Comments on: Free CAD Software

By: Paul The CAD

Paul The CAD — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 07:45:19 +0000

William,

Go to paulthecad.co.uk/shop/regtcd15.php

Paul

By: William Gray

William Gray — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 06:25:03 +0000

I purchaced PC Utilities magazine on the included CD was TurboCAD15 i need a registration code I am unable to find it on your web site are you able to provide me one
thanks William G_

By: Paul The CAD

Paul The CAD — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 08:49:31 +0000

Alex,

Sounds like you need basic training. Firstly TurboCAD is far easier and faster than AutoCAD, you just need to understand how more up to date systems work. Any tool you choose activates the inspector bar at the bottom. So if you chose a line tool then at the bottom the boxes will show length and angle, if you chose a circle the boxes will be radius, diameter and circumference, etc.
When you select an object then the inspector bar at the bottom is highlighted and gives its size, simply type in a different one if you wish.
There are three boxes at the bottom of your screen, each with an extra small one next to them. Checking any of these boxes restricts the plane in which you draw.
I’d suggest that you buy a 2D training book, you can order it from this site.
Paul

By: Alex Wilkins

Alex Wilkins — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 15:29:13 +0000

Hi Paul,
I purchased an upgrade to turbocad v18, but, only ever had a go on autocad 2006 I havent a clue what I am doing.
I am a blacksmith and I need to draw profiles for laser cutters,
this was easy on autocad, just click the ortho button and type in dimentions. How do you do this in turbocad? I have worked out that the shift button gives straight lines but is there a way to lock it on? Also how do I key in the dimentions I want?
Regards
Alex.

By: Paul The CAD

Paul The CAD — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 08:57:49 +0000

Tony,

If you need to open and save in STL format you will need the professional version of TurboCAD. The latest version 18 is the best, but comes out at £888.
However pro plat v17 would be £282 and I still have a few v 16 at £210.

You would need to call me on 01962 835 081 to take advantage of these prices.

Paul

By: Tony Heselden

Tony Heselden — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 19:22:56 +0000

Paul,
I have no CAD knowledge but would like to learn CAD with a view to producing drawings (STL files) for model buses , that can be printed on 3d laser printers. What package can you recommend ?

Tony

By: Paul The CAD

Paul The CAD — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 12:23:49 +0000

Steve,
Ideally I’d say get TurboCAD v18 professional Platinum plus Google SketchUp professional, bought as a package you, in effect, get Shaderlight free, so the whole lot sets you back £1,200 gross, £1,000 net. For that you’d have everything you could possibly need and obviously far cheaper than Articad. You would, of course, need to put a bit of extra time in learning the differences, so a bit frustrating at first, but not too bad and you can always give me a call – you’ll get my mobile so I can’t hide. I’ll even chuck in a free day’s training in Winchester.
Price-wise coming down from that you could go for TurboCAD Professional v17 at £500, or v16 at £250, neither of these would give you too much loss of functionality, but I’d advise on v17 rather than v16 only on the extra ability with swapping files with SketchUp, which I defiantly think would be good for you.
The least expensive solution would be TurboCAD Deluxe v17, which is now only £40 and SketchUp at £354. These prices are gross, so £328 net for the both, be careful, several CAD resellers quote in net, you only find the true cost, i.e. vat and post and packaging at the end, very sneaky and a cheap way of doing business as far as I’m concerned.
For the Deluxe and SketchUp you would be able to draw out your 2D design in TurboCAD and then import it into SketchUp. From there you can easily create a 3D kitchen, complete with cookers, pot plants and people, you could even make a short walk through film to send to the as an attachment – it’s really easy. You would also be able to make very impressive printed proposals and easily make changes while sitting in front of the customer, these would get you the job. Kitchen designers in the past have often said to me that if you can put it together in front of them and make the changes there and then if normally wins you the contract.
Paul

By: Steve Davidson

Steve Davidson — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 11:05:54 +0000

Hi Paul,
some advice if you can please.
I work for a large kitchen direct sales company, only started recently. I used Articad in my previous company and it worked well. The problem is this package is £2800 plus vat, way out of my league!
As I am self employed and times are tough.
What is the best, preferably the cheapest (or free if possible??) Cad kitchen design package? I dont want it too flash, just basic to give the customer the overview as one of the couple can never visualise. I draw on paper in plan view. I need it to consolidate really.
Your advice and input would be much appreciated.
Once I get some income coming in I can look to ‘upgrade’ as it were.
thankyou
Steve

By: Paul The CAD

Paul The CAD — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 16:42:31 +0000

Mike,

If you’re thinking of heading towards 3D, then you should go for Deluxe, because it will give you the opportunity to play around with 3D a bit before you start to lean it. I’d strongly suggest that you buy a training book with it, there are a few different ones around, but I just sell the books which come with training films, because I think that they are the best. There is one for 2D and one for 3D, start off with the 2D. I also run training days here I Winchester, which again will take a lot of the strain out of learning. No CAD system is intuitive, you will always need a bit of help at the start.
So Deluxe is £80, although direct from me I can knock £10 off that, the training books are £35 each, or £30 direct. So £100 gets you Deluxe, the 2D training guide and you can call me when you get stuck. I send you a download link and the code numbers, but also send a back up disk in the post.
Give me a call if interested.
Paul Tracey
01962 835 081 ex 1

By: mike crow

mike crow — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 16:23:42 +0000

I have recently downloaded the free trial version of turbocad 17 deluxe. I am now looking to purchase my own cad software.
It has been 10 years since i was at college but i have already managed to sketch professionally looking floor plan layouts of various homes.
I wish to use the programme for mainly 2d drawings but would eventually like to progress to 3d.
What would you suggest i purchase, designer 17 or deluxe 17?
Are you presently offering any deals on either of the above two and if so how much?
i was about to download from the official site but would prefer to have the fully boxed software.