Best CAD program for under $100?

[SILVERGUN]

What CAD program are you guys using and what do you love/hate about it?

If you have experience with more than 1 let me know what differences you've seen.

Thanks in advance...

[Platefire]

I retired from the US Government two years ago and had been using MicroStation with all it's upgrades for years. Ever since I've retired I haven't had a CAD program. I would also be interested in a good cheap one, if there is such a thing. Platefire

BTW-I use to have a program I bought from Wal Marts years ago for windows 95 called Delta CAD that was a good program for cheap but I never seen a upgraded one for the newer Windows Systems.

[Jack_Hester]

I use AutoCAD.  My shop at work started using it a little over 20 years ago, to keep electrical and instrument drawings updated.  Mainly because our drafting department was getting smaller and being overwhelmed.  I was able to buy an older '05 copy very cheap.  Doesn't sound right calling that an older copy.  But, that's the way it is with software.

Anyway, DraftSight is almost a clone of ACAD.  And, it's free.  Here's the website:

http://www.3ds.com/products/draftsight/free-cad-software/

It requires an online registration, but no strings attached. 

Jack

[SILVERGUN]

OK...just as an update, I'm leaning towards TurboCAD....might even just go with an older version like this:

http://www.amazon.com/TurboCAD-15-Deluxe-2D-3D/dp/B003630F1W/ref=sr_1_7?s=software&ie=UTF8&qid=1349744421&sr=1-7&keywords=turbocad

I'll probably just throw this on a clean XP machine just to get my feet wet....and thanks for the advice, I'll make sure the processor and memory are there

F.Y.I----this is really something that my brother brought up to me because he needs to do some mechanical drawing,,,but the more I look around on this site, guys are making really nice layouts with it......he's a little older, so I'm gonna have to learn how to use it and then show him

[EL34]

I use Quick CAD which is not available any more.

Just make sure that your CAD program will run on your processor.  
A__CAD older versions may not run on a 64bit processor.

All my old 32 bit software runs fine on my Windows 7 - 8 core - 64 bit AMD machines

Windows 7 installs 32 bit software in a different directory than 64 bit software

I have a ton of old software that I still use, like paint shop pro 7, quick CAD, office 97 and a bunch more

[Jack_Hester]

All my old 32 bit software runs fine on my Windows 7 - 8 core - 64 bit AMD machines

Windows 7 installs 32 bit software in a different directory than 64 bit software

I have run into an issue where the software installation will stop and never go any further, if it finds a 64-bit OS.  Two of my machines have such.  One is a WinXP 64-bit, and the other is a Win7 64-bit.  The installation stops on both, even when I try to run in compatability mode.  This is not the rule.  Just on occassion.

Jack

[EL34]

I am guessing that it's the installer itself?
Sometimes it may be possible to copy some programs from disk to drive and run them in stand alone without any registry installs that the installer may have been trying to do

I guess I have just been lucky so far
And I am running 32 bit stuff that goes back 15 years

W7 always installs my 32 bit stuff in the programs X86 directory shown below
The 64 bit stuff gets installed right above the 32 bit programs folder

[Jack_Hester]

I am guessing that it's the installer itself?

I'm satisfied that the installer is the problem.  The few that I've had issue with were installers that were executables (.exe extension).  I tried viewing them with my ZIP file program, SecureZIP by PKware.  If it were an archived program with an .exe extension, this program would display the internals.  This has not been the case with these.  Just file code displayed, or an error message given. 

Jack

[SILVERGUN]

Here's some facts on the subject, with the last part, possibly being the answer to your problem Jack:

Will a 64-bit CPU run a 32-bit program on a 64-bit version of an OS?Yes it will. 64-bit systems are backward-compatible with their 32-bit counterparts.

Will a 64-bit OS run a 32-bit application on a 64-bit processor?Yes it will. Again, this is because of backward compatibility.

Can 64-bit applications contain 32-bit code?Yes, many times 64-bit software will contain portions of 32-bit code.

Similarly 32-bit software (usually very old programs) can have some code in 16-bit which is why those 32-bit applications will usually fail to run properly on a 64-bit OS.

Can 16-bit applications or code run on 64-bit systems?No, as we said previously. 16-bit code will NOT run on 64-bit OS because the designers did not provide backward-compatibility. This is one reason why some 32-bit programs will not work on 64-bit operating systems.

[kagliostro]

Hi SILVERGUN

how you want to use the CAD program ?

K

[SILVERGUN]

Hi SILVERGUN

how you want to use the CAD program ?

K

Just simple 2D/3D mecanical drawings, speaker cabinet and head/combo and amp guts layouts
My brother does custom auto mechanics/machining so I would want features for that as well

[kagliostro]

Ah, OK, I was in doubt if you were thinking to a CAD program to draw circuits, like Eagle

I've used Autocad some years ago and it is a great program but with a great price

a free clone of Autocad LT is DraftSight

K

[SILVERGUN]

Thanks K, I'm still taking suggestions and I appreciate your time....I'l let you know how it works out

[PRR]

> I am running 32 bit stuff that goes back 15 years

16-bit on Win-XP-32, 27 years old.

