CAD Software Alternatives

I tried some of the free software suites, but was no heavy user, and did not like the learning curve on the ones I tried this year. I went back to using Excel objects.

At work ~1990-2015, I used AutoCAD^® Releases 2, 9, and 12 (employer paid);
Personally ~1995-current, I have used 3 correctly purchased/licensed AutoCAD LT^® issues. For both company and self, I have been satisfied with those.

Toward the end of my last job, the company purchased a version of TurboCAD^®. I didn't get to use it much, and it differed from AutoCAD^® enough to be a learning-curve issue. Over time, though, it would have become manageable and probably intermediate in capability between full and LT AutoCAD^®.

I haven't had any experience with DoubleCAD^®, but it is commonly mentioned as a free option.

If possible, find someone who already has whatever program of interest, and try it out. Look for learning-curve questions and compatibility with what you already know.

Yeah, AutoCAD^® and Inventor^® have been my mainstay for a very long time but I no longer have a perpetual license.

Getting ready to start evaluating:

https://www.bricsys.com/en-intl/

http://brlcad.org/

http://www.progesoft.com/

http://www.rhino3d.com/

https://www.turbocad.com/

I don't like the "rented" software model at all.

That goes for Microsoft, Autocad, Acronis, Rockwell, etc.

Last version I fully licensed was Autocad 2000i. I have been able to "patch it" to run on Windows 7. It does everything I need (mostly 2D electrical schematics and a dabbling of mechanical dwgs - and I can still use a drafting board!).

As I run into my retirement years the rent-a-software is not viable.

I do not like storing my data on the web either - it becomes ransomed - if you don't pay it disappears!

I guess so much of our personal history is going to be simply lost to the ether.

I have also Autocad 2000. Is it possible for you to let me know how to "patch it up" so that I may run it in my Windows 7 (64 bit). Thanks.

I used Longbow Software converter to patch - worked like a dream.

Bought TurboCAD 16 last year for like $250 and it's good enough to do basic 2D and 3D stuff. Tutorials were ok. Learning curve but minimal. Only issue was it wouldn't run right on my Windows10 MS Surface 3 tablet so loaded it onto my old windows 7 Viao laptop (2011) and upgraded the machine with max possible RAM chips (8MB). A bit finicky when doing detailed 3D rendering, but for line drawings, good enough to visualize 3D space etc.

Using external 32inch flat-screen monitor via HDMI helps a lot instead of the old 13" lappy screen

I use AutoCad & Inventor, the company has them on subscription. One of the universities we collaborate with uses the open source FreeCAD &, although I haven't used it myself, we have incorporated models generated in FreeCAD which seem to be as good as ones from Inventor. The university people using FreeCAD seemed to pick it up pretty quickly.

I've been a TurboCAD user for years, but, my requirements are not very sophisticated.

When I get forced into upgrading I've never spent more than about £20 / $30: I always go for a version about 2 years old and normally go for the "deluxe" version.

Here's a chart comparing the latest versions.

I have to use AutoCAD occasionally at work: to me it's the "word" of CADs: it's just not intuitive and when you use help it always tells you everything you already know, and, fails to tell you how to do something.

To be fair both TurboCAD and AutoCAD suffer from having there roots in 2D, and have never really broken away.

If it's really mainly 2D you want then the people who make TurboCAD do a free AutoCAD lite lookalike called doubleCAD.

I have played with Rhino in the long distant past: it's very intuitive for 3D stuff, mainly because it normally display four views simultaneously.

One of the advantages of FreeCAD is that it's written in Python (I've never written any software myself but I'm sure I could get to grips with it if I needed to) and is completely open source so if it doesn't do something you want you can enhance it.

When I get the time I'm going to try to migrate to FreeCAD.

I have just now tried to get into the Double Cad site, what a shemozzle.

It will not accept the email address, where the rest of the world gets in first go. It will not accept the fact that I am retired, a hobbyist, nor anything else.

Is it just because I am an Aussie.? Or is that website a load of hoo-haa.?

I only draw perhaps 2 circuits a year and make my own P.C.B's, therefore I do not need a top end program costing $hundreds. I would like a nice no nonsense program that is free, or nearly free.

I don't mind a one off payment of $20-$50 for a small prog. that does the job.

This thread is about mechanical CAD.

For schematic capture and board layout, I'd look at KiCAD and DesignSpark

http://kicad-pcb.org/

https://www.rs-online.com/designspark/pcb-software

Watch out because RS also do a mechanical CAD also called DesignSpark (which may be worth mentioning for the rest of this thread).

As a total hobbyist in these matters of 3D design, may I recommend Sketchup? A perpetual Sketchup Pro licence is $695, which I find reasonable over the years of my retirement. The learning curve seems to be a few hours.

Unfortunately the free version generates only .skp files, for which no converter exists, but the Pro version is available for a free trial.

I saw a demo a while back for Sketchup or a similar product where they "easily" converted their file to a 3D CAD model so perhaps that would be useful for you. It looks like several of the 3D CAD products will handle the conversion so Sketchup to their model files.

