AutoCAD substitute

If you want to register as a student with Autocad Mechanical you get 3 years FREE access to the package - why pay?

Rik

You normally have to have a student registration number to qualify for student software. (but do they check ?)

Paul

They don't check, but you will need new email address to any used with Autodesk before.

And have to completely remove any software.....

Jim

Thank you for this -it was a useful example to include in the lesson I have just taught on software piracy!!

Hi Folks,

Just had a look for Draftsight on the Dassault Systemes site, they're only offering the new 2019 version which has to be paid for, and the 2018 version stops working at the end of this year.

Edited...This is already covered, sorry for jumping in.

Edited By Bernard Wright on 29/04/2019 01:35:39

I have used QCAD for some time now and find it perfect for 2D drawings. Plenty of help on the QCAD forum also.

For 3D work I use Fusion360.

Please don't use this forum to promote piracy.

Neil

Plus 1 for QCad.

Regards

Brian

I switched from AutoCAD to DraftSight a couple of years back and am now in the process of moving to QCad Professional. After 20+ years I am finding it hard to make the move, and some things seem much slower (particularly setting up a hatch on a complex shape where QCad requires me to click on every border element), but in a hobby environment it isn't £1,400 a year slower! Having said that, I really miss dual dimensioning and being able to alter the width of characters. Typing in the alternative units or exploding and shrinking text stops changes being transparent.

Brian

Not being able to easily Dual dimension or alter the width of characters with QCAD is a fair cop, though in mitigation I would claim yer honour that Dual Dimensioning is bad practice, not supported (as far as I know) by any reputable Drawing Standard. Pure hypocrisy - I've done it myself, often using handy Imperial parts in otherwise metric designs. I add text notes to explain what's going on.

Selecting a hatch area can be speeded up by holding down the shift key and selecting an area. Then, still with the shift key engaged, objects can be added or subtracted from the group select by clicking them again. Usually possible to quickly get most of a hatch boundary by selecting an area and then correcting the selection as needed to enclose the area.

Dave

Thanks for the advice on using box select for hatching Dave. My only defence on dual dimensions is that it is nice to be able to draw something using full-size feet and inches and immediately see the size of the model in millimetres.

Brian

What about Autosketch?

I used it in education for years version 5.

I gather it is now up to version 10 does anyone know if there are significant changes to the user interface..

V 10 is supposed to work on Windows 10, can anyone confirm this.

what is Smart Draw like ???? it came recomended and suposed to be free !!!!!!!!!

want to learn a little, basically draw and layout my new workshop 200sq/m......

plus in the future who knows....

no plans for 3D printing etc etc.....all to complicated....

FreeCAD has a section for 2D drawing. Since it is open source written in Python you might be able to add the dual dimension feature yourself.

One of the reasons I like QCAD is it reminds me of Autosketch and has similar capability. QCAD's advantage is that it's still actively maintained on Windows, Linux and Mac. Autodesk stopped supporting Autosketch in 2008 : one day the various compatibility modes provided by Microsoft will expire and it won't run...

QCAD's license model is friendly. The Pro version is downloaded free and the product can be used in 15 minute bursts. Paying about £35 removes the 15 minute nuisance and gets 3 years worth of upgrades; the product does not stop working after 3 years and it does not 'phone home', or require an internet connection. If you choose not to pay, the Pro trial can be ended leaving a slightly reduced 'Community Edition' fully active. This is still very capable; Pro has a few more tools, useful short-cuts and updated DXF compatibility. Pro is worth the money but not essential; most 2D drawings can be done with the Community Edition alone.

Like Autosketch, QCAD is recommended if you want a grown-up technical drawing package that stays straightforward by NOT supporting 'difficult' 3D and power-user features.

Dave

Thanks Dave, Very informative post. I guess I download the free version of QCAD and see if I can get on with it.

I am an old dog and at the moment very fed up with having to learn new Windows 10 tricks. If I ever find the Microsoft guy who made it extraordinarily difficult to change the time and stop upgrades I will introduce him to my not so friendly alligator.