Best/Easiest/ 3D Cad Programs....

[IsMaR]

so i am getting into modding and want to design things in 3d cad before start physicly doing it.... i seen when yoshi built Multi media pc he mentioned one of the software.... so what are good ones out there... but also easy to learn you kno dont want to spend too much time before i get started...

[dworld]

well one i like i guess its a little complicated and a little spendy but u can request a 30 trial autocad by autodesk is very nice we use it at school and welll i love it so now i use it at home to plan out my mods

[waxon]

How difficult are they to use. Would I need to learn how to use it, or is it pretty self explanitory.

[IsMaR]

Originally posted by waxon@Aug 18 2004, 02:13 AM
How difficult are they to use. Would I need to learn how to use it, or is it pretty self explanitory.
exactly

[dworld]

Well one thing good about autodesk is if you want ive found tutorils on the internet and here is the thing i dont think your going to get all of the things you want i mean usely the ones that are easy to use suck in dont have a lof of the tools.

And i just looked on auto cad under help there is a training thing so that you can learn to use it.

[ety]

If you want the easyest google "SketchUP" Its the best CAd program for begining.

[IsMaR]

for anyone dont wanna trouble finding it

http://download.sketchup.com/30ED6/Install...hUp-4.0.124.exe (http://download.sketchup.com/30ED6/InstallSketchUp-4.0.124.exe)

[\/1ndicated]

Dworld my school uses same program it has its flaws but for home use it would wokr fine (business shuoldnt use cause its not best) Its pretty self explametory things like line are labeled line square square and so on and so on. Ther is also feature called grid where u can make a grid that each point is so far apart It Helps ALOT. I should try to steal my teachers cd and put it on my comp(im just kiddin i would never do that HMMMMM).

[ety]

Sketch up Is extremly easy to use and if you have troble they haver video tutorials on there site.

[IsMaR]

Originally posted by ety@Aug 18 2004, 06:47 PM
Sketch up Is extremly easy to use and if you have troble they haver video tutorials on there site.
werd... i tried its really nice....

[anode]

IMOHO, CAD for a case mod is more work then its worth. You can draw it out by hand quicker. Unless you need the DXFs (or other formats) to send to a machine shop to do the fabbing, a piece of paper and a good ole #2 pencil.

ACAD for a beginer is a bit silly. He'll spend more then the 30 days figuring it out. Yes a lot is obvious, others aren't I currently own Turbo CAd (forgot the version but got it out of the bargin bin. was a version behind the current at the time. Works well. Fine for case modding)

paper and pen.

[imported_Yoshi]

I was using Autcad and Inventor from Autodesk. They are both a bit pricy and have a high learning curve, but almost universally accepted as a file format.
Solidworks is another program used a lot by machine shops.

For just doing sketches Sketchup is nice but if your planning doing CNC fabbed pieces youll need to use something else, or pay the shop to make the cad file out of your hand drawn plans. Most of cnc machine shops will charge around 100-150/hr for CAD work.

The only advantage I can see (excluding needing CNC work) is you can render the design before you build it. Also can check the fitment of all your pieces befoe you start cutting.

[\/1ndicated]

Yea sketchup looks nice not for heavy work or anything autocad is nice and i think it is pretty easy but then again i have been using it for a year.(had to learn it all myself cause teacher doesnt teach us bout it jsut tells us to make this and that but ohwell better for learning). If you dont know what your doing and its just for better sketchs then sketchup is fine but for heavy work and more detail i would say autocad from autodesk.

[IsMaR]

Originally posted by \/1ndicated@Aug 19 2004, 06:34 PM
Yea sketchup looks nice not for heavy work or anything autocad is nice and i think it is pretty easy but then again i have been using it for a year.(had to learn it all myself cause teacher doesnt teach us bout it jsut tells us to make this and that but ohwell better for learning). If you dont know what your doing and its just for better sketchs then sketchup is fine but for heavy work and more detail i would say autocad from autodesk.
werd... is there riaa or fbi or something monitoring this site? cause i wanna be able to talk free...

[Wesker Reborn]

Theres moderators watching the site.

