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Help requested in choosing CAD software

R

Raymond Gaskins

Very Strong User
I am dedicating some time in the near future to learning some basic CAD skills to design some of my own files for 3D printing, laser cutting and possibly CNC routing.
I would appreciate recommendations for basic software to “cut my teeth on” (ideally free or minimally expensive) that can later be expanded in capability if my skills mature.
I am primarily an RC modeler but also enjoy woodworking and am planning to learn some metal milling and lathe techniques as well.
Thank you in advance for your suggestions.
Raymond Gaskins
 
Hi Ray,

I have some experience here, so I’ll offer my 2 cents.

For laser cutting 2D is fine. However for printing and CNC cutting you really need 3D software. You could CNC cut flat sheets with 2D software, but that is really limiting your equipment. Maybe you want to make molds someday?

That being said, 2D is much less of a learning curve than 3D. You should also take into consideration your intended work flow. With 2D, just make sure it can output a .DXF file (nearly all do) and you’ll be fine. For 3D, some routers and printers are a little more picky about file types. Just do a little research on the post processing and you’ll be fine.

As far as software goes, for 2D I use a very old software called ModelCAD for all my laser cutting. I know it well and it works for me, but no longer available. Others like TurboCAD, Vellum etc. are inexpensive and easy to learn.

For 3D I use SolidWorks. It happens to be top of the heap, and available to me. Otherwise it’s insanely expensive, or I’d never have it. Rhino is a good choice, there are others too. I would recommend you look for something with good support (YouTube, or a friend) to help you learn. It’s a much longer process to be able to make useable (machine able) drawings, but you are able to do much more in the end.

When you do decide to learn, please reach out to me. I’m happy to spend some time on the phone, or Zoom etc. to give you a bunch of lessons I’ve learned. If I intend to laser cut, CNC machine or even kit something I’m working on, there are considerations I make from the very first lines drawn. I’m sure I can give you a great head start and save you from a bunch of frustration.

Get ready for a whole new world! The possibilities are endless. The time and money I have spent on software and equipment are the best I’ve invested in the hobby by far. The freedom to make whatever you want with high precision is priceless.

Red
 
Raymond Gaskins said:
Thanks Red,
Your advice is treasured!
Click to expand...
Ray,

The timing is good on this thread I suppose. My laptop that I do most of my design work on and runs my laser is nearly dead. It's nearly 15 years old and has served me well, so not unexpected. Its getting hard drive sector failures, so it's only a matter of time. It's all backed up thankfully. Not a big deal to get a new machine, but my issue is that after a couple moves, I have lost my antique ModelCAD software CD. I've tried to replace it with no luck & It uses a proprietary format. I could export everything to a .DXF file and import it into just about anything else, but I have hundreds (thousands?) of drawings, plans and individual part files. That sounds like a bigger job than I want to tackle, so I was forced to look around for another solution.

Digging around a bit and with some input from a friend who had the same issue, I learned that a company called TurboCAD absorbed the company that previously made ModelCAD, Their product DesignCAD 2D is able to read my old files, thankfully they kept the same format! I downloaded it last night and did some testing, and it's 99% good. Only issue is some splines don't render correctly. So for those I export to .DXF and import into DesignCAD and everything is normal.

So, for 2D I would recommend looking into this. It's very easy to use, inexpensive and very powerful. It's even got some new features that I'm sure I will make use of.

Home

IMSI Design is a leader in high performance, general-purpose 3D CAD (Computer Aided Design) and home design desktop software, and a pioneer in mobile solutions for the AEC (Architectural, Engineering, and Construction) industry.
www.turbocad.com www.turbocad.com

Cheers
Red
 
Red said:
Ray,

The timing is good on this thread I suppose. My laptop that I do most of my design work on and runs my laser is nearly dead. It's nearly 15 years old and has served me well, so not unexpected. Its getting hard drive sector failures, so it's only a matter of time. It's all backed up thankfully. Not a big deal to get a new machine, but my issue is that after a couple moves, I have lost my antique ModelCAD software CD. I've tried to replace it with no luck & It uses a proprietary format. I could export everything to a .DXF file and import it into just about anything else, but I have hundreds (thousands?) of drawings, plans and individual part files. That sounds like a bigger job than I want to tackle, so I was forced to look around for another solution.

