Hi Folks, at the moment I'm using Autosketch, but am being moaned at by various laser / water jet cutters. Seems they much prefer 'grown up' Autocad files, although I'm 'saving as' DXF or DWG files from Autosketch anyway.
I believe that the way that Autosketch deals with the file conversion is a bit messy as far as the laser equipment is concerned.
So .... are there any alternatives to paying out mega-tastic money for full-on Auto-Cad? I gather from the cutters that the very latest versions aren't needed, so even something five or six years old might do the trick.
Any ideas / advice? Frankly I don't want to end up spending hundreds on something that will only be used now and again ....
Many thanks .
DDK Member1243 07741 273865. Now booking Spring '24. Home of the RY Austin 7 Trophy's
You could, of course, download a "slightly warm" (read illegal) copy from the internet or there used to be AutoCad LT, which was a cut-down, cheaper version of the full AutoCad program.
Or you could send a sketch to someone who has AutoCad and get them to do it for you
barry, if you're happy using autocad and it does everything you need, then something like autocad lt should be fine, however if you fancy being able to produce 3d models for 3d machining aswell as laser/water jet cutting then i'd recommend making the switch completely to something like solidworks..
it will be a bit of a culture shock initially, but once you've got used to it (prob 6-8hrs if you're used to using cad anyway) you will wonder how you ever survived before it
Have to say solidworks all the way for 3D stuff as thats what i use everyday and have done for the last 7 years. The down side is its very pricey! i.e. approx £3000 per seat plus maintenance!
Autocad does what it says on the tin and is cheap if you do go the LT route. You can also lease it i believe but forget where from.
1969 914 now crushed!!
1971 914 now sold
1973 914 now sold
1975 914 now sold
Barry, if you decide to go with Solidworks, I have a couple or tutorials that I have written which I teach my students with, happy to send them to you.
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