About Paul The CAD
Hi
I hope that this site will continue to be a resource that will not only inform, but be a place where TurboCAD users can share their ideas, expertise or maybe just show off their work.
Through my travels doing shows and running training days I’ve met CAD users, both 2D and 3D working in a wide variety of fields, sometimes using a combination of design software in interesting and sometimes unusual combinations. I’m sure that many would be delighted in sharing their experiences and experiments.
My hope is that this site will constantly evolve and develop into a useful forum for us all, but this will mean some of you out there getting involved, so let me know of your projects, your difficulties, your successes and we’ll see where it leads.
Paul The CAD
Can anyone advise. Where can I get a book on Turbocad 15 designer in the UK.
Mike,
There is a small Getting Started guide in the Designer 15 box, but there’s not much to it and I do not have them separately. We have just got in new training guides for both 2D and 3D. Both take you through exercises and I can thoroughly recommend them, I used earlier versions when learning TurboCAD and they are definitely the best available.
The 2D book has an exercise at the back to introduce 3D drawing plus a chapter on the new features in v16.
They are not on our main site yet but will retail at £40 when they appear, although I can sell direct at 25% discount. Some more information on them can be found on this site in the PDF and Books training section.
Paul
Paul,
I’ve convinced myself I need to buy the Mac deluxe v4 (ive just got a new mac & its better spec than my old slow windows machine)
Do you know if I can get the 2D/3D mac training material in the UK? It cant seem to find it anywhere but it looks like its available in the US. The material sounds OK but its very expensive to ship.
Thanks, Nick
Nick,
Ive got the v4 Deluxe and the 2D training in stock. The 2D training consists of a book for £30 and a training CD for the same. The quality of the 2D training CD is very good – easy to follow. I’ll have the 3D training CDs some time next week, so I haven’t seen it yet, but would guess that it’s as good as the 2D one. Obviously we’d do a deal if you bought combinations. Personaly I’d go for both CDs and v4. I’m off to see the publishers in the US on Tuesday, (28th July), but can be contacted via ptracey@avanquest.co.uk, although I’ll be in the office Monday am, if you’d like to call. 01962 835 081 (1).
Paul
Paul – im a mac user… i see there is a mac version but its considerably cheaper so probably isnt advanced – is there going to be a Pro Platinum for a mac or am i going to have to get a PC!!!
Thanks in advance
Elliot
Elliot,
You have several choices here – first the Mac route. Mac v4, (Pro, £399, Deluxe 2 &3D, £97 and 2D, £49). V4 is a totally new build from v3 and this has caused a couple of problems. Firstly v4 will not open v3 drawings, although you can save v3 drawings as v1 drawings and then open in v4, so a snag, but not a big problem unless you have a large number of drawings to convert. There also seems to be a problem occasionally with v4 dealing with large DWG files. V 5 should be available in the ‘fall’ and I fully expect these problems to be resolved. In the meantime I’ll sell my remaining stock for half price, it is an excellent product especially if the two issues do not effect you. I have training videos for both 2D and 3D.
I still have v 3 Professional, which again I can sell at about half price for £75, or the 2D version for £30.
The third solution is to run the PC version on a Mac. About this I can quote John Freeman – I run TurboCAD on my company PC laptop, but I can run it on my Apple Mac using either Bootcamp or VMWare Fusion and then loading Windoze on top of that. It means you can then run the Mac operating system on the same screen as Windoze and even drag and drop between them both without any real loss of performance.
As a past Mac user I fully understand people wanting to stay with them, but there is a lot of extra plug-ins and add ons with the PC version and it’s at present a more advanced product.
Paul
Hi Paul,
As a Mac user to I purchased the Pro version through work and started using as a beginner. I hadn’t see your site before I ordered or would have come through you for the training manuals to. Read your last post about the PC version being better, with more features, is this likely to catch up in the Mac Pro version or are we always going to be behind the PC versions? Is there a comparison guide of features between the two.
Really like the site btw
Regards
Tom
Tom,
I’m afraid I’m no expert on the Mac versions, just not enough minutes in the day and I haven’t even seen the pro version working yet. What I do know is that the Mac version sells very well and I understand that AutoCAD are again looking into developing into a Mac version, although I can’t see Mac users putting up with a clumsy program like AutoCAD, however it does show that the market is growing and I’d fully expect improvements to keep up with that trend.
At http://www.imsidesign.com as well as the PC forum, there is now one for Mac users. The PC section has always been good to me, especially when I was learning, questions posted in the afternoon were nearly always answered by the next day. I’d hope that the Mac users are just as friendly a bunch.
For future reference, it’s always best to buy from me direct as I often have free bits and pieces and can normally knock a few bob off the price.
Paul
Hi Paul,
I bought the 2D version of TurboCAD deluxe 15 (2d only) this month. I need to do basic floor plans. This will include inserting Windows and Doors (Blocks) in walls to form openings?
The next thing I need to do is create a paper space sheet with Viewports indicating the plan layout. I need to have a plan finished by wednesday next week?
Also is there a training guide (video/manuals) for 2d floor plans? The 3d stuff is irrelevant to my needs.
