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Need better CAD

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  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Need better CAD
Posted by Don Stauffer on Thursday, June 9, 2016 9:28 AM

I am trying to draw up plans for a scratch-build of a PT-22.  I find I need a better CAD than what I have.

I used to use a low cost program called Autosketch, by Autodesk.  But the old edition of it will not work on Win 7 or Win 10.  And they have really raised the price of a new Autosketch by a big amount that I can no longer afford.  I bought a copy of TurboCAD, but it is not doing the job.

One of the features Autosketch had, but TurboCAD lacks, is the ability to have a raster scan image in a layer.  This allows you to trace a jpg 3-view, by placing the vector drawing layer over a raster layer with the imported 3-view.  It is many hours of labor to manually measure enough points to reproduce the 3-view.

Any suggestions of a cheap CAD program that allows importing of jpgs and other rasters?

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

  • Member since
    June 2016
Posted by Petercheeks on Thursday, June 9, 2016 5:52 PM

I recommend Autodesk Fusion 360. It's free and has all the features you're looking for and more. It's a complicated beast but a few hours on youtube and you'll be ok. 

  • Member since
    June 2007
Posted by jrb53 on Thursday, June 9, 2016 9:02 PM

Cheap CAD? isn't that an oxymoron?Smile

I've been working CAD for many years and the prices are getting absurd, especially since going to subscriptions.  TurboCAD Pro will do your job , but for another couple hundred bucks!  Personally Don, I would think about using one of your old computers to install XP, load Autosketch, and have a dedicated workstation for your drafting. Otherwise, you may check out the link below.  It's rather long, but the participants were able to successfully create a "virtual PC" section on their hard-drive that runs Autosketch 2.1.  In either case, good luck with the PT-22.

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-windows_programs/how-to-install-autosketch-21-under-win-7-xp-mode/de8cbaba-cc66-e011-8dfc-68b599b31bf5?db=5

 

Jack

  • Member since
    April 2004
  • From: UK
Posted by Jon_a_its on Friday, June 10, 2016 4:29 AM

2 options suggest themselves:

MS do a Virtualised version of XP that doesn't need VM ware installed:

Should be here: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=8002

 

You need a 500MB + free & make sure your targe pc meets the Min requirements especially the OS version, & more RAM is better!

 

I've used this to run 2 Canon model 20 & 25 USB TWAIN scanners that would not work with Win7 enterprise.

Clunky with data transfers, but it does work.

In the end I got my 74yo dad a Win8 certified Canon printer/scanner box, as the 'pfaff with the VM XP + scanner was beyond him,

And I got a win7/8 certified Canon 35 (or 55 can't remember) NOT-TWAIN USB scanner as it was 3 times faster than the model 20 & 25!

 

2nd option: Dassult Systemes (who also do Solidworks) have a free version of Draftsight here:

http://www.3ds.com/products-services/draftsight-cad-software/free-download/

 

Caveats: Draftsight was recommended to me by a pro AutoCAD-er as very AutoCAD like, I've downloaded it, but NOT Installed it yet.

 

I also got Sketchup PRO, AutoCAD 2016, RHINO & Solidworks at work (I'm a IT Tech for a University) but am only paddling in the shallow end with these, lol.

 

I'm told AutoCAD have a student/free edn of AutoCAD, but this may depend on having a validated student/educational email, so you may have to sign up to Adult Ed, or why not as an educator?

East Mids Model Club 32nd Annual Show 2nd April 2023

 http://www.eastmidsmodelclub.co.uk/

Don't feed the CM!

 

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Friday, June 10, 2016 9:15 AM

Thanks, guys.

I do have an older computer in the basement near my workshop.  I booted it up yesterday and Autosketch still runs.  It is far from my den (2nd floor), where all my reference material is.  But I am having so much problems with TurboCAD I think maybe using that old computer may be my best way out of the problem.  Now I have to learn how to print spool :-)

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

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