Decent, affordable CAD software?

[Analog Kid]

I want to design some basic word working-- what's a good CAD package to do that in for Mac? I've been fighting with ViaCAD and it's awkward to use, but also seems really buggy. I've played a little with SketchUp, but I'm looking for a more traditional 2D/3D CAD package.

 

[hauke42]

Onshape.

 

[EdwardC]

Check out Draftsight. The Mac version should be free as it's a Beta. This is based off of ARES Commander by Greabert GmbH. Once on the page go to downloads and check it out. Very similar to AutoCAD as far as commands go. www.draftsight.com. You can also still get a 6 month license for free of ARES Kudo online Cad at https://www.graebert.com/blog/general-news/best-cad-software-with-cloud/

 

[Big Bad D]

I would encourage a bit more trial with Sketchup. But don’t try to use it as a traditional cad drawing. Try modelling “solids” just as you would envisage crafting each of your woodworking components. Later you can then add dimensions and views.

 

[richinaus]

I second SketchUp for what you want to do.

 

[Fowl]

THere's CADintosh, shareware from Lemke Software, the makers of GraphicCovnverter. I've never tried it myself.

 

[Analog Kid]

Thanks for all the responses. OnShape (if I'm looking at the right package) and Draftsight seem to expensive. I love Lemke software, but they really struggle with UI-- still for $32, I'm going to give it a shot for a while. And maybe I'll play with SketchUp a bit more. I'm partial to the traditional drafting approach, but SketchUp does a good job at their approach.

ViaCAD is a disaster. The bugs are so egregious, I'm starting to wonder if I'm the only one who's bought a copy. Really, really basic stuff is just broken...

 

[dmrowley]

Autodesk Fusion 360 is free for personal use... https://www.autodesk.com/products/fusion-360/overview

 

[Analog Kid]

Autodesk Fusion 360 is free for personal use... https://www.autodesk.com/products/fusion-360/overview

Tempting, but it appears to be a free 1 year trial before reverting to a $60/month subscription. Is the 1 year trial renewable?

 

[toke lahti]

Remember, what you design in Sketchup, stays in Sketchup.
Exporting them from this trapware is more expensive than many software alone...

I draw very little, but have spent some time learning freeCAD.
Exporting to archicad seems challenging...

 

[EdwardC]

You can also look at Q-Cad, even the "Pro" version that imports and exports in dwg format is like $30.00 one time.

QCAD - QCAD: 2D CAD

QCAD is a free, open source 2D CAD system for Windows, Linux and Mac.

www.qcad.org

 

[Macky-Mac]

Tempting, but it appears to be a free 1 year trial before reverting to a $60/month subscription. Is the 1 year trial renewable?

be sure to check the system requirements to make sure it'll run under the version of Mac OS you have and on whatever Mac you have (esp the graphics card)

it appears that you can indeed renew the personal user license;

Free startup and personal licenses for Fusion 360 are valid for one year but can be renewed annually.

link to renewal info

(Autodesk doesn't have the most user friendly website so you often have to be persistent in looking for information)

 

[Big Bad D]

Remember, what you design in Sketchup, stays in Sketchup.
Exporting them from this trapware is more expensive than many software alone...

I draw very little, but have spent some time learning freeCAD.
Exporting to archicad seems challenging...

True in theory, but I would not call Sketchup trapware. I personally have no need to export Sketchup models into other apps. It is a quite different app to traditional CAD, it is modelling rather than drawing - of course that may not match everyone’s needs and way of working.

If after a traditional CAD drawing app, a few years ago I tried High Design. It seemed to have good potential. Not sure if it still exists or anyone has other experiences of it?

 

[Macky-Mac]

True in theory, but I would not call Sketchup trapware. I personally have no need to export Sketchup models into other apps. It is a quite different app to traditional CAD, it is modelling rather than drawing - of course that may not match everyone’s needs and way of working.

If after a traditional CAD drawing app, a few years ago I tried High Design. It seemed to have good potential. Not sure if it still exists or anyone has other experiences of it?

While it's past was just modeling, there are now plug-ins that add traditional CAD drawing features to Sketchup.

And the "free" versions of the program keeps getting trimmed back as the developers seem to have moved to a paid subscription model for much of what they offer

 

[mariogt]

QCad is very good :

https://qcad.org/en/

But for full compatibility with AutoCAD, the only choice is AutoCAD (sadly)

 

[Biped]

True in theory, but I would not call Sketchup trapware.

It absolutely is trapware, you need look no further than the evolution of their licensing subscription model and terms.

It is a lovely program, I still have an old version of 2017 kicking around that lets me rapidly sketch out ideas to see if they will work or not.

However once I need to produce a dimensioned 2d drawing, or export to a format usable by someone else, it becomes a disappointing waste of time. Unfortunately my goto program for those situations : fusion360 is also playing stupid adobe-esque subscription games. This sector doesn't lend itself well to the streamed app model either.

 

[Big Bad D]

You have your view, I have mine.