I received an email from IMSI, yesterday announcing that they have a new CAD program available as a FREE download. IMSI had been distributing Turbo CAD and all of their related products. The CAD program is called Doublecad XT. I haven't had a lot of time to work with it yet, but it has a lot of nice features for a free program.

It can be downloaded at any of the following web sites.

http://doublecad.com/Products/Double...0/Default.aspx

http://www.download.com/DoubleCAD-XT...-10907980.html

http://www.tucows.com/preview/606243

Enjoy,
Greg

Hi Greg,
This program is way beyond me but I did download it (57MB)? and then I had to go back to the download page (DownLoad.com.) to find the Key code to activate it, which is at the very bottom of the page.

Now its just read and practice"

Thanks for sharing; Dan Z

Dan,

It takes some getting use to if you haven't used a CAD program before.
They all work somewhat the same. I use AutoCAD LT and TurboCAD at work for making part drawings. I use GibbsCAM at work for programming.
CAD drawing is almost like a 2nd hobby to me. I like using different systems. I'm not an expert by any means with CAD, but I can draw about anything except 3D without too much trouble, but it takes me a long time.
The help file for DoubleCAD XT is 289 pages long with about everything you need. Don't get overwhelmed, just start simple, and add to it. Make sure you know about snaps, and layers. The web site also has some tutorials and demos to view.

http://doublecad.com/Products/KeyFea...2/Default.aspx

http://doublecad.com/Support/Learnin...0/Default.aspx

Have fun.

Greg

Any chance we might get an opportunity to see some of the CAD work you guys are doing? I've often wondered what it would take to get into CAD, but due to other things, like
"Work" and Health I have not gotten around to it. Now this FREE CAD thing has me wondering, can I do this. I have long fooled around with redrawing many published model plans and this interests me. Grampaw

Here are a couple of files I've drawn.
Both of these files are DynaJet parts, the head and flowjector.

Greg

Double cad is offering a good tutorial for $20.00 after discount.
There are more than 2 hours of training videos on using DoubleCAD. The way it is presented, it makes it a lot easier to get some of the basics down. I purchased the training videos, and they are a big help.
Another good source of help is the web site. Go to DoubleCAD forums through the internet page on the CAD program, or go here.

http://forums.doublecad.com/

Here's a website with a variety of free CAD programs;

http://www.freecad.com/