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Free or Cheap 2D Cad System?

Free or Cheap 2D Cad System?

Free or Cheap 2D Cad System?

(OP)
Does anyone know of a cheap(or even freeware) 2D Cad Package that has a similar front end to Autocad.  

Basically I want a small CAD package for doing layouts, sketches and possible Isometric sketches, that I can use my existing Autocad Skils on, without to much 'retraining'.

Any ideas?

Biggy

RE: Free or Cheap 2D Cad System?

You could try any of the "clearance bins" at the major retailers like Staples and Office Depot, many times they have software for sale for $10.  I've seen things like 2D and even 3D CAD programs there.

"Happy the Hare at morning for she is ignorant to the Hunter's waking thoughts."

RE: Free or Cheap 2D Cad System?

Try the TurboCAD V4 learning edition, it's a freebie and it's downloadable at http://www.imsisoft.com/free/. It was a paid for program up untill 2-3 years ago...Mike

RE: Free or Cheap 2D Cad System?

(OP)
Thanks Mike.

I've downloaded it.  It seems pretty good for free!  I've had a quick play and it has most of the functions I want.  It is a lot better than the other option I have, which is Visio.

Biggy

RE: Free or Cheap 2D Cad System?

There is also a program called VDraft (vdraft.com) that recognizes AutoCAD commands. It is also pretty decent at importing AutoCAD drawings, but you should completely explode them in AutoCAD for the best import results. You can download a demo version. A full license runs $250. It also supports API programming.

DimensionalSolutions@Core.com
While I welcome e-mail messages, please post all thread activity in these forums for the benefit of all members.

RE: Free or Cheap 2D Cad System?

I use TurboCAD for all of my professional work. Its the best CAD package for the money by a long way and the forum based support second to none.

If you upgrade to one of the later versions you will be able to read an write a varied selection of CAD file formats including dwg, dgn, iges, dwf etc. Cehck out the website www.turbocad.com.

RE: Free or Cheap 2D Cad System?

You can also try IntelliCAD.

RE: Free or Cheap 2D Cad System?

There is also Pro/Desktop Express which is also free and is downloadable.  Sorry, I don't know the address and I don't think that it has an AutoCAD sytle front end.

Don Shoebridge
Sr. Product Developement Engineer
www.geocities.com/donshoebridge

RE: Free or Cheap 2D Cad System?

Dear all,
IntelliCAD2001 does the job, an is similar than AutoCAD14 and compatible with AutoCAD 2000 but not the same.
It is free, same Icons (90%).So for the beginner you have 60% of all Cad software already learned. It is also MS office oriented, means VBA programming.Good luck with it,be happy.Jef

RE: Free or Cheap 2D Cad System?

My favorite for 2D AutoCAD work alike is Intellicad 2001 standard evaluation version from http://www.cadopia.com/products/products.asp

The "evaluation" version of Intellicad 2001 standard is an "unlimited time" evaluation, registration required.

I have used TurboCAD but the interface is different from AutoCAD and files are translated, not AutoCAD native.  Dimensions were usually garbled in translation.

Here is a link to lots of other free CAD software, 2D and 3D http://www.tenlinks.com/cad/products/free/cad.htm

RE: Free or Cheap 2D Cad System?

QCAD (I think it's available only for Linux) is a great one too. Have a look.

Abhijeet Oundhakar
Design Engineer
STUP Consultants Ltd.
Bombay, India

RE: Free or Cheap 2D Cad System?

I have a stone-age program called Windows DRAFIXcad(2D).It can transfer dwg files to autocad in single layers only,+export data to excel 2.o. If interested,I can zip it in 2 parts and send to you.give me an email address.

mooslimtj@hotmail.com

RE: Free or Cheap 2D Cad System?

QCad is the best 2D freebie I've used. Intellicad is the best all around. Either of those two will do wonders.

RE: Free or Cheap 2D Cad System?

I tried QCAD, but the DXF files it produced did not work in AutoCAD.

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