can anyone recommend cads software

[usmc8892]

what I am looking to do is draw some bodies, and maybe some internal parts like valves, regulators, etc that I could later take to a shop and have them made for me. Can anyone recommend some CADS software that isn't too expensive.

thanks

[wjr]

AutoCad... It's free if you have the rescources...

[Pacifist_Farmer]

IF you can find it, you can get Calgari Truespace3 for free, they may have a newer version for free now but thats what I've got. I don't use it simpley cause I have access to Unigraphics at work, but I have heard good things.

[usmc8892]

thanks!

[athomas]

A lot of people use Bobcad. It lists for $1000.00 but if you talk to the salesman, it can be had for around $300.00.

Alibre Design offers a free demo that is quite nice. They list around $1000.00 as well, but if you get on their mailing list, they sell for about $500.00 on sale about every month or so.

ProgeCad offers a nice free demo and the program is only $250.00 to buy. Works a lot like Autocad.

These are a few that I know.

[MANN]

You will need to talk to the machine shop, and find out what type of software they use. This will allow you to design it, and just give them the "file". Although milling machines can use a wide variety of softwares most machinest only know how to use what they have. I have a copy of Inventor (I think microsoft makes it) we used it in school to use the milling machines. If you want a free copy pm me. It is very easy to use, and has great turtorials. If you like autocad you will probally not like this software at first, but will get used to it after a few hours ( I have had classes on both, and now understand/like both programs)

[Pacifist_Farmer]

Mann is kind of right. If you are dealing with a machine shop that is large enough to have a CAD/CAM package that native format is best, if you can afford a seat for that particular software. It has been my experience that the vast majority of job shops doing anything the size you are likely interested in ( I'm guessing 1-100 pieces) would rather have well dimensioned drawings. Exporting a solid model in any of the "universal" formats is also an option.

CNC tooling tends to run on G-Code so it doesn't really matter what software the shop has it all gets translated into code.

Then again maybe you just looking to play around and never actually have anything made, and then it doesn't matter does it.

[athomas]

You will need to talk to the machine shop, and find out what type of software they use. This will allow you to design it, and just give them the "file". Although milling machines can use a wide variety of softwares most machinest only know how to use what they have. I have a copy of Inventor (I think microsoft makes it) we used it in school to use the milling machines. If you want a free copy pm me. It is very easy to use, and has great turtorials. If you like autocad you will probally not like this software at first, but will get used to it after a few hours ( I have had classes on both, and now understand/like both programs)

Inventor is Autocad I believe. I could be wrong though. I'll bet that is a nice package.

[surfbum]

solidworks is the best
hands down, i dont know what it goes for though

[athomas]

I think Solidworks is over $5000.00. Its definately one of the best, but its not cheap.

[Pacifist_Farmer]

We use Unigraphics at work, and I am under the impression that a seat, or a license, costs approx. $20,000, with an almost $100/month upkeep fee (that is of course optional).

solidworks is the best

Solid works may in fact be much less, it is by no means the best, it completely depends on what you are doing. Back in school I thought Pro-E was the best because thats what we used, after having seen other packages I realized that Pro-E sucked for as many reasons as it excelled, the same goes for all CAD/CAM packages.

From usmc8892's first post it doesn't seem like he/she is looking to shell out that kind of dough.