Recommendations for Drafting Program

[RST Engineering \(jw\)]

I have been teaching a basic fabrication class (making chassis boxes from
sheet aluminum, pc boards from scratch, and the like) for a while now to
freshman electronics students.

For the working drawings part of the class for the boxes, I've been using
elementary Autosketch for about ten years. The point is not to teach CAD
drafting to the students (they get a full semester of it later in the
curriculum) but to introduce CAD as a reasonable alternative to paper and
straightedge. The bottom line is that I need a bonehead simple drafting
package that doesn't take but a few hours to grasp the basics to draw lines
and circles.

The problem is that Autosketch has become an orphan; Autocad has stopped
supporting it and is not going to fix the bugs that are there.

Can anybody recommend a BONEHEAD SIMPLE drafting package that won't cost the
student an arm and a leg to buy? Perhaps one that has a pared-down student
version for a few dimes? Somebody at school recommended Turbocad -- any
comments on that package? The one reason I'm holding on to Traxmaker and
Circuitmaker for PCB layout is that there IS a downloadable student version
for free.


Jim

 

[Steve]

Can anybody recommend a BONEHEAD SIMPLE drafting package
that won't cost the student an arm and a leg to buy?

How about QCad? <http://www.ribbonsoft.com/qcad.html>.

 

[John Popelish]

RST Engineering (jw) wrote:
(snip)

Can anybody recommend a BONEHEAD SIMPLE drafting package that won't cost the
student an arm and a leg to buy? Perhaps one that has a pared-down student
version for a few dimes? Somebody at school recommended Turbocad -- any
comments on that package? The one reason I'm holding on to Traxmaker and
Circuitmaker for PCB layout is that there IS a downloadable student version
for free.

I have several versions of Turbocad and don't particularly like any of
them.

My very favorite bonehead simple general purpose drafting program is
Draft Choice for Windows, available as shareware, and for a few bucks
you can but a copy for $39, and get a manual. It is no longer
supported, but works quite well (it is an enhancement of the original
DOS version), and has all the features I need for hundreds of small
jobs. It is also the most intuitive drafting program I have ever
used. Every positive decision you can make is made with the left
mouse button (add another item to the selected list, draw another line
segment, yes, more, do) and every negative decision you can make is
made with the right mouse button (I'm done selecting, back up a menu
level, cancel, etc.).

You can build your own symbol libraries (this is a good exercise for
students, all by itself) and my only gripe about the symbols is that
they cannot have predefined test fields, but are saved exactly as they
will appear. But you can make new symbols from existing ones, bust
symbols up and delete parts, and create a new symbol based on an
earlier version of the same symbol.

The files are also very compact and easy to email between users. It
is a simple introduction to CAD that will spoil you.
http://www.triusinc.com/dcwin.htm

 

[Rich Webb]

On Sun, 9 Oct 2005 09:58:45 -0700, "RST Engineering \(jw\)"

[snip...snip...]

Can anybody recommend a BONEHEAD SIMPLE drafting package that won't cost the
student an arm and a leg to buy? Perhaps one that has a pared-down student
version for a few dimes? Somebody at school recommended Turbocad -- any
comments on that package? The one reason I'm holding on to Traxmaker and
Circuitmaker for PCB layout is that there IS a downloadable student version
for free.

Try searching on "CAD" over at sourceforge.net. Quite a few offerings.
For my own, I've been using Intellicad, an inexpensive (relatively so)
work-alike of AutoCAD.

 

[Martin Riddle]

Intellicad, ~$250 for a full package. 2D with lisp and an Autocad like menu.

Cheers

 

[Ken Smith]

How about QCad? <http://www.ribbonsoft.com/qcad.html>.

I'll second the motion on Qcad.

Warn the studends that its user interface is not like most windows
progams.

If you are trying to figure it ou, it makes the most sense if you say
to yourself what you want to do. Example: Move that thing from here to
there. (1) Select the "Move" item in the modify menu. (2) Select what
you want to move. (3) Select what you consider to be where it is. (4)
Indicate where you want it to go.


QCad does handle very large (truely huge if you wait long enough) DXF
files. It sticks closely to the DXF quasi-standard.

 

[JeffM]

The problem is that Autosketch has become an orphan

Can anybody recommend a BONEHEAD SIMPLE drafting package
that won't cost the student an arm and a leg to buy?
Jim RST Engineering (jw)

A previous thread on this:
http://groups.google.com/group/sci....D+Turbo-CAD+ProCAD+QuickCad+DesignCad-express

 

[cpemma]

RST Engineering (jw) wrote:
The one reason

I'm holding on to Traxmaker and Circuitmaker for PCB layout is that
there IS a downloadable student version for free.

Better keep your copy safe, looks like CircuitMaker (both Student and 2000)
and www.microde.com is no more.

"CircuitMaker is no longer sold or supported by phone or email by Altium.
For information regarding Altium's current products for complete electronic
product development, visit www.altium.com. "

Let's hope somebody can (legitimately) host a copy of the free Student
version, I've found it very useful.