Digging around a bit and with some input from a friend who had the same issue, I learned that a company called TurboCAD absorbed the company that previously made ModelCAD, Their product DesignCAD 2D is able to read my old files, thankfully they kept the same format! I downloaded it last night and did some testing, and it's 99% good. Only issue is some splines don't render correctly. So for those I export to .DXF and import into DesignCAD and everything is normal.

So, for 2D I would recommend looking into this. It's very easy to use, inexpensive and very powerful. It's even got some new features that I'm sure I will make use of.

Home

IMSI Design is a leader in high performance, general-purpose 3D CAD (Computer Aided Design) and home design desktop software, and a pioneer in mobile solutions for the AEC (Architectural, Engineering, and Construction) industry.
www.turbocad.com www.turbocad.com

Cheers
Red
Click to expand...
Thanks Red.
Raymond
 
Hello Raymond.

I have been working in the metal mechanics area for a few years and I can recommend some software, however the financial issue of whether you will acquire licensed software is a criterion that must be carefully observed, but I am not taking this into consideration.

For both 2D and 3D projects of technical parts, what is at the top of the list that I recommend is SolidWorks.
You will be able to work with 3D models in industry standard formats such as .iges .x_t parasolid and .step files
Regarding 2D files, Solidworks will be able to work well with DXF files and DWG files

You can even use Solidworks to create models for 3D printing, but if these models are what we call organic 3D models I highly recommend the ZBrush software
For 3D printing you must work with STL files

What I'm recommending is software for designing.
Remember that there is still software to carry out the work on the machines.

Hope this helps
 
I've been using Shapr3D and rather enjoy it. It is much easier than Fushion360 or SolidWorks, but does not do all of the things those apps can do. I love the simplicity of it, and think it will be fine for feeding a 3D printer and a laser cutter. Can be used on a PC, Mac or Ipad.
 
I found that even for a bonehead like me, Solidworks was not hard to learn with all the examples and online tuition available - for the price, but like Red I had it available to me without the need to arrange another mortgage.

I also tried Catia, but thats pretty damnably damned hard to master as its a full-blown aerospace driven/orientated programme by Dassault.

My CAD skills are really quite limited as I really dont use it that often as a design tool - I'm still on pen and paper...Happily I have some really good friends.

For our CAD, Phil uses Onshape, and thats also the one that Jure is learning by doing the DH108 as a first project - OJT. People say its really good, not too hard to master, and files can be shared easily in the cloud.

Phil tells me that there is another one out there that is really quite suited to modelling with curves etc and thats "Plasticity" We are going to try it this year.

So many choices I guess. For modelling - as has been mentioned, its probably quite important to find a CAD system that does everything you need to do with .dxf files at a click.

Bugger...who'd have thought as we toiled away cutting ribs with a razor blade back in the dark ages that we'd be using 3-D printers, laser cutting and CNC machining - crikey even the calculator was not invented at that time.

What an old phart! Still loving it all though.

Doc.

Wots that ay? It dont say "CASIO" on it, and it aint made in China.
Thornton Slide Rule.jpeg
 
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Catia - One of my former employees is off at a fancy aviation college and they use Catia, he was just complaining about it last week. Very old school, complicated and SLOW. Seems it drives many students like himself that have previous CAD skills rather nuts, but it is what Aerospace has used for the last 20 years and still most use today.
 
I looked closely at OnShape. There is a lot to like there. I have seen a few modern designers using it and it seems an excellent option with many moderns features. For Aloft the cost was just too much. $1,500/year
 
Wayne said:
Catia - One of my former employees is off at a fancy aviation college and they use Catia, he was just complaining about it last week. Very old school, complicated and SLOW. Seems it drives many students like himself that have previous CAD skills rather nuts, but it is what Aerospace has used for the last 20 years and still most use today.
Click to expand...
Yeah thats what I thought.

Costs a bloody fortune too.

Doc.
 
Wayne said:
I looked closely at OnShape. There is a lot to like there. I have seen a few modern designers using it and it seems an excellent option with many moderns features. For Aloft the cost was just too much. $1,500/year
Click to expand...
Yep. Onshape is used to design all my models.

But...I think there might be more cost-effective alternatives than spending 1500 per year. I suppose its the "Standard" professional cost. I think the individual/student versions are free. But...again I guess Aloft as an organization has to be regarded as an enterprise level client.

Doc.
 
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