Decent CAD program that doesn’t break the bank?

AutoCAD is like $1,300. Anything else that will produce a file type a fabrication shop can use?

 

how complex are the designs you plan on doing? i use SW at work but am totally fine with freecad for home use.

i think fusion360 is free for hobbyists or small business owners. i didn't like it though and kept SW.

 

Libre cad is the name of a free program. Uses dxf format.

Seems todo everything but I have trouble because it does things differently than AutoCAD. I have been using autocad from when it came out until I retired a year ago. Have a garage to draw up for fall construction so I will soon need to suck it up and learn

 

I’m a total newb, but my guess is that they won’t be very complicated.

What’s SW? (Is that short for something?)

 

SolidWorks

 

I’ll check it out. I’m coming from square one, so won’t have to relearn anything...

 

Is dxf a pretty common format?

 

i wouldn't spend money on CAD software then if you don't plan on doing any big or intricate assemblies. just pick any of the free ones and start watching youtube tutorials.

 

Usually dxf & dwg file formats are the most common 2d types. When you start delving into 3d formats you can start touching stp or step files, igs, etc.

Of course some of the higher end software has it's own formats like Solidworks does.

 

i have a machine shop and prefer everything in pdf and step if SW isn't available.

 

Yeah, all depends on what kind of parts/shop you're contacting. I'm a sheet metal shop over here so dxf/dwg for cad formats, and as you said pdf for dimensional drawings is what we use mostly. But I can definitely see your facility using 3d formats such as the ones you stated more often. Just depends on the shop/product type.

 

This would be 3D

 

agreed. it's just whatever you're used to. i like pdf because i can view it on my phone when i'm away from my computer.

any software you use should be able to save it in step or igs. just don't save it as stl that's for 3d printing.

you will also need drawings for the fab shop unless you want to frustrate them. 3d files don't tell the whole story.

 

Draftsite is the desault (makers of solidworks) version of Autocad and they made it free to use. Auto desk also has fusion360 which you can get a free license for and it's actually a really powerful program.

 

Fusion 360 is free. Check your PC to make sure it can keep up with pan, zoom rotate, etc

 

Fusion 360 is the obvious choice, but do not get too dependent on it ... AutoDevil will take it from us one day.

Solidworks was about $4k last time I looked, but $2k if you qualify for a student license. I would go this route, personally. You also get to keep your files where they belong, on your computer and not some cloud that could be inaccessible to you at any minute.

You should give this a read before giving Autodesk even a nickel of your money, some wonky shit going on here.

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/supp...8.1556026250.1562080817-1926051168.1561793794

Edit: Autodesk is to the CAD/ CAM world as EA sports is to video games.

 

I use pencil and graph paper.

 

Fusion360 FTW

 

I wouldnt spend any money on AutoCAD. Get a pirated version. dont use to it make money or anything like that and you should be alright. any old version of Auto Cad will do its all DWG since its backwards compatable (not forward) . Its getting phased out in my industry where Revit has taken its place. Im one of the few in my office who has drawn with AutoCAD thus i get all the cad issues thrown my way.

 

You can download the free version then apply for a hobbyist license for free. That's how I got my copy of Fusion 360