Need CAD. 2D will do.

Don,

Not a recommendation but a powerful CAD program for the price ($29);

www.amazon.com/.../ref=sr_1_1

I've been trying to come to grips with it on my Mac (I was a TurboCad user on PC); for me, a steep learning curve - more AutoCad like than I'm familiar with. Just a thought.

Don't know what the prices are like you side, but I would have a look at TurboCAD.

I was looking for some straightforward 2D CAD software, without too much of a learning curve & tried several free, less & more expensive programs & ended up going down the TurboCAD route. It has a few foibles like any software, but it's quite quick to get used to, I like it & use it to do line drawings like;

Doublecad XT is just like Autocad LT and its free.

Bill

Bick

Don,

Not a recommendation but a powerful CAD program for the price ($29);

www.amazon.com/.../ref=sr_1_1

I've been trying to come to grips with it on my Mac (I was a TurboCad user on PC); for me, a steep learning curve - more AutoCad like than I'm familiar with. Just a thought.

Wow, at that price I'll take a flyer and try it.  I use Corel's photo editing program and am fairly satisfied with it (although every version seems to have bugs).  Turbo CAD seems to be running about a hundred bucks and up, depending on the version.  Anyway, I did order that from Amazon.

Don,

Hope you enjoy it. I'm a TurboCAD believer (started with free Ver 4) but when I went to Mac discovered that TurboCad MAC is NOTHING like the PC version. Anyway, I've found CorelCad to be nice on the Mac but so different from TurboCAD that it's a steep learning curve for me. There are a number of CorelCAD tutorials on YouTube and worth checking out. Let us hear how you like it.

Why buy one when you can get it for free

Bill

I have downloaded a few free packages- have yet to find one that does the job.  Biggest problem is lack of a decent manual.  Most of the free ones seem to be for designing houses.

Don Stauffer

I have downloaded a few free packages- have yet to find one that does the job.  Biggest problem is lack of a decent manual.  Most of the free ones seem to be for designing houses.

Doublecad is exactly like Autocad LT and it has a good manual. You wont be dissapointed at all. Give it a try you have nothing to loose.

Bill

wjbwjb29

Doublecad is exactly like Autocad LT and it has a good manual. You wont be dissapointed at all. Give it a try you have nothing to loose.

Bill

Seems to be going for $500!  Too rich for my blood!

There ios a free version thats very good.

www.doublecad.com/.../DoubleCAD-XT-v5

depending on what you're doing VISIO might work. i know it isn't a CAD program but i have used it for 10 years doing P&ID drawings, cutaways of refinery components and 1/192 PE railings.

I am trying to make a grating pattern, to make a decal from, so a step and repeat at an accurate dimensional spacing is critical.

MikeyBugs95

So I guess you tried getting the Student versions of AutoCAD and subproducts? They're free and have all the features of the "non-student" versions.

How do you get student versions?  Don't you have to be enrolled in a school?  If it is a free downloadable version, does it last or is it a short term trial?

Don Stauffer

I am trying to make a grating pattern, to make a decal from, so a step and repeat at an accurate dimensional spacing is critical.

Don, when you say grating do you mean equal and precisely spaced horizontal and vertical lines like above? If yes, I can tell you how to do it in CorelCAD using step and repeat.

The offset comand in autocad LT or Dublecad Xt will do that easily

Bill

The only thing free and not a short trial was the AutoCAD 360, a cloud-based version. I am trying that, but need to find a basic tutorial.

Bill: It's the offset command (or tool/your choice) in CorelCAD as well.

DELETED - LINKS DIDN'T WORK

Sorry - I tried to post a link to a free and legal version of TurboCad but it seems to have been removed.

I have full blow AutoCAD for work on my laptop but I haven't used anything else as far as cheaper CADs.  We only use Autodesk Programs such as Revit, Autocad, Inventor, and such.   I hear turbocad isn't bad though.