Thread: Free 3D CAD

Originally Posted by Rocker

Groggy,

Resolution is fine so long as you don't live in the boondocks, like Bitingmidge; here is a view of my place from Google Earth.

Rocker

Nice place, I particularly like the big shed and the pool for holding the water stones

Gidday Fellas

Well guess what program I use?

THats right Sketchup Ver5 and in my opionion is the Best program for woodworking design BAR NONE!

I drew my workBench in the thread I'm sure most of you are familiar with after a week of using this program.

Its beauty is that it is so much easier to use than CAD there is heaps of easy support to get into and it produces the goods with ease.

GEt into SketchUP...........................its presently the Best keep secret going round!

I kid you not you wont regret it

REgards Lou

wot sorta learning curve Lou??

M8 is Ssssssssssssoooooooooo easy compared to other CAD programs which take a science degree, photographic memory and 100hrs just to learn how to draw a 3d image.

You'll be drawing a coffee table within 2 Hrs EASY!

If you have MSN Messenger and want some more Goodies PM Me

REgards Lou

not a bad find there Midge, just downloaded it. the video instructions are useful too. just gotta see how to place dimensions on the models.
i'll give you a greenie for that one
cheers
tony

I am a long term Sketchup lover (I have version 5) it's ideal for quickly designing woodworking projects etc.

It can be very accurate but is not a a Turbo cad type design package but can export in various formats to that type of program.

I've used it for many things including an extremely accurate model of my house to the point that I can take measurements from the model instead of from the actual house.

In fact I initially found it a bit addictive and spent many hours modeling an assortment of objects, a prime example is the attached photo of my MP3 player, I've no idea why I did it but it's spot on (I'm a very sad case).

Cheers

Dave

Originally Posted by NewLou

................You'll be drawing a coffee table within 2 Hrs EASY!............

Just give me a pencil and paper or a scrap of ply or even a clean bit of concrete and I can be drawing plans and details in minutes . I use powered everything in the shed and avoid handtools like the plague, use a spreadsheet for calculating my cutting list costs, dishwasher for the dishes, dryer for the washing (don't even have a clothes line), a ride-on for mowing and a petrol powered blower for "raking" up leaves or cleaning out the gutters but I reckon it's hard to beat a pencil and paper for developing ideas, communicating plans or sorting out design details. I find the only (minor) drawback is when someone here asks a question that I would normally respond to with a drawing, it's too much trouble to draw it and then scan it into the 'puter.

Mick the darksider

I'll bet you've got one of those electric pencil sharpeners even Mick!

P

Originally Posted by journeyman Mick

Just give me a pencil and paper or a scrap of ply or even a clean bit of concrete and I can be drawing plans and details in minutes .

but I reckon it's hard to beat a pencil and paper for developing ideas, communicating plans or sorting out design details. I find the only (minor) drawback is when someone here asks a question that I would normally respond to with a drawing, it's too much trouble to draw it and then scan it into the 'puter.

Mick the darksider

Nooooooooooooooo.............................................
I dont wont to be a darksider, I figure they are all gay..

But I can draw up plans on a puddle of water if need be, just like Mick.

Nooooooooooooooo.......................................

Al :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

Originally Posted by bitingmidge

I'll bet you've got one of those electric pencil sharpeners even Mick!

P

Not quite, I use a propelling pencil in the office and carpenter's pencils on site or in the shed. Shaprening in the office isn't neccesary with a.5mm lead, on site it's a chisel or stanley knife with the lead being brought to a point by rubbing on the concrete. In the shed I use the linishing belt

Mick

Originally Posted by journeyman Mick

I find the only (minor) drawback is when someone here asks a question that I would normally respond to with a drawing, it's too much trouble to draw it and then scan it into the 'puter.

I find the same thing. I wonder if a tablet device would be a handy thing to use, or would it be a real PITA, having to save, attach etc - probably. Anyone comment?

thanks for the link midge, am downloading it now.

all I have to do now is wait for the rugrats to be back at school so I can get some time on the pc to learn to use it

The version I downloaded yesterday is only a trial (free version) that lasts for 8 hours. However others in the UK and the USA reckon they have downloaded a free version without a time limit.

Originally Posted by journeyman Mick

Just give me a pencil and paper or a scrap of ply or even a clean bit of concrete and I can be drawing plans and details in minutes . I use powered everything in the shed and avoid handtools like the plague, use a spreadsheet for calculating my cutting list costs, dishwasher for the dishes, dryer for the washing (don't even have a clothes line), a ride-on for mowing and a petrol powered blower for "raking" up leaves or cleaning out the gutters but I reckon it's hard to beat a pencil and paper for developing ideas, communicating plans or sorting out design details. I find the only (minor) drawback is when someone here asks a question that I would normally respond to with a drawing, it's too much trouble to draw it and then scan it into the 'puter.

Mick the darksider

Mick,

It seems to me that the free version of Sketchup might be just what you need to avoid any taint of Darkness. For drawing up quick sketches to explain a concept, Sketchup comes into its own. And you can't really complain about the price.

Rocker