Anyone know what I could use to make up basic shop drawings
for various simple tooling?
We own Delcam Artcam and AlphaCam among others for our daily shop / business use but I am looking for something really basic and simple that I can pick-up quickly and also teach my older machinists.
My brother does most programmaming with another one of our employees. I am way too busy running the shop and working along with my machinists to take a CAD course right now.
I do use Corel Draw but mostly for basic stuff and find there is too much to it for me to be fast.
I make very good and fast quart pad drawings so I just need something basic to get stuff together on a sheet and print up in a jiffy.
Thanks!
Hugh

Autocad?
It's easy enough esp for 2D////

I bought AutoCad LT. It is pretty much the standard for most 2D drafting purposes.

Autocad light:
I'll get some info on it today.
It did cross my mind, but never really took the time to look it up, so thanks!
Hugh

I use autocad2007 for all my 2d CNC work. Its very simple once you learn. Takes a couple weeks to get the hang of it. If you do get it an you have a question just ask =).

Would any of these work?

http://www.freebyte.com/cad/cad.htm#2D3DCADSystems

What about Sketch Up?

Thanks Tyler, someday, someday I'll use AutoCad full time but for now I have my hands full as you probably saw when you came up to my small overcrowded shop <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/zombie.gif" alt="" />
I will look into the LGT version however!
So thanks!

And David, great link BTW, gave my brother a heads up on a the Delcam translator, he's looking into it right now as ArtCam is a Delcam product. We do have issues bringing in files some times.
So thanks on that one also!

Later,

Hugh

Your supposed to be a student to purchase this software but they did not ask for verification Go to JourneyED and purchase the software AS A STUDENT then it costs $150 to $379(2007 full version) as apposed to $800 to $5000.

When you draft something up on these student editions they will have a border that says "student edition", you can get rid of it though if you use the program for business. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />


Edit> It actually stated these programs are available to the general public. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

I work with autocad every workday, so I suggest to get at least the 2004 version or higher. From what I recall there wasn't a lot that changed from 04-06. And in '07 there is a few cool tricks, and some graphics. Just something to ponder. LT I thinks only reads 2000 drawings. So if you have newer drawings your S.O.L. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

I think for professional use you have to stick to the industry standard. You end up making a really nice drawing and someone needs to send it out. They say send over the CAD file and you ask "do you take "CheapyDraw version1" <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

If that's not a issue Google has free drawing program.