Gate/Railing CAD software

[Aesgarth]

I guess this is the best place to put this..

Anyone here use CAD to design gates/railings? I've got a couple of gates and a short section of railing to make for my parents and if possible i'd like to draw it using CAD first, so i can get their approval for the design. While this is something I may do as a one-off occasionally i can't see me doing enough of it to warrant spending the sort of money that FABCAD costs although that looks to be exactly what i want.

So.. If you're using software, what software are you using? I'd attempt to draw them by hand but i'm much better at making things than drawing them. Every time i try to draw what i want to make first it comes out looking awful (the drawing i mean, not the thing)

 

[octo0072000]

google sketchup is free

http://www.sketchup.com/product/newin7.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsfH_cyXa1o

 

[Aesgarth]

Thanks, I'll have a go with sketchup, I'd completely forgotten about it.

What prompted this thread was that i remember seeing CAD software offered on a steel/ironwork suppliers website for considerably less than anything similar i've found so far (think it was around £80, though i could have completely made that up) that had models for their products included. It let you design the gate or railing then gave you a complete materials list to use for ordering.

 

[Cal]

Thanks, I'll have a go with sketchup, I'd completely forgotten about it.

What prompted this thread was that i remember seeing CAD software offered on a steel/ironwork suppliers website for considerably less than anything similar i've found so far (think it was around £80, though i could have completely made that up) that had models for their products included. It let you design the gate or railing then gave you a complete materials list to use for ordering.

That software sounds good, it would be great if you could find a link.

 

[Dev]

I've used sketchup, there are a couple of examples in my gallery.

 

[Aesgarth]

I've been playing with sketchup and i'm getting there slowly but it's far from easy.

For the rest of you using sketchup you may find this useful:
http://www.drawmetal.com/home

 

[Son of a Steelman]

FabCad or Autocad

Hi all,

Just like Aesgarth I have a need to design a gate for my son's house, plus one for his aunties home.
I would have drawn in a large scale on a board years back but my gear has long since gone.
I have autocad on the pc but cant use it (Too Old I reckon) so this FabCad looked the deal but wow is it expensive for a one off gate use. Due to back injuries and disablement I cant even lay it out on a floor full size to see how it would look plus get the necessary measurements for him to cut & help make

So all in all I know the fix Aesgarth is in. I read this sketchup can be difficult to use?? Is it simple to draw scrolls on it in various sizes?

Shame we cant get a trial copy of FabCad as it looks easy on youtube or even buy a 2nd hand copy at a reasonable price

Do many people in the UK use FabCad? Everywhere I seem to look it seems they all use autocad. Is it the high cost that puts them off?

Got to be an answer to this. Even thought of sitting down with a cad operator at a company to decide on a design but that would be heavy in price as I swop back and forth

Anyone got a good answer to the problem (such as you can borrow my FabCad ha ha ha)

 

[bigegg]

Autodesk inventor is free for educational users - you must know someone who is at school/college who can "do the design for you"?

 

[manicman]

I use Draftsight which is FREEEEEE and allows me to design then output in DXF format for the laser cutters....

 

[Son of a Steelman]

Hi bigegg

Ahh regretfuly i dont know anyone of that age group.
I used to employ a young guy who eventually was a whizz on Autocad, but we have lost touch, otherwise I could have asked him for help.
Of course one of the main time consuming problems I would face is the drawing (in scale) of a few of the chosen wrought parts the UK suppliers sell, to build a "library" to choose from should the initial design not be to our liking, and we wish to change parts quickly(Which I presume can be done in Autocad?).

I searched locally for a beginners cad course at nightschool for me but nothing there, only expensive training centres seem to offer that facility at great cost.

I have spent all week just trying to draw one scroll in Autocad for practice and utterly failed. I am now trying to draw out something simple such as my small allotment and raised beds plus this years veg layout - see if I get anywhere. If I was back on the "board" I could have laid out 3/4 of the Queen Mary by now!! LOL

As suggested earlier by a member - I dowloaded Sketchup to try, but I find this worse to use than autocad. I had no contriol over anything I used.

Here's me thinking this would be a quick hobby job. Should have kept my mouth firmly shut and not offered to do a design. Now I am stuck with it!!

