Isaac99 Posted March 4, 2016 Share Posted March 4, 2016 hey guys and gals! Im new to this whole gig and defiantly want to start! I am slowly starting my own Business as a metal fabricator and im only 16. i have already built 2 2.4m electric driveway gates. i want to carry on making gates and plenty more things such and cray pot tippers, boat shade covers, trailers, fuel tanks, Ute tool boxes and heaps more. what sort of software is recommended and what year, like they have so many different ones and i need help haha but if anyone could help me out with couple models and even prices that would be greatly appreciated. Thanks guys and gals! Isaac Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevsmith Posted March 4, 2016 Share Posted March 4, 2016 Your biggest issue with software is going to come down to budget. I'd recommend starting off with 2D draughting software such as Draftsight. this is basically a clone of AutoCAD LT but..... It's free! If your looking to do some 3D modelling then I'd look into Autodesk Fusion 360. Ideal for start-ups. and relatively simple to use. For learning the software, this is the best place to come. On-line tutorials are also available on You-Tube. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isaac99 Posted March 4, 2016 Author Share Posted March 4, 2016 Thanks mate will be giving that a go, what sort of money are we speaking for programs like this tho?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevsmith Posted March 4, 2016 Share Posted March 4, 2016 (edited) Draftsight is free. Fusion is also free to start-ups, but if you wanted you could pay the £300 yearly subscription. On-Shape has a free version and has a few restrictions e.g. how many files you can open at one time. Subscription is around £100 p/m (£1200 Annual) https://www.3ds.com/products-services/draftsight-cad-software/ http://www.autodesk.co.uk/products/fusion-360/overview https://www.onshape.com/cad-pricing Personally, I believe it's best to go with Draftsight and Fusion 360. Edited March 4, 2016 by stevsmith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
halam Posted March 4, 2016 Share Posted March 4, 2016 FreeCAD sound a bit cheap but has great 3d features. Look at that one too. If I was to start I would also consider the' Trimble path' with Sketchup as entry. For infra works DWG AutoCAD and Civil3d is a to stay for me.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReMark Posted March 4, 2016 Share Posted March 4, 2016 I would recommend that you look at using Inventor. As a student you can download it for free from the AutoDesk website. However, if and when the time comes and you turn this into a business then you'll either have to buy the program outright or rent it on a monthly or yearly basis. Details can be found at the AutoDesk website. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
f700es Posted March 4, 2016 Share Posted March 4, 2016 I would recommend that you look at using Inventor. As a student you can download it for free from the AutoDesk website. However, if and when the time comes and you turn this into a business then you'll either have to buy the program outright or rent it on a monthly or yearly basis. Details can be found at the AutoDesk website. While correct any student can download and use Inventor he wants it for a business which is against EULA. I agree with stevsmith and would point him to Fusion 360 for startups, which he clearly is. Nothing wrong in learning Inventor but he can't use that version for his business. Sorry to nitpick on ya Remark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReMark Posted March 4, 2016 Share Posted March 4, 2016 The second sentence was supposed to be the qualifier. He could learn it as a student but once he turned pro I agree he would have to pay for it in some fashion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
f700es Posted March 4, 2016 Share Posted March 4, 2016 True but with Fusion 360 it is free until he starts to make what, $100K a year? Bargain of the year! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cadvision Posted April 12, 2016 Share Posted April 12, 2016 hey guys and gals! Im new to this whole gig and defiantly want to start! .... Issac Suggest you look at some free/cheap CAD packages first. nanoCAD is Free http://www.nanocad.com , WiseCAD very cheap and WiseCAD Mechanical may be more your thing as you seem to be taling mechanical design. Check out http://www.csoft.com and you can then select the local distributor, as I can't tell where you are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JD Mather Posted April 13, 2016 Share Posted April 13, 2016 What AutoCAD do I Get? Defiantly? OK! It is AutoCAD, not Auto Cad. AutoCAD is last century. Autodesk Inventor is current. Autodesk Fusion 360 is supposed to be the future. In any case - you will want to start now at developing a professional persona and reputation. This includes grammar, punctuation, spelling and identify products by their proper name. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobDraw Posted April 13, 2016 Share Posted April 13, 2016 In any case - you will want to start now at developing a professional persona and reputation. This includes grammar, punctuation, spelling and identify products by their proper name. ... spelling, and identifying products... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheCADnoob Posted April 13, 2016 Share Posted April 13, 2016 spelling and grammar are the devil... and are the reason i dont make more money than i do Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
f700es Posted April 13, 2016 Share Posted April 13, 2016 In my humble opinion as always. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
f700es Posted April 13, 2016 Share Posted April 13, 2016 spelling and grammar are the devil... and are the reason i dont make more money than i do I am a horrible speller. I make quite well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cad64 Posted April 13, 2016 Share Posted April 13, 2016 In my humble opinion as always. I'll second that emoticon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dadgad Posted April 14, 2016 Share Posted April 14, 2016 ... spelling, and identifying products... Hi Rob, I had noticed that too. The present participle definitely works better, should we wish to wax grammatical. Come to think of it, perhaps I should say wax grammatically? Not sure about that one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobDraw Posted April 14, 2016 Share Posted April 14, 2016 I'm no grammarian but if I were to criticize someone for their grammar in a public forum, I would make dam sure I did it properly. Otherwise, IMHO, the criticism totally loses it's validity. Just saying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevsmith Posted April 14, 2016 Share Posted April 14, 2016 Defiantly? AutoCAD is last century. If so why do you still boast about being an AutoCAD Certified Professional? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobDraw Posted April 14, 2016 Share Posted April 14, 2016 AutoCAD is last century. I didn't even catch that. I know quite a few people that started learning AutoCAD this century. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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