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Thread: Free 3D CAD
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28th April 2006, 02:58 PM #1
Free 3D CAD
For those of you interested in this sort of thing, I stumbled across this today
http://sketchup.google.com/product_suf.html
The banner says good for woodwork!
Another step in Google's plan to rule the world I suspect, and fully compatible with Google Earth.
I wouldn't mind a review though.
cheers,
P
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28th April 2006, 03:19 PM #2Senior Member
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sketchup
I downloaded an earlier version a while ago - it has some good tutorials but, for my woodworking needs and CAD skills, I could not justify the cost. It is a computerised sketch pad in a sense and should be good for back of the envelope designers.
I will have to have a look - I still subscribe to their newsletter and the info is in their latest edition.
regards,Smithy
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28th April 2006, 03:24 PM #3Originally Posted by gpsmith
Cheers,
P (I often preach that free stuff isn't worth what you pay for it!)
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28th April 2006, 03:28 PM #4Senior Member
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dunno. I'm downloading the free version now - the older trial version had a 30 day or something licence. But the tutorials were well paced and easy to understand.
Smithy
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28th April 2006, 03:50 PM #5
Midge,
Unless it has changed, I think the free version of Sketchup is only a trial version, which you can use free for a certain number of hours (I have forgotten how many). I downloaded and tried it, but it is not a fully featured CAD program - for example, it does not do Bezier curves or splined curves; its primary purpose is for architects to draw up quick sketches of buildings, and it seems to be fine for that, but, if you buy the program, it is actually quite expensive, about $400 from memory.
I think woodworkers would be better off getting the 2D version of TurboCAD, which is quite adequate for planning most woodworking projects. I have the 3D version, but the learning curve on 3D CAD is very steep, and it is probably not worthwhile, unless you intend producing 3D diagrams for publication.
Rocker
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28th April 2006, 03:57 PM #6
Hmm; perhaps I should have gone to the url that Midge gave before sounding off. This version of Sketchup does seem to be free and unlimited. Dunno if it does all that the full Sketchup did though.
I think the crucial point is that Sketchup is basically a modelling program for architects and designers to sketch dimensionless concepts; hence it is not strong on exact dimensions, angles, and geometry like a true CAD program.
Rocker
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28th April 2006, 04:07 PM #7Senior Member
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There's a list of the differences between Sketchup Google, and Sketchup 5 on their website. None of the features that have been removed would matter for woodworking purposes (things like organic terrain modelling, some advanced export options etc). I like Sketchup but I am far from an experienced user, over at Sawmill Creek there are a bunch of Sketchup enthusiasts so anyone interested might want to pop over there for some more information.
EDIT: Oh, and Sketchup deals with dimensions perfectly well.
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28th April 2006, 05:49 PM #8
Google SketchUp
Thanks for the tipoff Midge.
I have been carefully using my eight free hours to practice and now its free! Slight catch for me though, Mac version is not ready yet.
I think SketchUp could be quite usefull for drawing up woodwork projects.
I use the Movie Add-On in Google Earth Pro on a PC here at work (Architects) and being able to insert a 3D model will be fantastic. I'm assuming it will work with the Movie Option?
Thanks again for the link....
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28th April 2006, 05:54 PM #9Originally Posted by Graham Sands
Mind you, MidgeCad Pro Lite has served me well all these years, and it would appear you are a (slightly) older dog than I, so maybe there is a new trick round the corner.
(Leave the smart replies for tomorrow Rocker! )
Cheers,
P
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28th April 2006, 05:58 PM #10
This is really cool. I downloaded the package, drew up a design, loaded up giggle earth, span the globe clockwise 3 times to get 3 days into the future then zoomed into the workshop - pity about the cruddy resolution or I would have been able to see what the model would look like in real life next week.
I figure they keep the resolution down so you can't read the newspapers and get the winning lotto numbers.
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28th April 2006, 06:01 PM #11
Yes Rocker, behave. Everyone else has open slather it seems. No not the orange room I meant an opportunity to tease Midge.
eh?
oh sorry I'll go and take my medicine now.Cheers
Jim
"I see dumb peope!"
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28th April 2006, 06:05 PM #12
Groggy,
Get Google Earth Pro (unfortunately $200US).
With the extra resolution you won't need to build it?
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28th April 2006, 06:36 PM #13
Midge,
If only you didn't have an obsolete Mac you would be able to partition your disk and use Windows on one part and OS X on the other; then you would be able to use Google Earth, Google Sketchup, TurboCad, and all sorts of other goodies that you are presently excluded from
Rocker
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28th April 2006, 06:44 PM #14
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28th April 2006, 06:56 PM #15Originally Posted by Rocker
Turbocad Mac
GoogleEarth Mac
Sketchup Mac Oh alright! Sketchup is coming soon (I guess they want to iron the bugs out before running it on the Rolls Royce!)
Cheers,
P
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