Auto cad question

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I have a friend who has a water jet business. I asked her if she could cut some sheet metal for me. She said if I could submit an autocad drawing we could do it. I have never used it. Where should I get said program? Is there a simple freeware version?Miller diversion 165Miller mig 211Hypertherm pm 30Milwaukee 6230 14 inch chop sawMd 45 mag drill (RIP; fell on its head)New MD 45! Thanks to the esposa!Finally got an O/A setup
Reply:I think this is about as cheap as you will find. http://www.ebay.com/itm/IMSI-DesignC...444#vi-contentDon’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:you can download a free version of sketch up that will save drawings in autocad format.  http://www.sketchup.com/intl/en/download/gsu.htmlmiller thunderbolt 250vlincoln square wave tig 175 prolincoln idealarc mig sp250everlast tig 210EXTeverlast power plasma 50chicago electric (hf) 130 tig/90 arcchicago electric 90 amp flux wire3 sets oxy/acet
Reply:I am pretty sure you can download a 30day trial from the autocad website. If you have never used a cad program before then it will take a while to get used to it and know how to use it. How complex are the parts you wanted done? If not to complex it wouldnt take a whole lot of time to draw up.
Reply:I think the hardest part of learning Auto-Cad is weeding through all the tools. There must be a billion of them. When I started learning it, it was explained to me, to think of Auto-Cad as your tool box. Load up the tools you will need, and learn how to use just them. Here is a screen shot of the tools I use. I used Auto-Cad a lot for heavy lift plans. Attached ImagesDon’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Eliot,Probably the best free CAD program would be Draftsight.....I've been using it since it was released, great 2D program......produced by Dassault Systems, the same people that sell Solidworks.
Reply:The 'real' autoCAD program is quite expensive and way more than you need.I have used the IMSI (brand name) 2D CAD programs and liked them.Now, I design in 3D (Alibre Design 3D: Personal Edition.  $200) and let that program build the 2D drawings for me, which can be in the AutoCAD format.HOWEVER, my waterjet guy says that it doesn't always work well on curves, because a lot of CAD programs use 'a lot of very short, straight lines' to render curves...which will not form a smooth curve on the waterjet.  So, make sure your 3D manufacturer can use the drawings your program puts out.Sorry...probably didn't help much there, other than give you some more background info. -- I uploaded a picture of the 3D drawing of an arbor plate I drew quickly to demonstrate.  -- I created a .DFX (AutoCAD) file of this, but the forum does not allow us to attach them...but you would need a viewer to see it anyway).  I simulated the DXF drawing with a 'straight on' view of the 3D arbor plate. -- The last picture (blue and red) shows how many CAD programs draw an Arc or a Circle...many short lines.  This close up view is of the upper/larger circle cut out on the arbor plate.  Your CAM (Computer Aided Manufacture) is probably not going to like this.  My waterjet guy was able to tell me which files would most likely work well with his machines (AutoCAD 2007).Kev Attached ImagesKevin / Machine_Punk from The Aerodrome Studio - Lincoln PowerMIG 210 MP - Meco N Midget w/custom welding station - Vintage Victor 100Current Projects: The Aerodrome Studio
Reply:That is a very good point about the small straight lines.  I program CNC lasers and deal with this a lot. The problem is the way polylines and splines are converted.  Our CNC software used to not be able to convert them at all.  But the more recent versions have added converters, as well as tools to smooth short lines into longer arcs.  But, that's the software we're using.  Not all CNC software is created equal.Anyway...the way to avoid it is to only use arcs.  With "normal" parts this isn't usually an issue.  Artistic parts with lots of complicated curves is where the "trouble" starts.  Splines are VERY handy for making complex curves.
Reply:Whenever I used AutoCadd Lt and Cadd6 , I would have to save the file as .PLT or plot to file instead of save .DWG in order to get blue prints plotted. Would this help CNC systems?Also Elliot, I used a crib sheet placed over the F keys on the keyboard to indicate what macro each F key was for. Saved time and carpal tunnel. The macros were like ortho, snap, osnap, layer and whatever else you want or need.
Reply:Whenever I used AutoCadd Lt and Cadd6 , I would have to save the file as .PLT or plot to file instead of save .DWG in order to get blue prints plotted. Would this help CNC systems?
Reply:To Mick and the others who recommended draftsight; awesome call and thanks.  Ive been looking for a decent drafting program to work with in Linux (used to tinker with sketchup when i ran windows) and there really isnt much out there but i managed to get a copy of draftsight running.  Thanks a bunch guys!
Reply:Mick120 when downloading Draftsight software, where do you get the password. I created an account, with user name, and password, but still can't get passed the required password window to complete the download. Don’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPMick120 when downloading Draftsight software, where do you get the password. I created an account, with user name, and password, but still can't get passed the required password window to complete the download.
Reply:Yeah, story of my life! Don’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Originally Posted by Mick120Pretty sure they send you an email with the activation link......
Reply:Here is the password window that pops up. It would not allow me to take a screen shot, so I took a picture.  Attached ImagesDon’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPHere is the password window that pops up. It would not allow me to take a screen shot, so I took a picture.
Reply:Originally Posted by shortfuseEDIT:  Just noticed you are running Linux...maybe it has a different administrator setup than Windows....
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPMaybe, but that is over my head. No big deal I always have my Auto-Cad, but sometimes it's a pain to switch back to windows. Just wanted to see what this was all about, and if it worked on Linux that would be a plus.
Reply:well I just downloaded and activated Draftsite, and opened a drawing for the garage I'm building from AutoCadLT 2010.Looks good, it'll take a while to get familiar with the gui, but I have a working CAD program at home!!!!!!!Lincoln AC/DC 225/125 and WP17. 75A AC is for pipe thawing!HH 140 - new addtion 9/2012.I didn't agree, but hoped for Hope and Change.I got change for myself and my family: for the worse.This is the reality of: Barackalypse Now. Again.
Reply:I can see this building into a you tube or powerpoint tutorial.Maybe we'll need a new sub forum!Lincoln AC/DC 225/125 and WP17. 75A AC is for pipe thawing!HH 140 - new addtion 9/2012.I didn't agree, but hoped for Hope and Change.I got change for myself and my family: for the worse.This is the reality of: Barackalypse Now. Again.
Reply:Originally Posted by jtcnjI can see this building into a you tube or powerpoint tutorial.Maybe we'll need a new sub forum!
Reply:OK, I got passed the password, got it downloaded, but can't find it! Sometimes I wonder if Linux is worth it! Don’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPOK, I got passed the password, got it downloaded, but can't find it! Sometimes I wonder if Linux is worth it!
Reply:Originally Posted by Mick120After looking at the rigmarole you have to go through to get administrator priviledges, I tend to agree.....Originally Posted by shortfuseThat's why, if you don't have other folks poking around on your computer, it's much simpler to install or modify to have Admin. privileges by default.
Reply:Originally Posted by Mick120Another good reason to go with DraftSight is, they regularly hold Webinars and, there's also an online community.....not bad for free.
Reply:The first time DraftSight opened on my PC was immediately after installation.  I wondered why there was no authentication or activation.  Well, the next time I opened the program it did ask for info and proceeded to activate after clicking a link in email.   Wierd.....