[kagliostro]

16-bit on Win-XP-32, 27 years old

K

[EL34]

I still have a few XP machines I use

2 - W7 64 bit - 8 cores - 8gb ram
3 - XP 32 bit including a notebook that came with Vista (wiped the drive clean and installed Xp pro)

I never thought I would like W7 after having a Vista machine and hating Vista
But, I must say that W7 has been pretty good so far once you get used to it

[SILVERGUN]

Up til a year ago I would still do clean installs of XP for people who didn't want to change....XP +2gig ram = happiness

BUT, for me, 7 is better than I think anyone expected...I was buying the family 3-pack for $129 and doing 3 units a month with it:
http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Windows-Premium-Upgrade-Family/dp/B002MV2MG0

It includes both 32 and 64 bit versions and EVERYONE that gets a clean install in a machine that can handle it has been very impressed
32-bit= 2GB ram minimum
64-bit= 4GB  min.

Coming soon Windows 8....I always say to myself "what are they gonna F up this time?"

[EL34]

I heard that W8 is touch screen friendly

[kagliostro]

Sometime ago I tried Vista

and I'm still running XP 

May be I'll go for 7

a lot of people say it's a good SO

K

[SILVERGUN]

I heard that W8 is touch screen friendly

That'll be cool, and worth the new investment for some....

I'm still sitting on one of those 3 packs with 2 licenses left,,,,,and I can't believe 8 's coming out

[Platefire]

I got Windows Vista--sounds like it's pretty bad! I haven't tried to download this CAD program yet. I'm not too computer literate(compared you ya'll) but should I go ahead an attemt an install? Platefire

[SILVERGUN]

I got Windows Vista--sounds like it's pretty bad! I haven't tried to download this CAD program yet. I'm not too computer literate(compared you ya'll) but should I go ahead an attemt an install? Platefire

Hey Plate, Vista's not the worst....it was just a shock to those who were so used to the simplicity of XP....
Vista had too many compatibility issues, and asked way too many questions like "you have chosen to close this window; do you really want to close this window?"......if your using it and it's allowing you to do what you want, then it's fine....it's still a decent operating system underneath all the BS

Just make sure you have enough memory,,,,some Vista PC's came with only 1 GB of ram, and that's just not enough,,,,it's too much of a resource hog, and the more ram the better..........I've seen people who complained that their PC was slow, and when I got in there, I found that it was attempting to use more memory, just idling, than was actually installed

Plenty of RAM will ensure that your 2D/3D renderings will not take forever to load....I would suggest a min. of at least 2 GB

[Ritchie200]

Late for the party, but here are my picks...  I've used Autolaugh , AutoCAD Lite, Solidworks, Unigraphics, and CADKey.  Obviously way more than you need, but that is my background and experience.  One that I used to run a wire EDM and a Bridgeport Boss CNC mill here at the house was BobCAD.  Super easy CAD and seamless CAM - VERY easy for the beginner or for the more advanced alike.  Lots of great features.  When I bought it it was like $250.  Now there are several specialized versions with the cheapest being around $495 or something.  HOWEVER, very good stuff.  There was also a cheap one that I played with years ago from Glass House Software, but I think it is now around $300 called Power CAD or something. It is the standalone CAD version of their "Power Station" CADCAM.  I have also heard that KeyCAD (not to be confused with the previous outrageously priced CADKey), is very good for the price.  I have not reviewed any of the freebees available out there.  However, using everything that I have, I would spend a few bucks and get a good, proven, easy, powerful, program like BobCAD.  That way when you build your CNC mill, you will be ready to go!

Jim

[Platefire]

Trying to read my PC specs=Dell 546s AMD Phenom X3. I'm trying to read the specifications out of the setup guide and can't make heads or tails out of it. Under memory it has;
Minimum=2GB(2 x 1GB DIMMs)
Maximum=8GB(4 x 2GB DIMMs)
Memory=800-MHz DDR2 DIMM
Type=non-ECC memory only
Capacities=1GB and 2 GB

I did look on the spec on line with details here:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5574376

Best I can tell I got 8GB Ram and 640 GB storage capacity.

Have we determined that the previous link to the free CAD program is no good? Platefire

[SILVERGUN]

Have we determined that the previous link to the free CAD program is no good? Platefire

The link worked for me and there is a free version there to try at the bottom left of the first page
http://www.3ds.com/products/draftsight/free-cad-software/


Those Dell specs are fine and it sounds like you have at least the min. 2 Gb I suggest

[Platefire]

Well I went through the whole download installation process using the 32bit download for windows. After it was complete it gave me a window something about it couldn't download 64bit, I had to select the "OK" to close the window and when I did that, it was all gone--nothing downloaded. Platefire

[SILVERGUN]

Well I went through the whole download installation process using the 32bit download for windows. After it was complete it gave me a window something about it couldn't download 64bit, I had to select the "OK" to close the window and when I did that, it was all gone--nothing downloaded. Platefire

 That's Vista for you.... ...... if I was sitting next to you we could figure it out..... but if you want to try something that will work this is a very simple and popular program that will at least get you started...google sketchup.... sorry I don't have the link handy but I'm on my phone