM) package will be used?

I assume you will use a Windows platform.

[greenamex2]

Jeez, I thought it was such a simple question (and answer)!!!

It will be multiple parts making up an object (think something like an upright) but I am quite happy to design parts separately rather than as an entity.

Photo realistic images not required.

No idea what file formats. I figured I would find a machinist to suit the file format rather than vice versa.

No idea, same as above I guess.

Windows.

Apolgies if I sound a bit vague on some of the above. Whilst I am VERY computer literate (like desigining and building them from a bunch of IC's, resistors etc) my engineering ability amounts to making bushes and drawing things on bits of A4 to give to a real machine shop to interpret correctly!!!

I was kind hoping to cut out the middle man and just say "here is the file".

[Al Weyman]

Like I said Dennis Turbo Cad, don't get the very latest version and it is as cheap as chips, I bought version 10 I think it was direct from Serif for under a tenner, I only wanted it to plot from as a customer gave me files in that format but I was surprised how good it appeared to be and how it compared with Autocad, it will do all you want and far far more. If you are local t me pop in the shop and have a play.

[Chucky]

I'm surprised by how many people use TurboCAD. But then again, after using it I'd have to say that it is very good value for money and probably does more than most people want/need anyway.

Also check out Cadopia (http://www.cadopia.com/). Very affordable and powerful 3D/solid modeling setup. I think the latest pro version is only USD445 and it has everything you'd ever want. It's very Autodesk in appearance but a little more user friendly IMHO.

[Al Weyman]

I'm surprised by how many people use TurboCAD. But then again, after using it I'd have to say that it is very good value for money and probably does more than most people want/need anyway.

Could it have something to do with the £10 price tag compared with nearly £3000 for Autocad to essentially do very similiar things especially in the application Dennis will use it for?

[zefarelly]

having converted to solidworks, I have to say Autocad is pants by comparisson, aside the user freindliness. I know SW is £5k for al egit 2006 copy, but I can't see how ACAD can charge as much as they do.

I'd like to know if you can buy older versions of SW cheap ? as it seems to export to pretty much anything and anyone ( at least so far !) and I'm modelling some pretty complex Architectural shapes ( as well as a few car bits :-) )

[greenamex2]

I looked at solidworks as well. Look the absolute business.

I would also like to know where to get a cheap legit copy!

[zefarelly]

I saw a copy on ebay for £50 a while back, doubt it was legit though

thus far I can confirm it is the business, not often I go to work and miss lunch I'm so engrossed !!!

[kmsport]

money aside, you cannot go past the Solidworks/Mastercam combination.

[Al Weyman]

Dennis you won't get 'Cheap' copies of any of these top end packages, the dongle alone is worth big bucks because they are all upgradeable. The package I recommended is from the company no software police on your case and it works, you are only designing an upright ar'nt you so so why pay for something you don't want. I did cad work for many years designing major curtain walling and window and door installations for big projects and I used a little package that cost me £70 before I finally upgraded to AutoCad because I bought a dongled copy of someone but it was still big money! There is a huyge learning cirve with some of these high end packages as well.

[ubrben]

http://www.varicad.com/

Came across it when I was planning to switch to Linux. Never tried it as I am too busy with work to play with computers at home but it does look good.

Ben

[skmanuk]

Solidworks is a good "midrange" CAD modeller. It competes primarily with Autodesk Inventor and Solid Edge. All three are competent and down to user preference.

Al, these are not high end packages but are considered mid range and the minimum required to achieve successful results when producing general engineering designs.

High end packages would be Ideas, Catia, Unigraphics, possibly Pro Engineer.

Turbocad and all similar packages are very limited in capability.

[Al Weyman]

Yeah but he said he wanted 'Cheap' in the thread title, these don't really fit that criteria do they? It is the same as signmaking and graphics packages, I use SIgnlab, costs what best part of 3k, but I could get by with an old twenty gid version of CorelDraw 9, you cut your cloth accordingly and if all I wasnted was to say do some one off graphics for my race car I would not be investing 3k!

[greenamex2]

Beginning to sound like I'm in over my head!

I fell a few free downloads and a bit of playing coming on so I actually know what I want!

Al, out of interest, where is your shop?

[Al Weyman]

Harrow Weald near Stanmore on the main Uxbridge Road.

[I Cooke]

I've used quite a few different packages ranging from TurboCAD to ProEngineer. To be honest it really is a "get what you pay for" market. I thought TurboCAD was awfull to be honest, but then having had the experience from much better (and more expensive) systems it's very easy to critisise the cheaper ones.

I would recommend looking at BobCAD (http://www.bobcad.com). Although I only had a few months experience on that package, the tutorials soon had us writing 3D milling programs. It's nowhere near as cheap as TurboCAD (I think we paid £1000) but it is a proper 3D modelling package and has very good technical support.

[Al Weyman]

There you go though Ian of course it is gonna be better why wouldnt it, £1000 is a lot of money to design an upright!!!:-)

[I Cooke]

So when he said "cheap" he meant cheeeeeeeeap

[Al Weyman]

Well as he said he only wanted to design an upright and not go into the business as a cad designer I guess that is what he meant. :-)

[kmsport]

Originally Posted by Al Weyman

Harrow Weald near Stanmore on the main Uxbridge Road.

Just walk in and ask for a Pirate Memory Game, ages 4 to 12..

[greenamex2]

Another dumb question.

What is the difference between a 2D and 3D CAD system? They both seem to produce 3D object. Is it the way you 'enter/design' the objects?

BobCAD looks good, TurboCadCam a close second. I'll be downloading the demo's tonight.

Fortunately I am in a position of zero expectations, so even the worst package in the world will probably beat my current system. Pencil, ruler and various size coins, cups, mugs and plates for the round bits!