Best cad software

[Adam Marshall]

Hi I am looking for a good cad software to draw parts to be laser cut, most of the free ones don't allow you to add measurement or specify the diameter of holes etc so I'm not sure how the laser company know measurements when you send them the dxf file so can someone who uses a good program tell me how you go about getting it and how much is it? Thanks

 

[Henrik]

Onshape is free if you don't mind sharing your drawings with the rest of the community.

It's also excellent, and quite solid works like.

 

[doubleboost]

emachineshop is well worth a look free as well

https://www.emachineshop.com/free-download/

 

[JoelC]

FreeCAD is pretty decent

 

[Tigman]

That works for me thanks!

 

[Adam Marshall]

Thank you everybody what is the emachineshop one like as in ease to use

 

[doubleboost]

Thank you everybody what is the emachineshop one like as in ease to use

I have just started with it using it for plasma cutting
There are loads of tutorials online
Once you get the basics it is fun to use
I am good with video but never had any dealings with CAD drawing

 

[Adam Marshall]

Yes I just want to use it for plasma cutting or water jet aswell so 2d would be OK for me

 

[AdrianH]

I use Qcad and there are free versions and pro versions, I used the free version for quite some time, before I went to the Pro for all of £38 12 months free updates.

I use it for 2D drawing prior to another program for plasma cutting so the same idea as your laser cutting.

Typically when you go into any cad program, you set the scale of drawing to actual, I typically set for my stuff 1:1 soyou are actually drawing life size, so if the drawing thinks it is 200 mm it is 200 mm.

If doing architectural I guess you would change the scales such as 1 cm = 1 metre etc. You can also generally change the scale when printing.

Try a few and find one you are comfortable with.

Adrian

 

[Paul.]

I use AutoCad, but if you want something that is virtually identical to use then try draftsight, its free and is compatible with autocad and the systems that laser cutters use.
Even though I have AutoCad I keep draftsight installed, as its useful to convert new drawings backwards to my older AutoCad version,

When you create your drawings put the dimensions in a layer of their own then you can turn them off before you send the drawing off, but they are still there for reference, and as said above, set it up so that one drawing unit is one millimeter, then just draw full size.

https://www.3ds.com/products-services/draftsight-cad-software/free-download/

 

[ronan]

Have you tried fusion 360 ? Its free for private use and businesses with turnover less than 100k a year.

 

[Rocketman]

I use AutoCad, but if you want something that is virtually identical to use then try draftsight, its free and is compatible with autocad and the systems that laser cutters use.
Even though I have AutoCad I keep draftsight installed, as its useful to convert new drawings backwards to my older AutoCad version,

When you create your drawings put the dimensions in a layer of their own then you can turn them off before you send the drawing off, but they are still there for reference, and as said above, set it up so that one drawing unit is one millimeter, then just draw full size.

https://www.3ds.com/products-services/draftsight-cad-software/free-download/

Agree draftsight is all you need for basic 2D work.

You only need more than that for 2D work if it's going in an assembly or client wants 3D for their assembly.

 

[Macie]

thanks ...good basis to work from