I too use Sketchup. Love it. There is an export extension available (free) that will allow .stl export From there you might find a 'converter". I did talk the boss into buying "SpaceClaim", which is capable of import and export of a lot of different formats. Learning curve is quite steep compared to Sketchup.

My experience has been with AutoCAD, AutoCAD inventor, Alibre and Solidworks with some starts in Sketchup and Fusion 360. All are getting more expensive and most are technically equivalent, with the exception of Sketchup, which was mostly a frustrating pain.

Everyone is going to the purchase of original copy with subscription to an annual update and support service. It's how the firms financially survive. I get really bugged with SolidWorks in that when they do an annual update, they do not allow you to save in a previous year's format, just a way to leverage and force everyone to maintain the annual subscription EVERY year.

If you do work on the side, look into AutoCAD Fusion 360. For firms doing less than $100,000 per year they have free subscriptions available. I currently use SolidWorks and have my own license, but gag at the $1,500 annual subscription fee. I'm considering jumping to Fusion 360 for my side business, which is 3D printing, CNC machining and laser cutting.

Have you looked at the free Autodesk 123 design. This is to complement the range of 3D printers they now sell.

Not yet. However, I will look. THX

I have been using TurboCAD for years. I know about the yearly costs to maintain the software. can get pricey. They offer a deluxe software which I started with. Which is fine for drawing doesn't do 3D or have all the bells and whistles that the pro does. Its offered for $149.00. You can get a 30 trial from their web site. May be able to find it cheaper at some of the office outlet stores. One had it for $99.00

Deluxe does include 3D see the chart I linked in post #7 Here's a chart

Also don't pay more than about $30 by just buying a slightly older version (they start nagging you to upgrade to the latest for about another $30 as soon as you start to use it).

I am surprised that no one has mentioned OnShape. I am just getting to know it but I am impressed with their tutorials and the fact that it is browser based so regardless of what device you have it will work as long as you have an internet connection. It also plays nicely with AutoCAD, and all the traditional CAD programs.

I spent some time recently on the same quest. I am a semiretired mechanical engineer and have used both 2D and 3D for about 25 years.

Whilst we never know what is coming along, some other things to consider, are you designing for looks(rendering and shadows) or function(do the bits miss each other).

Consider if you need design for 3D printing and laser cutting, stress analysis, rendering, assembly (including exploding and welding parts), motion, interference, bill of materials, mass and costing, producing 2D drawings from parts and assembly and the ability to effect changes through the design chain, sheet metal, animation, flow, auto-dimension and most important how many videos are out there to help.

When going through the painful learning curve start a Word or similar file for notes because you will forget after spending hours trying to get a function to work.

My circumstances have changed but I concluded Rhino was worth a second look and not excessively priced.

Tony

I have been using AutoCad for the last 20 years and have recently switched to ZWCad.

This is an AutoCad look alike at a third of the price and a multiyear license. It is available in 2D and 3D.

It can be downloaded free with limited use.

I recently looked carefully at progeCAD, a successor to IntelliCAD, and was very impressed with the large object library that came with it, although much was in European formats. You may want to look at that as an AutoCAD replacement. It reads all AutoCAD files without problems, and saves in the same. When they get imported back into AutoCAD I saw no problems with the data; but Autodesk does enjoy putting a watermark on their printed work stating that it was created with a non-Autodesk product. I wouldn't be surprised if someone knows how to delete that watermark, but I have never worried about it--it is probably there as a means of protecting Autodesk against complaints and suits should some drawing errors show up.

--JMM

Autodesk products since the 80's. AutoCAD and Inventor. I have some use of Solidworks a while back Version 10 I believe.

KI loved Autodesk Mechanical Desktop. Not in its entirety, just in the ease of creating the working drawings.

Inventor is very constrained which compared to SolidWorks people will complain about it. I liked Solid Works it seems to be fewer tasks to perform an operation.

I felt that Autodesk inventor was trying to catch up to SolidWorks in the later 90's. Didn't care for inventor too much at that time.

And I only use AutoCAD just for quick sketches.

I recall when they had a software lock I believe it was for version 2.6??? That created a near riot with its users.

Inventor did finally came to its own and understanding Inventor, it has its advantages.

I try not to bring work home... not like I used to... my home is a sanctuary... and I try to keep it that way.

But now, with AutoDesk, you don't own the software, and only lease it. Its not a problem at my company now with its contracts. And what you get, its pretty comprehensive.

I do like Autodesk Product Design Suite Ultimate and with the ability to do stress analysis realtively easily.

And a friend of my has been using Autodesk Fusion, and he loves it.

It's been about 7-8 years since I worked with Solidworks,... so it is hard to evaluate them fairly.

Hello, community

There are many CAD software available in the market and depending on the user's requirement they are availed.ActCAD is the native 2D and 3D CAD software widely used by engineers, architects, and other technical consultants. ActCAD has DWG to PDF converter, unit converter, and many productive tools. It is lightweight yet powerful software that can create, edit, modify drawings with ease. Read more

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Suzie, I'm having problems finding some CAD software that will open a drawing saved years ago as a ".CAD" extension. Will this one?

.CAD files are from a programme called BobCAD, you can download a trial version.

Here are a few options:-

1.Chief Architect

2. DraftSight

3.Microstation PowerDraft