simple cad program for drawing plans

[frank smith]

High, I am looking for suggestions for a simple cad program that I can use to produce some boat plans . I have an old version of turbocad , but I dont like it to much. I am sure there must be an inexpensive progran that I ca export info from Freeships into and go from there.

thanks frank

[pamarine]

Define inexpensive

[Globetrotter]

have you looked at www.delftship.net?

[apex1]

Globy
he uses Freeship already!

[frank smith]

what I am looking for is a straight cad program to produce plans .
$200. or less is what I am talking about , but free would be ok .
I may upgrade the turbocad that I have .

thanks frank

[PAR]

You need more then software to produce boat plans. Screen images of precisely dimensioned, boat like shapes aren't a set of plans. The hydrodynamic understanding and structural engineering behind the graphic representations, are boat plans. You could have the best software package in the world, but if you don't comprehend the structural elements, they're just pretty pictures of boat shapes, with exceptional dimensional accuracy. The software doesn't do the hydro for you, it just tells you the results of your efforts. Determining if those efforts are good or bad (weather it will drown you or not) is the education part.

How do you rate your yacht design principles and concepts understanding? How do you rate your understanding of developing structures? Once you give yourself honest answers to these two questions, you'll be prepared to make the next steps.

For what it's worth, my design and structure software package cost about 35 times the $200 you're looking to spend.

[frank smith]

this thread is a request for information about cad programs . I am sure there is a start an argument thread somewhere for you to make comment on.
So why respond to this thread if you are not going to address the question ?

[liki]

QCad perhaps?

[frank smith]

that could work .
thanks

[Fanie]

There is no such thing as the 'simple' cad program that will produce the flawless drawings. Boat shapes are complicated, to expect some simpel little el cheapo program to produce the results is like expecting easter eggs to peck.

Why is it people want to spend $20 on something (and complain about it) yet expect the results to be worth millions :confused:

[frank smith]

fanie , not to sure about that , but I will check it out later .
Pragrams that were considered first line a few years ago , are now out of date ,
but are still good today .

[Fanie]

It depends what you want to do. It seems for most the problem is not to get the boat designed, but to get the boat into something practical that will produce the actual boat.

Delft ship or free ship is quite nice to design a hull with, and it does produce the stations profiles. You still have to edit them in a cad to be able to get your machine files for cutout or markings on ie panels.

[frank smith]

thanks , for the help . I think I'll head over to a cad forum .

[Manie B]

Hi frank smith

I started with TurboCAD 14 Deluxe and have steadily upgraded and i now have the new TurboCAD 16 Deluxe

It is an excellent tool - easy to learn - and easy to operate with the CAD evironment

I imported all my freeship designs into TC16 - no problem

TurboCAD is basically cheap and it works - support is ok - nothing wrong - been using it now for about 5 years

check out my website and here is the proof that all is good

http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/boat-building/manies-microcruiser-27869.html

i should be on the water by April 2010

no problem - Freeship 3.1 and TurboCAD 16 Deluxe

:D
:D
:D

[baeckmo]

Have been using "CadKey" for a looong time now. It is differing in command structure from the Autocad clones, but i feel more comfortable with it. Also, it was affordable in cost back then. Files of most formats (dxf, IGES, aso) can be imported/exported.

[frank smith]

Manie B , thank I have another go at tubocad while In checking others out .

frank

[bhnautika]

Frank have a look at designcad as it is distributed by the same company as turbocad who I think bought out designcad some years ago. It’s a great 2d drafting programme with 3d . http://www.imsidesign.com/Products/OtherProducts/DesignCADSeries/tabid/321/Default.aspx

[duluthboats]

Even free cad software requires a huge investment in time to use it right. I have seen sketchup do some cool stuff. And it is getting stronger every day. You wanted inexpensive, here it is.

http://sketchup.google.com/product/newin7.html

Gary :D

[Boston]

I wonder if any of you guys have come across anything in a reasonable price range for mac


B

[frank smith]

sketchup is cool and not to hard to learn, but I did find it limited ,
mostly in the spline department.

[frank smith]

I just looked at sketchup again . It is evolving at a good rate. when I get the time i will investigate it more . you are right that learning any cad program is time consuming , and the cheap ones can be frustrating .

[Martijn_vE]

sketchup is cool and not to hard to learn, but I did find it limited ,
mostly in the spline department.

As far as I can teel Stechup is a solid modeling tool.
Solid modeleing and free form (spline) surfaces do not mix very well.