Inexpensive CAD software
05-18-2011, 06:33 AM
#1
Inexpensive CAD software
I thought I'd give my fellow modelers a heads up..
Last year I bought Turbo CAD v-15 from these guys http://store.purplus.net/tu15de2d.html I paid $15 + shipping, it is an older version and came in the OEM Jewel case,, not bootleg software, all legit. I've bought other older software titles there too. I wanted to try it out cheaply and this was a great source, so if you want to try CAD, but think it too expensive,, under $15 shipped is hard to pass up
good luck
Last year I bought Turbo CAD v-15 from these guys http://store.purplus.net/tu15de2d.html I paid $15 + shipping, it is an older version and came in the OEM Jewel case,, not bootleg software, all legit. I've bought other older software titles there too. I wanted to try it out cheaply and this was a great source, so if you want to try CAD, but think it too expensive,, under $15 shipped is hard to pass up
good luck
05-18-2011, 10:51 AM
#3
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Chilliwack, BC, CANADA
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RE: Inexpensive CAD software
The best advice to a newbie CAD user is to try out a few before you lock into a single product line.
Back in my early CAD days there were no AutoCAD look-alikes. In fact there were no free CAD's at all. I tried a few of the low cost ones and stopped when I found TurboCAD and I've stuck with it since because I know it well and it always does what I want and I can set up the toolbars to group the "tools" in a fully custom way that works with how I do my drawings.
Mind you now that we've got some AutoCAD look alikes who knows which way I would go.
One factor from some years back is that even some AutoCAD users of the earlier versions found some of the things harder and less intuitive to use than the similar functions in the then current TurboCAD. So again it's wise to try out a few of the free and cheap options and see which clicks with each new user.
One thing I found is that it paid to get into doing an actual drawing once you find the basic tools. Just doodling doesn't tell much at all other than how to access the tools. Do a simple actual task and see how it goes for some of the functions when actually "under fire".
Other relatively cheap CAD's are DesignCAD and DeltaCAD. I'm pretty sure they were both available for free at one time but now I see they are charging for them. They both have free time limited demos availalbel though. So try out a few before you leap. Because once you lock into one you really won't want to shift over to another.
Back in my early CAD days there were no AutoCAD look-alikes. In fact there were no free CAD's at all. I tried a few of the low cost ones and stopped when I found TurboCAD and I've stuck with it since because I know it well and it always does what I want and I can set up the toolbars to group the "tools" in a fully custom way that works with how I do my drawings.
Mind you now that we've got some AutoCAD look alikes who knows which way I would go.
One factor from some years back is that even some AutoCAD users of the earlier versions found some of the things harder and less intuitive to use than the similar functions in the then current TurboCAD. So again it's wise to try out a few of the free and cheap options and see which clicks with each new user.
One thing I found is that it paid to get into doing an actual drawing once you find the basic tools. Just doodling doesn't tell much at all other than how to access the tools. Do a simple actual task and see how it goes for some of the functions when actually "under fire".
Other relatively cheap CAD's are DesignCAD and DeltaCAD. I'm pretty sure they were both available for free at one time but now I see they are charging for them. They both have free time limited demos availalbel though. So try out a few before you leap. Because once you lock into one you really won't want to shift over to another.
