Quote:
Originally posted by sunblade
I was browsing sourceforge looking for a cheap CAD app too, and I found this:
http://www.qcad.org/
QCad is a free opensource 2D CAD program for Linux and Windows. Of course, it can't touch the expensive design programs that can do fancy 3D, but it seems to be better than paint  I just downloaded it, so I have no experience with it, but I'm interested in learning it to try and make my first block design. Good Luck!
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2D is just fine. I do all my block designs in ACAD2000 in 2D. Once the design is set I make the tool paths (yes still in acad) and then dselete the other lines and then save as a DXF. Then I load the DXF into my CNC mill software and it generates the basic GNC code (the code than makes the CNC go where it is supposed to go) and then I edit the GNC code to make it work the way I want it to.
This process works just fine for simple designs. IF you want somw fancy detailing ect then 3D can be used. My mill doesn't have a 4th axis so 3d stuff really isn't to usefull to me. But the 3D views look cool.