Still looking for a good drafting companion for Sketchup...
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Dear All,
A listing of available cheap or free CAD software
Regards,
Bob -
xrox1, My current 3d drafting system is no longer supported, but because it included a C like "user programming language", I was able to write all of my own document management, and Architectural drafting utilities. Down side for me is no multi core support, sophisticated file locking, v12 dxf, bim, and high end graphics (but that's OK for 2d drafting).
So, while I too am looking for a updated CAD drafting program, because of my document management system, and the steep learning curve for a new program, I will stick (am stuck) with what I have.
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@watkins said:
A listing of available cheap or free CAD software
Yessss.... it's also got my rather embarrassing (and overly enthusiastic) entry for ViaCAD in there too!
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Vectorworks is the best I know off.
I worked with Vectorworks for at least 15 years and for construction drawings its simply the best.It also has a good 3D functionality, you might even consider to not even use SU any more.
But Vectorworks can read Sketchup files and use it for further 3D modeling or 2D drafting. Vectorworks has a classes and layer structure that is very handy for organizing files.
Its a very advanced package.
Francois -
you should maybe reconsider your workflow, especially if you need exact and produceable data for product design... exporting tons of triangulated facettes to a NURBS based 3D modeler instead of doing the stuff right there appears, at least to me, rather... suboptimal.
[flash=320,240:3at2n5bg]http://www.cadsoftsolutions.co.uk/software/shark/shark_fx/gallery/files/slideshow.swf[/flash:3at2n5bg]
(exact, editable NURBS faces & volumes)sure, the learning curve is - because of the extended functionality - a little bit steeper, but c'mon, you're claiming to be a professional not a 'mesh editor'
hth,
Norbert -
@dedmin said:
Yes, Alibre and SketchUP are awesome combination. Export from Alibre into .skp is excellent
Is there any way to go from Sketchup to Alibre? I bought Alibre back when the $97 promo first came out, and have yet to use it
if I could import SU into Alibre, I may get my money out of it... -
I'm going to mention MicroSpot's MacDraft and PCDraft again.
I've picked MacDraft up once more (after also scouting around for a decent 2D draughting application) and it's working really well with SketchUp too. Works on both Mac and Windows, which is always a good thing.
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i didn't think of this till now but you could also try Edrawings. http://edrawings.geometricglobal.com/Downloads/eDrawings+for+SketchUp/index.aspx
i've used it with solidworks and its pretty good. it even allows for collaboration between you and your client. (markup etc...) -
@xrok1 said:
i didn't think of this till now but you could also try Edrawings.
eDrawings is pretty useless as a drafting tool, as it really is just an advanced viewer for those who don't own Solidworks. It really isn't worth considering at all, imho.
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for solidworks? did you check my link?
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That's a "publish, share and collaboration" tooland if the same as what I tried earlier, it is not really for drafting but for viewing and talking about ready models.
Unfortunately Windows only and even though they have a web based viewer, too, you could not see it from other platforms and even in Windows, only Internet Explorer.
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drfabinex
I'd be interested to see an example of one of the files that you have worked with as I have had some pretty big projects in Doublecad and have experienced very few problems. The only annoying thing for me is the jerky realtime pan, a real pain when your dealing with a big file. Since leaving an AutoCAD based job 3 years ago, I think I've experimented with just about every free CAD program out there. ProgeCAD Smart (for non commercial use - I now work for a charity so not a problem for me) and DoubleCAD are the best that I've found. I have to say I'm surprised that people have recommended Solid Edge as although I liked the interface, I found it to be quite unstable.
I think Doublecad is the only free cad app out there that can open skp.
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@xrok1 said:
for solidworks? did you check my link?
Yes, I did check your link.
edit, and I wholeheartedly agree with Gaieus too. eDrawings really isn't a draughting application- unfortunately.
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@tfdesign said:
I've picked MacDraft up once more (after also scouting around for a decent 2D draughting application) and it's working really well with SketchUp too.
• SU import?
• 3D/OpenGL?
• section cuts for creating shop drawings?
• common 3D CAD data exchange formats?
• speed of high poly DXF/DWG files?
• U$ ~300.-huh
Norb. -
@sketch3d.de said:
• SU import?
• 3D/OpenGL?
• section cuts for creating shop drawings?
• common 3D CAD data exchange formats?
• speed of high poly DXF/DWG files?
• U$ ~300.-huh
Norb.
Look Norbski, you know, if you want a decent package, you pays your money, and you buy Revit, Vectorworks, Solidworks or whatever. If you are on a serious budget, there is very little out there that will do all these things, and cost you nothing. The problem you have dude, is that you've obviously been bitten too hard by that damn Shark
MacDraft will do me fine, until I can afford PowerCADD 8 that is.
And, if you want to release any more passive aggression, moan at Tim for once- after all, you do sell his big stinking fish collection. -
@tfdesign said:
And, if you want to release any more passive aggression, moan at Tim for once- after all, you do sell his big stinking fish collection.
your inappropriate speech speeks for yourself... additionally
Norb.
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First of all, sorry SCF for the OT.
What do you mean by "inappropriate"? If I buy something that promises to do something on the box, then, I expect it to work, or at least live up to what it promises, otherwise, it is fraud! Correct?
So, if you bought a stereo from a hi-fi dealer, and only one channel was working, you would return it to the dealer, wouldn't you? If the dealer refused to reimburse you, but promised that the part that was on order was going to fix it, you would wait a couple of months before you blew the whistle, after you had received (or not received as in the case with Tim) and reported the company to trading standards (and the police- probably).
So why is software any different? Especially when it costs way over £1000?? At the moment it seems that there is no way that if a product says its going to do something, and it doesn't, then that is dishonest behaviour. Shark is still riddled with silly little 'barnacles' (if you like?), and although these are (or so I am told) being slowly eradicated, but no one tells you that until you've bought the product. But despite this, new functions, which are bringing newer bugs are being added- which, in my mind, is a crazy (and dare I say it, dishonest) business model. Fine (perhaps?), if you are a big corporate company with lots of money to burn, but as a sole trader with a very limited and tight budget, I cannot even consider buying this package. This is a great shame, because the box says this....and that.....and this.....
Norbert, you can continue to bury your head in the sand, but that won't stop the problem from coming back, and back even still, to haunt you.
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I use TurboCAD 16. I now see that the upgrade to TurboCAD 17 has some new features. One of which is the following:
"IMPROVED .SKP (Google SketchUp) Filter – Import filter now brings in circles and arcs as those entity types."
Which in my case will be of great help. The new version is to be out by March 31.
Ken
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Ken, the new TurboCAD 17 (out today) does have .skp file improvements and much better COLLADA export (including instances), but the circles and arcs still aren't where they should be and that language shouldn't have been in the released marketing info. Sorry about that. (Could you send me a PM to let me know where you saw that info and I'll see if I can get rid of it!)
But TurboCAD Pro 17 does include a new drawing engine that we've seen provides up to 60x faster wireframe and 2D screen draws (and beyond in some cases).
Another thing that slipped into the release is a bit of beta functionality for reading and converting .skp Dynamic Components. Not all DCs are supported, only certain types and functions, but those that do remain parametric in TurboCAD.
This shouls also make it into a future version of DoubleCAD, but Linea, you mentioned jerky redraws, and if you go into the DoubleCAD's options and select Flicker Free redraw you'll find it smoother and in most cases faster (I don't know why it isn't the default).
-- William
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