Even Looks like my son's neighbour is building new front walls and is hinting to my son about a nice railing and gate mates rates Ha - panic setting in..

 

[bigegg]

I found sketchup much easier to use than autocad - still haven't got my head round *that*

I don't think SU does curves very well tho - it seems designed for straignt lines.

There are some very good tutorials on Youtube for SU.
I found that once I realised how to do a basic task, the rest just slotted into place.

The "basic" thing to start with is a rectangle, then extrude it to make a block.
From there, extrude other basic shapes from(or into) the block to form other shapes.
After that, it's just a matter of adding to the design

 

[Wedg1e]

...to build a "library" to choose from should the initial design not be to our liking, and we wish to change parts quickly(Which I presume can be done in Autocad?).

I searched locally for a beginners cad course at nightschool for me but nothing there, only expensive training centres seem to offer that facility at great cost.

I have spent all week just trying to draw one scroll in Autocad for practice and utterly failed. I am now trying to draw out something simple such as my small allotment and raised beds plus this years veg layout - see if I get anywhere. If I was back on the "board" I could have laid out 3/4 of the Queen Mary by now!! LOL

I'm surprised none of the colleges are offering AutoCAD courses, our local one has something running a a few days and some evenings every week!
I'd been using AutoCAD for years (self-taught) when the company finally offered to put me on a course; I think it was about £200 a 'level'.

Off the top of my head I can't think how I'd draw a 'scroll' in ACAD, there's probably a 'helix' tool or similar.

You can certainly create parts (or 'blocks') in ACAD and then insert, resize, rotate etc.

I think the issue with CAD packages, like graphics/photo (I use Paint Shop Pro) or most other software systems is familiarity with the terms; if you don't know what/ how a 'snap' works or how to set up the dimensioning so it looks in proportion to the item drawn, for example.
I wasn't fond of Tech Drawing at school, not helped by being a gobby litle *%£"$@* and having a TD teacher of the old school who was a dead shot with a blackboard rubber may have played a part... :whistle :

 

[Son of a Steelman]

Wedg1e

I seem to think we must have had the same teacher on tech drawing lol.

Despite him I went on to succeed with the help of my MD (Ex chief designer ) who initially stood me by the board for 3 solid days, when I was a boy, while he demonstrated correct methods to BS of dimensioning & lettering. My feet were pulsing in pain with standing and I longed for the loo at times, but you didnt dare walk away while HE passed his experience on to you.
Re local colleges - I think I may be between terms, so I was looking more at the local stuff offered by the councils as night courses but zilch to be had.

My problem is cad came into this world while I was in management and out of design, so others were doing the courses and I missed out (terminology included).
I have been trying to draw an oblong representing my small allotment in scale but failed miserably. Back to youtube & Autocad demo's, and also renew my search for a trial of Fabcad.

Failing any progress, then a 2nd hand board, squares etc (hoped I was far to old for that)

 

[Son of a Steelman]

bigegg

I do get the feeling I am flogging a dead horse.
Sketch Up - as you say wont draw a scroll
Autocad - out of my league
Solid works - Not sure about it yet supposed to be good but I bet it aint easy neither

I watched MD Dave Philippi demo Fabcad last night and he has a gate in a minute. Railing panels coming out of his ears. Draws scrolls like no tomorrow. Copies & scales artistic suppliers parts in a flash and adds to a library for future use. Plus a million other things, including trying to take a lot of money off me for the product.

Damn this is becoming so frustrating. Wish I hadn't been dragged into the drawing part to help out!! Family EH!
Hell's Fire I may as well find an old Template Loft and draw it out on the floor (if only I could get down there lol)

 

[Aesgarth]

I think sketchup can be made to draw a scroll if you use this:
http://www.drawmetal.com/home
Although i haven't tried it yet.

 

[King Welder]

Try red pup.com ornamental pro 2010
American outfit. Awesome for gates and rails and has a library of about 800 railhead!
Think you guys will love it

 

[Tigman]

This is an old thread King Welder , they are probably sorted now , but Im gonna look at your suggested site thanks

 

[Aesgarth]

I'm not sorted yet, and I'm going to have a look at that. Thanks.

 

[IrishDave]

Brundle Design Studio

 

[IrishDave]

Brundle Design Studio is gonna be such a great help for me found it on another thread didn't check the guys name though