Home Cad program

[Nandy]

I have been looking for some time for a program that I can use to design some of my wood work. Something simple. Like right now I am designing a small shed. The size of the wood and other are outside the norm because this is wood I have been given. I have done all the plans, wall by wall, include window and exterior door, so on and so on...
I am not looking for a professional program but even if it has a modest price I am willing to give it a try. What I have seen so far just do the plans, you can make the room, insert the windows and such but they always area look from the top. I want one that I can look at the wall from the front.
What do y'all use?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Home Cad program

Would soemthimg like Microsoft Visio work for you? You can get the student version pretty cheap.

 

[mike64]

Re: Home Cad program

Google has a free 3D modeling program called SketchUp. I don't know if it would exactly fit the bill for you but might be worth a look:
http://sketchup.google.com/

 

[rogerwa]

Re: Home Cad program

There are a number of different open source tools depending on what you are looking for.

Search on DIA. It runs on windows and appears to be a fairly simplistic version of Visio.

 

[Tater Head]

Re: Home Cad program

I like Delta cad! It was free when it came out about five years ago. The free version did not have any symbols.


LaRRY

 

[Rowroy]

Re: Home Cad program

Alibre Design! You can do anything with this, including 3-D modeling.

AND IT'S FREE!!!

http://www.alibre.com/

 

[Nandy]

Re: Home Cad program

Wow guys! Keep them coming. Let mr attempt to explain what I'm trying to do.
The shed is 10x10 I want to draw one wall. The right wall is made of 4 segments, I will detail each segment from left to right. These boards are from crates that I have been given. Dimensions are given in length, height then thickness.
Seg 1 is 13 boards of 17.5x5.5x3/4
Seg 2 is 13 boards of 42.5x5.5x3/4
Seg 3 is 13 boards of 42.5x5.5x3/4
Seg 4 is 13 boards of 17.5x5.5x3/4

So I want a program that I can either tell it to build me the boards to that size and stack them the way I want. Then I can add the 6x4x2 where they belong.
Then the left wall has the same dimensions but has a window in it. So I want to add that and be able to calculate how many boards I will need. The process will continue with the other walls and ceiling and it will be great if I can put all the objects together and be able to pull them apart to see them again. The google one seems to do that but there might be other programs out here that you guys use and ca do the same thing.
There is a learning curve and I will like to check those that you guys know otherwise I will have the real thing done before I can draw it! Lol!
Thanks!

 

[Rowroy]

Re: Home Cad program

^^^^

The nice thing about Alibre is that as you model your shed, you can have it set up to maintain a cut list of materials. You can also use the "Sheet Metal Fab" part of the software to further detail quantity and dimensions of your lumber.

 

[SBTOM]

Re: Home Cad program

The student version of Solidworks is $75. You have to be a student, but if you want to get it on a technicality you can go to your local community college and sign up for the cheapest possible course (probably less than $50). I use the full weight version (with rendering, FEA, etc...) and its awesome. Also, if you don't need the 3d aspect and you just want to be able to write DXF's you can download a 1 month trial version of adobe illustrator....

 

[Nandy]

Re: Home Cad program

Alibre Design! You can do anything with this, including 3-D modeling.

AND IT'S FREE!!!

http://www.alibre.com/

It start at 1K, im not spending 200 in the shed....

 

[ridefst]

Re: Home Cad program

+1 for Sketchup, very cool software and free to boot!

 

[ThumbPkr]

Re: Home Cad program

I just saw Autocad 1020 or 2010 or something close to that on Craigslist for $100.00 on a 2gb thumb drive.Email me if you want the link.Ron G

 

[Nandy]

Re: Home Cad program

Sketchup is what I'm using. Free and supper nice. Thanks for the recom$endatiom Mike.
Thanks everyone else for your advise also.

 

[mike64]

Re: Home Cad program

Glad to hear it'll work for ya, Nandy. Good luck with the shed design.

 

[SuzukiChopper]

Re: Home Cad program

As much as I like CAD apps... a pad of engineering paper, a pencil and ruler are all you ever need. Hell, doing the drawings for my boat was all done on paper and transfered to CAD only because I didn't have my scanner handy at the time. Was quicker doing the drawings on paper then it was with CAD.

 

[Nandy]

Re: Home Cad program

I rather have a CAD than a paper and pencil any day. Buildings have been design by paper for years... However, those same professionals saw the advantage on the CAD programs...

 

[SuzukiChopper]

Re: Home Cad program

For elaborate designs, 3D renderings and for stress testing, for sure a good CAD application kicks butt... but for a simple shed, no real point.

I'm a 27 year old engineer that grew up during the technology boom... I love technology as much as the next geek and understand every aspect of hardware and software on a computer. I enjoy testing everything I can, but the K.I.S.S rule still applies and unfortunately too many people have lost site of that. Don't complicate your life where it doesn't need to be complicated.

 

[Nandy]

Re: Home Cad program

Im glad you are happy and confortable with your possition. Im a with mine.