Cad program for you guys:)
 

Hey guys, I see a lot of you are still using ms paint;)
It is basically an autocad ripoff, buttons and mostly everything are the same but it only has a small fraction of what autocad does. Its only 2D but its some pretty nice freeware.
Here is the website:
http://www.a9tech.com/

and download page:
http://www.a9tech.com/download/

its not too big either, it is a pretty good program I would say.


enjoy:)

Jon

Thanks for that Jon, Il try it out :)

I know of an even simpler CAD program that renders in 3D and is designed for making small machined parts. Its the CAD program from emachineshop.com. I don't have a CNC and my access to one is limited. I found this program on the web about a month ago and have been designing my waterblock on it since.

If you actually want the machine shop to build it for you, you just email'em the file of the drawing you made. The software will also estimate, analyze and price the piece you want made, based on the quantity of the part that you want. Lead times are a big factor. Machining a block like a Antarctica would cost about $80.00 for instance, if you are willing to wait 30 days for it to be built. If you want that same piece in fourteen days, its $400 and change!

Problem with this is it only saves as an .ems file (e machine shop) which is spacific to them. They must have some kind of conversion software to turn it into a usable CAM file or CAMable file.

It can import a .dxg, or so they say
 

The literature says that it can import a DWG file, so if that is possible, than the reverse is possible...i.e. importing a EMS into Autocad, or exporting as a DWG. Would have to break into the code though.

I guess. I can't import it into ACAD2000 or Solid Works. As I said they must have a special conversion software for this which we do not have as far as I know. Break into code? No clue or desire to.

Does anyone know how to use this thing? I have no clue how..

It is similar to autocad in a way, get snap and grid going, then just start pressing buttons;)
youll have line, circle, etc.

Jon

I don't exactly get this... I can't even make the dimensions and stuff correct. Maybe because i'm not used to this... Are there any tutorials on how to use it?

Take a look around the website for maybe a tutorial, maybe I will install it again and see if I can help.

Jon

The dimention is in the draw menu, you might have to play with the snap and grid to get that how you want, on the right side is the coordinates of stuff and sizes which you can change that way too. It will just take a little playing with.

Jon

Thx for all the help so far. But what exactly is a snap and grid?

a grid is a network of lines (like a grid) which are measured (ie a 1mm grid is 1mm squares in a grid)

snap is the command that makes the lines that you draw 'snap' to the corners of the grid,so everything stays square, and the like.

Oh, thats what it is. Thanks for that explanation.