TerryRFC

Hello everyone,

In a previous post I made it became apparent that having some software to create diagrams of the stuff I want to make would help.

Can anyone suggest some good drafting/CAD software to use for simple wood projects?

Thanks,

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Terry L. Pinotti
Mpls, MN

Slow and easy does it.

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karateed

Hi TerryRFC,

There are 2 that I know of: If you want to do 2D stuff, you can use Paint.net, for 3D drawings Google Sketchup. Both are free and both are on the net.

Ed......:-)

curiousgeorge

Hi, Terry. I highly recomend Google Sketchup. There is a learning curve, as with any software, but you can see your project in 3-D or 2-D and draw the project to scale with the correct measurements. As Ed pointed out... it's free.
Example attached:

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George

PLEASE! PLEASE! Fill in your first name and location in your profile. I like to know who you are and where you are from. If you don't want me to know who you are, then I don't want to talk to you.

jjciesla

Hi Terry,
Although it's not freeand not 3D I've been using MS VISIO for the past few years. I also have AutoCad and AutoCad Lite but these are kind of expensive.
Jim

karateed

Hi Terry,

Just an example I drew in an hour or so using Sketchup (it's absolutely my favourite though I have used paint.net at work for a simple drawing in 2D.......

One picture is the reality, the other from Sketchup.....

Once you know Sketchup, you'll never turn back and it's very fast to use once you know a few of it's tricks.

Ed......

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TerryRFC

Thanks for the input. I will take a look at Google Sketch up. I think there is a free version and an upgrade that costs a few bucks. I have no problem paying for the software. What I do have a problem with is that it don't work worth beans once you climb the learning curve.

Thanks again

__________________
Terry L. Pinotti
Mpls, MN

Slow and easy does it.

bobj3

Hi Ed

Nice job on the Sketchup

BUT what is this ☺▼
Time to get a trap

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__________________
PodCast videos
RWS on YouTube

http://www.routerforums.com/86898-post1.html
Besure and click on the Up Arrow key ▲ on the Youtube video, you can select other youtube videos on router tables
http://www.woodworkingonline.com/?s=dovetail
Machine Cut ▼
http://www.woodworkingonline.com/200...cut-dovetails/

http://www.woodworkingonline.com/woo...podcast-store/

http://www.woodshopdemos.com/menu2.htm

Bob J.

Hamlin

Hi Terry,

Try wings3d, it's free, it does have a "learning curve" but, don't they all?

__________________
Ken

"A VETERAN"
"Whether active duty, retired, national guard or reserve - is someone who, at one point in their life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America", for an amount of "up to and including my life". That is HONOR, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it." -Author Unknown

karateed

Hi BJ,

OK, you caught me....I have a bunch of really old equipment and am just waiting to find a proper method of disposal before it goes to never never land.....I'm trying to do the environmentally responsible thing. So far as I can figure, I may have to put it in my car and drive it into Vancouver where I work, an hour away....sigh....

Ed......:-)

bobj3

Hi Ed

Thanks for the feed back,, I take the old ones I some times come up with to GoodWill /ARK outlets/Thrift Stores I'm not sure if you have one around your town but most do, if they don't sale them they have a hook up with a PC recycle , at one time they pulled the gold/silver out of them but now it's pc chips that get them the real money out of them..that and the plastic they grind up into chips and recycle....

Just a note*** I know you may know this but just in case,,, NO format program will clean the HD off, the only safe way to get rid of a PC with a HD is to drill a hole in the HD....most forget about the command UNFORMAT ...and because the PC you have are the old type that command will work on them...
At one time I used a program called KILL Disk,, and it was the best one for the job I could find and a buddy said watch this,,,and he pulled the data backup...so now I use a drill, if it can't spin you can't read it..

JUst a small 1/8" hole will do the trick...right down from the top side of the HD...

=========

__________________
PodCast videos
RWS on YouTube

http://www.routerforums.com/86898-post1.html
Besure and click on the Up Arrow key ▲ on the Youtube video, you can select other youtube videos on router tables
http://www.woodworkingonline.com/?s=dovetail
Machine Cut ▼
http://www.woodworkingonline.com/200...cut-dovetails/

http://www.woodworkingonline.com/woo...podcast-store/

http://www.woodshopdemos.com/menu2.htm

Bob J.