[\/1ndicated]

(\/1ndicated @ Aug 19 2004, 06:34 PM)
Yea sketchup looks nice not for heavy work or anything autocad is nice and i think it is pretty easy but then again i have been using it for a year.(had to learn it all myself cause teacher doesnt teach us bout it jsut tells us to make this and that but ohwell better for learning). If you dont know what your doing and its just for better sketchs then sketchup is fine but for heavy work and more detail i would say autocad from autodesk.

Originally posted by IsMaR@Aug 19 2004, 06:55 PM
werd... is there riaa or fbi or something monitoring this site? cause i wanna be able to talk free...
???????????? dONT GET IT maybe its just me but hey.

Sry bout this i suck at quoting

[IsMaR]

Originally posted by \/1ndicated@Aug 19 2004, 08:10 PM
(\/1ndicated @ Aug 19 2004, 06:34 PM)
Yea sketchup looks nice not for heavy work or anything autocad is nice and i think it is pretty easy but then again i have been using it for a year.(had to learn it all myself cause teacher doesnt teach us bout it jsut tells us to make this and that but ohwell better for learning). If you dont know what your doing and its just for better sketchs then sketchup is fine but for heavy work and more detail i would say autocad from autodesk.


???????????? dONT GET IT maybe its just me but hey.

Sry bout this i suck at quoting
oh i wanted to say price dont mather cause................i can download and use crack or something....

[ety]

Originally posted by Yoshi@Aug 19 2004, 05:49 PM
For just doing sketches Sketchup is nice but if your planning doing CNC fabbed pieces youll need to use something else,
With Sketch Up it will Export to the Autocad format file. (DWG?)

[\/1ndicated]

Originally posted by IsMaR+Aug 19 2004, 08:38 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (IsMaR @ Aug 19 2004, 08:38 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-\/1ndicated@Aug 19 2004, 08:10 PM
(\/1ndicated @ Aug 19 2004, 06:34 PM)
Yea sketchup looks nice not for heavy work or anything autocad is nice and i think it is pretty easy but then again i have been using it for a year.(had to learn it all myself cause teacher doesnt teach us bout it jsut tells us to make this and that but ohwell better for learning). If you dont know what your doing and its just for better sketchs then sketchup is fine but for heavy work and more detail i would say autocad from autodesk.


???????????? dONT GET IT maybe its just me but hey.

Sry bout this i suck at quoting
oh i wanted to say price dont mather cause................i can download and use crack or something.... [/b][/quote]
Oh ok u kind of left me hanging with the info

[High Voltage Guru]

Someone posted a link to emachinestop.com earlier on a different thread.

they give away free CAD software. also says when designs don'nt work and can order stuff you make.

[Merlin]

i use CADSTD... just search for it on download.com. its pretty easy

[4b5eN+EE]

i got an old copy cad creatons (windows 3.1 program)
but i havent used it to plan anything out...hmm this sounds like a good idea....

[DryBlaze]

i use autocad.

[MSX2k6]

Autocad is the best CAD program out there. Nuff said. It's quite the pricy program though, if you were to buy it. I use it at school, in fact I'm in my CADD class right now. This is my third year with this program, so I am quite proficient with it. If you are a beginner, you can do the basics, but if you want to do some real designing, it'll take some experience.

[anode]

Autocad is the best CAD program out there. Nuff said. It's quite the pricy program though, if you were to buy it. I use it at school, in fact I'm in my CADD class right now. This is my third year with this program, so I am quite proficient with it. If you are a beginner, you can do the basics, but if you want to do some real designing, it'll take some experience.


Theres a lot that will argue with you on that. Microstation is a big favorite, ME is another. A-CAD is as big as it is, because of its low price. Its a great program, but there are ones out there that are better. Its a good allround CAD package. Does more then most need it to. The LISP aspect of it is also noce (is that still excluded from ACAD lite ? )

[Dragoon]

I use Autocad 2000 and recently 2005. I'm in my 3rd year of an Autocad Engineering class at my highschool. I can safely say that Autocad consists of so many features that it is probably impossible to learn all them. Obviously it is not good for 3d rendering for things such as character design and other animation aspects, that would be for Maya or 3DSM. I've used a couple other CAD programs and Autocad is far superior to them. It is perfect for designing plans or anything else that you plan to make.