I would like to try my hand at CAD for designing my guitars. Is there a free version of anything out there that is easy to work? I see a lot of you here are doing this and wanted to know more about it.
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Who has the easiest and free CAD program?
- Thread starter thebassbuilder
- Start date
- May 1, 2014
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- Owner Melodious Resonance Constructs
Do you want a CAD specifically? I use Inkscape to create designs and layouts and it provides everything I need to be able to produce decent quality mock-ups as well as full size printed templates.
I will look that up. I am wanting whatever can draw a body out and I can print full scale. Let me ask this as well. Do you or anyone know if you can take a picture of another bass and use it as a template to draw from in these programs? Just trying to think of things that could help speed the process up. This way you could take a body you like but alter it to meet your needs. Thanks!
If you are looking to design with the intent of outputing straight to a multiaxis CNC mill then you are looking for a CAD program. If you are just looking for a good program to draw out designs on than any good vector based drawing program should work (such as the aforementioned Inkscape) many of which can save files in a format than can then be loaded and extruded into a CAD program later if you need them to.
I use Adobe Illustrator which certainly isn't free but definitely lets you import an image to trace around. I would imagine that is a standard feature for most other programs as well.
I use Adobe Illustrator which certainly isn't free but definitely lets you import an image to trace around. I would imagine that is a standard feature for most other programs as well.
I also use Illustrator. It is not cheap, but it works like a charm. For Windows I used to use Corel Draw. Any competent vector program will be capable of doing the job. This are actual size Illustrator prints:
I have always read good things about InkScape but I am yet to try it.
I also have AutoCAD. I got it for free because I'm enrolled in a University, so if you also are, you could get it too. But it has a steep learning curve and I have until now no success in producing a single 3D form
.
I have always read good things about InkScape but I am yet to try it.
I also have AutoCAD. I got it for free because I'm enrolled in a University, so if you also are, you could get it too. But it has a steep learning curve and I have until now no success in producing a single 3D form
.
I down loaded Inkscape and this is all new to me. Does anyone know a way to grid the page so I can draw to scale? Also for some reason the version I downloaded will not allow me to delete that dang rectangle in the middle of the page.
I'm not familiar with Inkscape unforunately but I can make some educated guesses that your grid settings will either be under a "Preferences" menu or perhaps in a "Document Settings" menu.
I am going to guess that the rectangle you mention is equivalent to Illustrator's artboard and represents the printable area for the media you have designated (eg paper size) in your Document Settings.
I am going to guess that the rectangle you mention is equivalent to Illustrator's artboard and represents the printable area for the media you have designated (eg paper size) in your Document Settings.
- May 1, 2014
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- Owner Melodious Resonance Constructs
The rectangle is the "page" outline to be used as reference as to how your drawing fits on the page. You can hide it by going into the document properties (shift-ctrl-d) and deselect "show page border". The grid parameters (e.g. distance between lines, etc.) can be changed on the same dialog in the "grids" tab. You can turn the grid on and off under the "view" menu.
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- May 1, 2014
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- Owner Melodious Resonance Constructs
All of the things you stated can be done with Inkscape, as well as Illustrator, etc. If you do not have much experience in a vector based drawing program there will be a learning curve (no pun intended).
- May 1, 2014
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- Dec 20, 2004
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or you can go right to the Dassault Systemes download location for the free version of DraftSight
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If you have trouble with getting started, just PM me what you need and I can drop you a basic EPS file on weekends 
I use eMachineShop for coarse work, and Dassault Systemes' DraftSight for fine detail.
Inkscape works well. I find the interface to be more than a little kludgey.
Inkscape works well. I find the interface to be more than a little kludgey.
Hopkins
Commercial User
emachineshop is the easiest I have used, and what I mean by that is that emachineshop is the only one I have figured out.
Inkscape is great for graphics; honestly I think I like it better than Illustrator, surprisingly. However if you're looking to create drawings with precise dimensions very accurate to scale, you would really be much better served using a drafting program. That's what they are meant for, and most of them are good at it. Vector illustration programs, not so much.
I am a draftsman by degree and profession. If you need / want an actual 2D CAD program that is free DraftSight is the way to go. Used it on Windows and Linux machines both with success. The commands have all been mapped over from AutoCAD so if you already have familiarity with that program (I do) then using DraftSight is easy. For 3D stuff I use SolidWorks but that's because my company paid for it 
. Not sure on good free 3D programs. All this said, having a somewhat decent understanding of drafting basics would help.
. Not sure on good free 3D programs. All this said, having a somewhat decent understanding of drafting basics would help.
another vote for Draftsight. It's a true 2D CAD package and, as others have mentioned, is nearly identical to AutoCAD LT in functionality and syntax.
Draftsight will allow you to import images to use as a reference background to draw over.
Draftsight will allow you to import images to use as a reference background to draw over.
Aside-I remember in Architecture school when I first did AutoCAD- it was completely unheard of. This was version 10, for those who know how far back that is.
My Arch professors, actually deducted points from my final year project because I modelled it in 3d ACAD. Little did they know I was WAY ahead of the time back in 92.
If anyone knows of a comprable ACAD LT program that is mac based and doesn't cost as much as a bass let me know as well. (I am an architect who does houses on the side)
My Arch professors, actually deducted points from my final year project because I modelled it in 3d ACAD. Little did they know I was WAY ahead of the time back in 92.
If anyone knows of a comprable ACAD LT program that is mac based and doesn't cost as much as a bass let me know as well. (I am an architect who does houses on the side)
