CAD Software, anything FREE available?

[ryanlownie]

Hi guys, does anyone know of any free cad software. I'm not talking free trials and don't mention "dodgy" versions, surely there is something for free out there? I just want something to have a play around with and learn.

Oh and I'm on OSX, got to add a spanner to the works

If it's been asked and posted before, I couldn't find it. Cheers in advance!

[raine]

i m using solidworks 2009 with sp3 i know its not free , but u have internet and for the people who won t spend 10000$ there are some funny sites.
as far as i know there are no good free cad softwares out there.
there is also a very good fluid simulation plugin for solidworks.

there is also a very very good free 3d scan programm.
http://www.david-laserscanner.com/

its so damn easy and we re using it for scaning small objects and parts @ home , after scanning u have to import it with solid et voilà u can du what u want with the 3d object.

[Marvin]

There is Alibre Design. 1st you get a free trial, but after that you are allowed to keep it (unfortunately a feature-limited version). You can still do most things, but it lacks the important export features. It's good for modelling though.

[littlened]

http://sketchup.google.com/

Google sketchup, it's free, but I think it's more for doing 3d stuff.

EDIT, Sorry, don't know if its available for MAC

[rowanp25]

theres always blender www.blender.org that would do most things but lacks the base models that a dedicated cad program would have. you could also try wings 3d. thats a simple modeler errr theres also the darwine project available for osx 10.4 onwards (thats a windosw compatability layer) that would open up that line of programs too

[Welshy40]

If you can find it id recommend the 98 version. Ive no idea where to find a copy.

[ASKay]

Originally Posted by raine

i m using solidworks 2009 with sp3 i know its not free , but u have internet and for the people who won t spend 10000$ there are some funny sites.
as far as i know there are no good free cad softwares out there.
there is also a very good fluid simulation plugin for solidworks.

there is also a very very good free 3d scan programm.
http://www.david-laserscanner.com/

its so damn easy and we re using it for scaning small objects and parts @ home , after scanning u have to import it with solid et voilà u can du what u want with the 3d object.

Yep +1 comos is great for FEA and CFD

[stoff]

Gimp. Or is that just a rendering program?

[rowanp25]

gimps a freeware version of photo shop. not bad really but defo not a cad program

[blue_pinky]

Gimp is a free/open source photoshop clone I think...and quite a good one too from what I've been told! Blender is free/open source rendering & animation, and again quite good...if you can get your head around it.

Cheers Dave, made me feel better about myself for a moment...but Gimp is also unofficially my new job title at work since we went through "restructuring" I'd rather that than bum right now though...so it could be worse