3D CAD for Linux

I recently switched from Windows to Ubuntu Linux ( highly recommended ) and it's brilliant. I'm struggling to find a decent 3D CAD program though - preferably free or cheap.
Any ideas ?

Quick internet search reveals

gCAD3D

at **LINK**

from the review at **LINK**

Edited By John Coates on 16/12/2012 15:56:48

You could have a look at FreeCAD, it's written in Python so works on Linux, Windows and Mac. Haven't tried it myself I run Autocad in Virtualbox on my Linux computer Autocad is available free to students and retired engineers.

Russell

Problem solved ( I think ) I got FreeCAD and it's pretty OK after a quick test drive. I did download gCAD3D but found the interface impossible to understand. I'm used to Solidworks and it's very different to the way gCAD3D operates.
I can't get along with Autocad either, it's probably something to do with how my brain works rather than any failing in the program ( what with it being an industry standard )

What I should do is add a Windows partition and reinstall Solidworks ( it won't run properly on an emulator apparently )  but Windows just elevates my blood pressure to levels that aren't healthy, I'm glad to see the back of it.

Edited By Siddley on 16/12/2012 20:33:28

Just an FYI; yesterday I installed openSCAD on my linux machines; it is a different interface (programmable "UI" )  and looks quite interesting.

I do a lot of 3D rendering coding, so maybe I'm more familiar with entering code rather than figuring out little icons.

One complaint with my Android App is that I should include a bunch of STL models to render, and as it is a paid app on the Android Play Store, I want content that is generated by yours truly, not taken from others.

We'll see how the OpenSCAD does for working through some interesting STL demo files - the jury is still out on that one, at least until I get more experience.

another JohnS

Edited By John Alexander Stewart on 16/12/2012 23:01:51

That's interesting. I remember text file rendering from when I got a copy of POV back in...well I can't remember exactly, but I had a 386DX and it was regarded as being a reasonably cutting edge machine at the time. You fill in the date
I didn't have the skill to use POV even to a fraction of it's capability though.

I did quite lot of work with 3DMax a couple of years ago, just for fun, helping some guys who produce a 'mod' for a PC racing simulation that is focussed on racing cars from the classic era.
It's not something I find easy though, building the model is OK, but the texturing and wrapping is greek to me. Optimising the models was a challenge as well - because they are going to be used in a video game you have to trade off polygons for realism to keep the frame rate up.
I just dabbled in it really, but I learned enough to give me a very healthy respect for people who earn their living with that kind of stuff.

Yes, keeping the illusion going on Android and iPhone for STL files is indeed a challenge, but taking the common format STL triangle mesh (or, more likely, "mess" and re-arranging, and reducing vertex count makes a huge difference.

Still lots of work to do on my App (like, exploded views??) but it's interesting, and ties into Model Engineering, as, the examples generated will most likely be for my CNC machines @home...

Another JohnS.

> I just dabbled in it really, but I learned enough to give me a very healthy respect for people who earn their living with that kind of stuff.

I wasted a few weeks on a starfield simulation that rotated in six axes. I have now forgotten all the matrix transformatuions I had to learn - it completely fried my brain.

Elite on the BBC Micro was an outstanding example of balancing 3d manipulation with limited processor resources.

Neil

Matrix transformations ? blimey I tried that years ago and never got past the first hurdle, they gave me a migraine A man's got to know his limitations and maths is one of mine...

I had a really good book about great British engineering achievements ( can't remember the title, something about boffins, or backroom boys ) and I was initially a bit taken aback to find the story of 'Elite' in there together with Concorde and Blue Streak.
Software is engineering of course, but a computer game ?
But it all became clear as I read, those guys really pushed the boundaries of what was possible with such limited hardware.

Hi Russell Eberhardt

Can you elaborate please? "Autocad is available free to students and retired engineers"

I am a an Autocad licensee but a friend (A retired engineer) is not, can you direct me to the application page that shows this offer to retired engineers?

Thank You.

John McNamara

.

John,

Have a look here

The software has full functionality except that it adds a banner round the edges on printouts. However there are ways round that and exported files are perfectly OK.

Personally though I find the latest versions to be too complicated. For quick 2D drawings I stick to DraftSight which is more or less a clone of Autocad of about ten years ago.

Russell