Cheers Tony
Tony
I’ve been away on holiday so sorry for the delay in answering. I have an excellent 2D training book which includes over 200 training videos. Its £35 on our site but if you call me I can knock a fiver off.
Paul
01962 835 081 (1)
Hi i am an interior designer, and have 10 years experience in the trade, but i want to progress my career further within the industry. Most of the job ads require cad experience, so i want to get myself up to speed.
it seems that most companies use Autocad packages, and require you to be “Autocad proficient”… is it essential to use Auotcad, or is ther other software i can get into without hampering my chances of progressing?? i just don’t know where to start!
also i need to buy a pc for home, what kind of syetem requirements will i need to ensure i can successfully use the CAD software on my home pc.?
Kirsty
Kirsty,
For interior design you really should be thinking about 3D. AutoCAD is the last thing you want to be thinking of, it’s old technology that years ago most people were trained in, that is no longer the case. You only have to look at their sales figures to see that AutoCAD no longer has the position in the market that they did a few years ago. Have a look at the piece that I put together for interior designers on this site. Prices vary considerably, so be sure that what you get is what you need and you are not paying for extras that you’ll never use. You are always welcome to call me.
There’s a lot out there, ask as many people as you can before you buy, but stay clear of AutoCAD, it is not what you need.
Paul
hi,
I’m producing artwork for photo-etching, which means drawing a 2mm black border around each item (with occasional red half etch strips to hold the objects in place in the brass at the end of the process) I’ve been using Pick point hatch to infill areas with black or red. This works fine, but each one takes over 30 seconds. Is there a quicker way? (I would send an example, but there’s no attachment facility)
Geoff,
Send me the attachment at ptracey@avanquest.co.uk.
On the list of improvements in v17, the Pick Point Hatch is mentioned. I haven’t had time to look at it yet, but if you give me a call Monday 26 or after, I’ll be able to let you know how it has changed. I’m off for a week today, 17th April, if the planes are flying that is.
Paul
01962 835 081 (1)
Hi,
I have TurboCAD professional 14
I am using it for engineering design and to (hopefully eventually) prepare dxf code for my cnc machine
How can I tell whether I can draw “holes” – It seems that I need the mechanical version.
How do I tell the difference please?
Thanks kindly
David
david@davidzebra.co.uk
David,
Best that you give me a call, as I’ll need to know whether you are talking about 2D or 3D. There are also a number of other considerations depending on how the drawing might develop.
Paul
01962 835 081 Ex 1
Hello Paul,
I design and build fitted wardrobes and currently use PowerPoint to illustrate my designs. I am completely new to CAD (apart from playing around with Google Sketchup) but realise that I need a more professional means of conveying designs, and so I am thinking of buying a cheap TurboCAD 15 deluxe from ebay to get started (I don’t want to spend a fortune if it’s only going to sit on the shelf – if I can’t use it..). Mostly my drawings only need to be 2D but I would like to have the capability to move to 3D with them – as in sketchup.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
James
James,
Don’t buy from e-bay, give me a call I’ve got all sorts of alternatives to get you going. A CAD package is not something that you can throw in and simply work out – you do need some help at the start. If you like SketchUp then you’re better going for v16 as it can open up drawings that you have made in SketchUp. The combination of the two packages opens up a great many possibilities. I’m out and about a bit next week but you are welcome to call my mobile 077 24 88 24 03, or if you can leave it a week I’m at my desk all week starting Monday 31st May.
I’ll sort out something cheap, but effective to get you started.
Paul
Paul,
Greetings,
I live in Australia but would appreciate some CAD advice, can you help?
Thankyou,
Kevin.
Kevin
Of course, but first I need to know if you want 3D or just 2D and what type of projects you intend to get involved in. CAD is a big field.
Paul
From Kevin Burke,
Paul,
Thanks for your speedy reply to my question, yesterday I bought TurboCAD Deluxe 2D/3D but do not know (yet)what to do with it, my O/S is Windows 7 64 bit. I have NO experience in 3D CAD whatsoever .
My primary interest is Ships, particularly Warships, followed by Aircraft, then vehicles. My ONLY CAD ‘experience’ has been a little 2D ‘dabbling’ with Xara Xtreme. I would very much like to learn 3D modelling, after having seen the ‘models at the following website:
(1) go to GOOGLE (2) click on THE DREADNOUGHT PROJECT and (3) click on MODELS — you will see what I mean.
I notice in one of your sites you responded to an (almost) similar letter to mine. The letter was from ‘Ken’ who was looking for a ‘primer’ to get started from scratch also using TurboCAD 16 DeLuxe and he,too, had no CAD experience.
I mention his letter because of your reply to it which was:
(Quote) To call you on your number AND I’LL LET YOU HAVE OUR 2D TRAINING BOOK FOR 25 QUID, THEY ARE EXCELLENT TO GET YOU GOING WITH VERY CLEAR TUTORIALS IN THE BOOK AND ON DISK (Emphasis mine).
Which book/s Disk/s are these, Paul? Are they your own teachings or TurboCAD copies? Please would you be so kind as to enlighten me on this as I definitely need assistance to get started in 2d/3D — ESPECIALLY 3D.
Please give me details of your material, prices and postage and packing by Airmail to Australia. Thanks a lot,
Kevin