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Farewell Draftsight. We hardly knew you.

#41
I’ve used LibreCAD. As far as this kind of software goes, I’m not qualified to gauge where it stands within the CAD pantheon. My knowledge only extends as far as the one or two times I’ve cobbled together a simple DWG file to send off to the water jet guys. I can confirm that as its name suggests, LibreCAD is free.
 
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#44
I use LibreCAD even though it is 2D. I just do a top down drawing and a side drawing. That seems to cover my needs. I find it isn't an easy program to work with but after looking at what other free Linux CAD programs where out there, I wound up with LibreCAD.
 
#46
I did run TurboCad for a while. It was OK, but some basic functions were too buggy. (I particularly had problem with joining lines and some 2D Boolean operations). What really annoyed me was that the bugs was never fixed. They just released new versions that had to be purchased.

In a world where Fusion 360 exist I see little to no reason to go for TurboCad unless you can't use the free version and are on a tight budget.
 
#47
Another vote for Fusion 360 here. It is a great product and its amazing that hobbyists can use for free. Its got more than enough modeling capabilities for my needs and most importantly for me CAM support. I've been using it to design some new tuners for my take on a modern jazz. I've used Fusion for all of it. First prototypes were made with a 3d printer:

IMG_1277.png


I've since moved on to a small cnc mill for the actual working versions - which will look something like this prototype.
IMG_1279.png


My background is in software development and am not a big fan of the software subscription model, but I completely understand why companies have gone this route. I've also learned to like some capabilities that the cloud enables, for example opening designs from multiple machines, browsing designs online, etc. BTW, Fusion also works offline for a couple weeks at a time which is great for when you are not always connected. Give it a try.
 
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#48
An update to this Cad dilemma:

As I posted back on the first page, I was disappointed to hear that Draftsight is closing down. I was in the process of learning it, as a replacement for AutoCad LT 2000. I've done some reading and looking around at other simple, cheap, own it not rent it, software.

I've decided to go with Qcad. It's a European-based open source community-type basic CAD program, with a refined Professional version available for a very reasonable price. It's a one-time purchase, unlimited use deal. You own it forever. You can download it directly and, for a couple of extra bucks, they also mail you a copy on a DVD. I like that.

Qcad Pro with the DVD cost me $54. That's very reasonable. I downloaded it this afternoon and it installed with no problems. I've only started playing around with it, but it seems to be easy to learn for someone like me who is used to AutoCad. One other feature I like is that it handles almost all of the DWG format drawings. Some of the other simple CAD programs didn't, which would be a hassle for me.

Another bonus is that they also offer Qcam as an add-on for another $40. Qcam does the conversions to G code and other formats, for running CNC machines. I didn't get that yet, but I'm sure I will soon if I like working with Qcad.
 
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#49
jro said:
Another vote for Fusion 360 here. It is a great product and its amazing that hobbyists can use for free. Its got more than enough modeling capabilities for my needs and most importantly for me CAM support. I've been using it to design some new tuners for my take on a modern jazz. I've used Fusion for all of it. First prototypes were made with a 3d printer:

View attachment 3383055

I've since moved on to a small cnc mill for the actual working versions - which will look something like this prototype.
View attachment 3383058

My background is in software development and am not a big fan of the software subscription model, but I completely understand why companies have gone this route. I've also learned to like some capabilities that the cloud enables, for example opening designs from multiple machines, browsing designs online, etc. BTW, Fusion also works offline for a couple weeks at a time which is great for when you are not always connected. Give it a try.
Click to expand...

Another +1 for fusion360 here. I've been using it for about 4 months now and I'm a fan. I have used a few similar products in the past but very lightly, so it is helpful that there are a ton of resources out there for it (YouTube, etc).
 
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#50
I use Autocad 2018 at work for traditional 2d architectural drawings, but we find Sketchup hugely quicker for 3d modeling. My experience with Autocad is that It’s incredibly bloated with options and features I never use, or don’t even realize exist. In order to get you to upgrade, they “have to” add more features, and they aren’t always improvements. They’ve gone over to subscription as well. The free version of sketchup is pretty limited, and it’s not accurate enough for full blown construction drawings. It’s not good for the kind of continuous curves inherent in guitars, though people have done it laboriously. We just adopted Revit, which is an extremely powerful 2d/3d drawing tool, but among the most non-intuitive learning curves I’ve ever encountered.
 
#51
I spent a couple of hours messing around with Qcad Pro last night, and so far I like it. It seems to have all the tools and functions that I use in AutoCad LT, and most of them work the same way and go by the same names. An easy learning curve. And it also operates quite fast. Not loaded up with garbage.

Qcad is a 2D Drafting program, made for doing detail mechanical design and layouts. The old-fashioned way. And that's what I use it for: working out precise locations of things on my instruments, and making up detail drawings of all the metal hardware parts that I make up in my non-CNC machine shop. I don't really have the need to do 3D modeling at this time. I may eventually. Qcad will probably come out with a 3D version sometime soon.
 

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