Cad software - Non-Autocad copies?

[Lurvio]

Hi

I thought I'll pick you all good folks brains a little and ask about cad software. The point is, I don't like autocad (or it's copies), it lacks some basic tools I've come to like in a variant of Alphacam I used at school (actually still use, it's on a long loan from the school ). The problem is, it doesn't work in windows 7 that I have on my new computer. The version of alphacam is from either 1997 or 2001, not sure which.

So to the question, anyone know of a software that is not overly expensive (not over 200 €), better yet freeware.

The features I miss in the software I've tested (draftsight, brickscad etc.):
¤ joining of any line that has their ends close enough, draftsight for example did not let me group/join together a square with rounded corners after it was exploded.

¤ multicopy, linecopy, alphacam has a feature in which you can select an object, give the program the distance between original and first copy and how many of them you want end to end.

¤ rotate with options, a while back I had to draw a sprocket with 65 teeth. in alphacam I drew one tooth, then rotated it with a value '360/65' and 65 copies (incl. the orig). (360/65 = 5.538461538... btw)

Alphacam is by no means perfect, for example it has limited lineweight options, no support for exporting pdf etc. but it makes up for them in the ease of drawing simple things like work drawings of machine parts that i do a lot. Also it is possible that Autocad (and some of its copies) might have some/all of the tools listed above, I just have yet to find such software. And Autocad is way too expensive for me.

It should be said that I have quoted a local supplier for a new alphacam, but I fear the price will be high, I'll know in a week.

Any proposals for an easy to use software with at least some of the above functionality are greatly appreciated. AlphaCam is designed to work as an input software for various cnc-machines so that field of software might be what I'm looking for.

Thanks
Lurvio

[bhnautika]

Lurvio have a look at DesignCAD 3d max v20 http://www.imsidesign.com/Products/O...1/Default.aspx it been around along time has a good tool set at a good price.

[Adler]

Originally Posted by Lurvio

Hi

I thought I'll pick you all good folks brains a little and ask about cad software. The point is, I don't like autocad (or it's copies), it lacks some basic tools I've come to like in a variant of Alphacam I used at school (actually still use, it's on a long loan from the school ). The problem is, it doesn't work in windows 7 that I have on my new computer. The version of alphacam is from either 1997 or 2001, not sure which.

So to the question, anyone know of a software that is not overly expensive (not over 200 €), better yet freeware.

The features I miss in the software I've tested (draftsight, brickscad etc.):
¤ joining of any line that has their ends close enough, draftsight for example did not let me group/join together a square with rounded corners after it was exploded.

¤ multicopy, linecopy, alphacam has a feature in which you can select an object, give the program the distance between original and first copy and how many of them you want end to end.

¤ rotate with options, a while back I had to draw a sprocket with 65 teeth. in alphacam I drew one tooth, then rotated it with a value '360/65' and 65 copies (incl. the orig). (360/65 = 5.538461538... btw)

Alphacam is by no means perfect, for example it has limited lineweight options, no support for exporting pdf etc. but it makes up for them in the ease of drawing simple things like work drawings of machine parts that i do a lot. Also it is possible that Autocad (and some of its copies) might have some/all of the tools listed above, I just have yet to find such software. And Autocad is way too expensive for me.

It should be said that I have quoted a local supplier for a new alphacam, but I fear the price will be high, I'll know in a week.

Any proposals for an easy to use software with at least some of the above functionality are greatly appreciated. AlphaCam is designed to work as an input software for various cnc-machines so that field of software might be what I'm looking for.

Thanks
Lurvio

Dear Lurvio,

Take a look there.....
http://www.tflex.com/student/download.htm

[Lurvio]

bhnautika & Adler

Thank You for the links.

Unfortunately neither software could really be called simple to use (at least in basic settings). I should have also specified, I'm mainly looking for a 2D cad. DesignCAD has a simpler 2D version, but there is no trial version available so I don't know how it behaves.

Tomorrow I'll post a set of images (screenshots) of drawing with AlphaCam, so you all get an idea how it works.

Thanks
Lurvio

[liki]

I bought the 3D version of ViaCAD Pro for 99 USD which was not a bad value at all. Although it seems to lack some "professional" features and keyboard input for some values, it is quite simple to use. This also means that there are some drawbacks, some features are quite "hidden", like a layer list and it took some time to figure out how splines are modified etc.

For 2D work I'd pick the TurboCAD which sells for 39 USD iirc and is also available for mac. The ViaCAD also sells as a mac version.

[bhnautika]

Lurvio you could try the trial version of designcad 3d max as the original software started as a 2d program and has a tool button that turns it back into the 2d drafting program.

[Lurvio]

Hello

Here is the image series I promised, Zip-file (48 png pics, 2,1Mb)

I've been testing the two programs a little further, and was actually able to draw a sprocket (the same as in the image series from alphacam) in both programs. I still think both (designcad and t-flex) could have been made more intuitive. Not really a good thing if you have to consult the manual to draw a line or a circle.

bhnautika
I did just that today, and will keep testing. The 2D version seems to be available (just not as a trial) for 49 USD.

Liki
Thank you, I'll try to get my hands on both of those for testing.


Again thank you guys, I'll keep testing.
Lurvio

[Lurvio]

Well, the quote for a new AlphaCAM CAD came in, 1000€+VAT (value added tax, 23%). That is the bare bones version, the complete CAM set (similar to what I have in use), costs a whopping 16 000€+VAT.

Quess I'll keep searching for alternatives.

Lurvio

[bhnautika]

Lurvio sorry to see your upgrade is so much, I hope you find an alternative. Sometimes though intuitiveness comes with practice.

[Lurvio]

bhnautika

I kind of quessed the price might be high, so no worries. I still have the option to install win xp as dualboot, and install the old alpha there (deskey did not work correctly in a virtual engine - vmware). But I would also like to finally return the cd and deskey to their owner, so a new software needed anyway.

Now, having tested TurboCad, I think it has serious potential. Deluxe version costs 130$ so that isn't too bad. I'll install ViaCad next and see what it does.

Thanks guys.
Lurvio

[Lurvio]

Well, I did a brief testrun with viacad, and it too seems to work somewhat easily, once you realize how the tool menu works. The 2D version costs 40$ so it's the cheapest of the not free programs so far. One thing I do not like: For so friggin' reason the program changes my theme in Windows 7 and that is something a program should never do. In test is older version 6 so hopefully the current version 7 does not have such problems.

I've been drawing the same 17 tooth ½'' chain sprocket with all programs tested so far, but I think I'll have to extend the testing a bit. Like importing some earlier drawings and see what can be done with them.

Gotta get some shuteye, bye.
Lurvio

[adt2]

See www.3ds.com/DraftSight. It's free and very similar to AutoCAD. Made by the same folks who make SolidWorks and Catia.

I've been posting some DraftSight+Rhino how-to's here if you're interested.

[Lurvio]

adt2
Thank you. I tried it earlier and did not like it.

Lurvio

[CGN]

You may not like the interface but i think is worth a try, have a look at this software:

http://www.punchcad.com/p-7-viacad-2d-v7.aspx

http://www.punchcad.com/p-6-viacad-2d3d.aspx