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Free CAD programs for the non-student.


ReMark

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There are a handful of 2D CAD programs, virtual AutoCAD clones, for non-students that are available as an alternative to AutoCAD LT. They are...

 

BabaCAD v1.3 (Bosnian)

http://www.babacad.com/index.html

It is the only freeware CAD program to be LISP enabled (announced on Nov. 14, 2013).

 

DoubleCAD XT v5.0

http://www.doublecad.com/

 

DraftSight V1R3.1 (by dessault systemes makers of Solidworks)

http://www.3ds.com/products/draftsight/download-draftsight/?xtor=SEC-6-GOO-[]-[old]-S-[draftsight]&gclid=COrGkZLH1rUCFYdT4AodRRUAOg

 

FreeCAD - An open source parametric 3D modeler

http://free-cad.sourceforge.net/

 

LibreCAD Open source for Windows, Apple & Linux

http://librecad.org/cms/home.html

 

nanoCAD 3.5 (Russian)

http://nanocad.com/

 

Students and teachers can obtain free versions of many AutoDesk programs by visiting the Educational Community at the AutoDesk website. www.autodesk.com

 

Also for students and educators there is The CAD Academy Release v.6 (which includes a program called A+ CAD) by the makers of Solidworks. Not sure it is entirely free though. http://www.thecadacademy.com/v5_news.asp

 

A short write-up about The CAD Academy can be found here: http://andyswebtools.com/cgi-bin/p/awtp-custom.cgi?d=lab-resources-inc&page=8980

 

I managed to find a copy of the A+ CAD 2010 program along with a handful of PDF files (tutorials and assignments). I'm not sure if they were meant to be freely available. Anyone interested in the program can shoot me a PM.

Edited by ReMark
Updated info on BabaCAD re: LISP
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I was using Draftsight for a while and it's good for what it is, a free 2D CAD program, but I found that I couldn't live without my lisp routines. And the lack of Express tools and 3D functionality was a problem also. So now I'm using ProgeCad and I'm really liking it. It has all the tools I need, and it allows me to use my lisp routines. And the price is very reasonable. :)

Edited by Cad64
Spelling mistakes, Ugh
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I looked at the existing thread mentioned but it does not appear to be directly related to CAD programs. However, since you included a link to it in this thread then viewers will have a number of different free programs to choose from depending on where there interests lie or what the task they have before them is. It's a win-win.

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Hi - I will be really grateful for some help choosing what to get. My family runs a steam railway on a 22 acre site and we need to take over responsibility for our site drawings from the person who has been doing them up to now. The drawings are simple 2D showing buildings and line features including the railway itself (lots of curves there), and levels (but we don't need to produce 3D topograohical drawings). We have paid our supplier a lot of money for survey work and drawings over the years and he has willingly let us have the material which has all been prepared in Autocad 2004 and supplied as .dwg files. First idea was to buy a copy of Autocad but we just can't afford it. Second idea was to bid for the copy of Autocad 2004 which is on ebay this morning but fortunately I found this forum and very quickly decided that was not a good idea! I would be most grateful for some pointers about which software might suit us best:

1. Must import .dwg files created in Autocad 2004 and let me update them

2. Must run on Windows Vista Home Basic 2007 Service Pack 2

3. Only needs to work in 2D

4. Must be able to print (usually on A3)

5. Must be able to export as .pdf

6. ideally should be quick to learn the basics

 

I am putting this on the forum for low-cost alternatives to Autocad as well - we don't mind paying something for the software.

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I'd take a look at Draftsight if I were you. I think it meets all the criteria.

 

If not then I'd look at Bricscad.

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You should see how fast I can respond after having my usual 10 cups of coffee. LoL

 

I just checked my version of Draftsight. One can open a drawing created in 2004 AutoCAD as well as save to that file format. One can also plot to the PDF file format.

 

There is also a free user's manual available for Draftsight (150+ pages) available at the same website. DS is compatible with files up to AutoCAD 2010.

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Do they have tool pallets? I tried a few of them a while back as decided they were all very similar to LT2007 but without tool palettes, and I use them a lot!

 

Luckily I don't do much at home nowadays so I just download the trial versions of full and Lt when I need to do something.

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I'll have to check, I don't think it does. Last time I used it, it still retained the AutoCAD classic look and feel. I have my laptop here today at the office so I can check.

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Draftsight

 

Palettes include the:

 

Yes, DS has Toolbars too.

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That's just the way it came across. There are no links included in my post. Sorry.

 

Is there something you want me to check for you? I have DS opened at the moment.

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Here's how it looks with [noparse][noparse]

 

 

Draftsight

 

Palettes include the:

 

 


     
  • Properties Palette. Lets you view and change drawing entity properties.
     
  • References Palette. Lists and manages drawings and images that are referenced in your drawing.
     
  • Lighting Palette. Lists and controls the lights inserted into the drawing to create realistic renderings.
     
  • Tool Matrix Palette. Lets you collect and arrange toolbars on a panel.
     

 

 

Yes, DS has Toolbars too.

 

 

It inserted [/noparse] links for some reason. Maybe WordLinks is installed?

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That's just the way it came across. There are no links included in my post. Sorry.

 

Is there something you want me to check for you? I have DS opened at the moment.

 

No, was just going to check on the palettes for him.

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