Thread: Workshop type computer programs that you use

I bought Web Machinist, he had a supposed special on Ebay for $30, I offered him $25 just for the download without the CD being sent and he accepted it.

WebMachinist.Net The Ultimate Online Source for Machinist Related Stuff!

Good software, there is a Demo version on the Website.

I use shop calc. Free and does everything i want.
ShopCalc

Ew

I refuse to have another computer (laptop or desktop) (smart phone and machinist calculator excluded) in the house, premises, yard, shed, garage, block or what ever.

Kids (3) have a desktop and laptop....EACH, with swmbo running a laptop and tablet...and my desktop...enough is enough!!!

I run Auto-cad 2000 and Auto-cad Inventor, not used this one for about 5 years though.
Kryn

Josh does pretty much every thing in Solidworks and I just watch and make suggestions about the design..

A few jobs that can be done on the mini cnc mill, use SolidCam and EMC2

Ray

For 2D drawing I use Solid Edge 2D Free...

I find it easy to use, but you have to get a free licence from Siemens which you just fill in the boxes with whatever you like I generally use N/A and they automatically email you a licence, that lasts a year...

I also use Design spark 3D (free) in the office, not much yet its a bit of a learning curve. It will do those flash 3D PDF that Josh posts.

Ew

For general design and concepts: AutoCAD and Sketchup. I only use autocad because I have it for work. Sketchup is highly under-rated and is a must have in my book.

I tried sketchup but gave up in the end.... Just did not do what I wanted..

I have a copy of Alibre version 12, that I bought when it was on sale for $99... It is OK, I must admit though I never used it much after much frustration.. Like all 3D cad programs...

I have started using it again after evaluating one of the others, but the realisation that I will never able to afford to buy the one I tried made it pointless keeping on evaluating it, even though it was the most user friendly CAD I had tried..

I have tried FreeCAD but it annoys me as well... I see now Alibre no longer exist having been bought out by 3DS Systems but the Alibre line live on as Geomagic Cubify at the low end and Geomagic design elements at the expensive end of the hobby scale ($1250) But it is the security arrangements that annoy the crap out of me as well... You buy it and have to jump through a thousand hoops to get it to run, and whoa betide should your computer fail and you need to install and run it on another one..

Security on bought programs is getting so that now you need a constant net connection for them to run... They do not trust those that bought their product... Yet we have to trust them that they will not five years down the track decide to make your bought expensive software no longer work, due to them removing the phone home server at their end,or they go broke leaving customers in the lurch...

For me it's Autocad R14 and occassionly Autocad 2007 just for opening newer files, then saveas R14.

R14 does everything I need, is simple to use, and is not blown out with useless features.

Ken

I have Gearotic, v carve pro, photo V carve , sprutcam, master cam x 5,Alibre Design professional,G wizard and G wizard editor all are good
Will

Originally Posted by .RC.

I tried sketchup but gave up in the end.... Just did not do what I wanted..

I'm curious as to what sort of things you look for in your software - what do you need it to do? what sort of things are you drawing? I'm guessing gears?
Regarding your comment about software companies... I have to admit I was disappointed with sketchup in that regard. I bought the Pro version years ago under the promise of lifetime licence, free upgrades, etc. etc. As soon as Trimble bought sketchup, out comes a new version with a price tag attached. Anything drawn in the new sketchup can't be opened in older versions unless specifically saved as... The older version does me just fine though.
Another program I use quite a bit is Revit Structure, once again for work, but great for house design, reinforcing layout, etc.
- Mick

Originally Posted by WelderMick

I'm curious as to what sort of things you look for in your software - what do you need it to do? what sort of things are you drawing? I'm guessing gears?

Cost and ease of use for me are the two main considerations...

I am only now just getting into 3d CAD a bit, even though I have had a 3D cad program for 4 years... Most of the time I have relied on visualising in my head what I was building and going on rough sketches and what looks right... Any drawings were done in solid edge free 2d cad program, an amazingly good 2d cad IMO.. I tried a lot and I found solid edge the easiest to use..

Now I want to try to define my creations a bit better hence the 3D cad... I did try solid works... An amazing so easy to use program, with an equally amazing price I think around $6000 for the lowest most basic licence... So no point me teaching myself any more of that as I would never be able to warrant buying it for the non-commercial stuff I do... But great software none the less...

I am trialing the new Alibre Geomagic design at the moment, but after getting prices for a new Tormach 1100 this afternoon, thinking I may buy one and need a new CAD program to go with it, it is looking increasingly likely I will be getting neither... For those that think that Zenford CNC machining centre on gumtree is expensive at $3500, they should price a Tormach PCNC1100..