jrsteeve
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Registered: 3rd Apr 02
Location: Manchester
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Can anyone recommend an easy to use CAD programme? Need to reproduce some 2D plans then amend them as part of my uni coursework. Have seen Autocad etc but just wanted some opinions as i've never used any before.
cheers for any help 
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AndyKent
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Registered: 3rd Sep 05
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Depends how complex you need the plans to look.
Sketchup is free and fairly easy to use so long as you don't need any complicated shapes etc.
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jrsteeve
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Registered: 3rd Apr 02
Location: Manchester
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Cheers. Its a fairly simple design with a large porch at the front, bay on the rear and garage joined by a utility (sort of a P shape).
Basically the original plans are in timber frame and I need to reproduce them using load bearing masonry according to BS = fucking woo! lol
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RichR
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Registered: 17th Oct 01
Location: Waterhouses, Staffordshire
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Solidworks 
[Edited on 14-04-2010 by LiVe LeE]
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jrsteeve
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Registered: 3rd Apr 02
Location: Manchester
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Given Sketchup a whirl but looks like it's a bit too simple - need something that can insert doors and window symbols etc. Not sure which solidworks has a free trial available which is all i need really.
Downloading a trial of autocad now, any other options?
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AndyKent
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Registered: 3rd Sep 05
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If its just 2d you need you can easily draw your own doors and windows. I don't think the standard Autocad will do that, only architecture.....
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ed
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Registered: 10th Sep 03
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Surely if it's for uni work you will be provided with a CAD package to do your work on. Solidworks is for consumer product design and not architecture plans so it won't have the stuff in it you need. Plus it's absolutely crap.
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jrsteeve
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Registered: 3rd Apr 02
Location: Manchester
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quote:
Originally posted by ed
Surely if it's for uni work you will be provided with a CAD package to do your work on. Solidworks is for consumer product design and not architecture plans so it won't have the stuff in it you need. Plus it's absolutely crap.
You'd think! Its just plans i need to do really and maybe an elevation. It's more important that its done to scale so measurements need to be spot on.
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ed
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Registered: 10th Sep 03
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How do they teach you how to do this stuff if they don't provide the software?
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jrsteeve
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Registered: 3rd Apr 02
Location: Manchester
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its a 'research assignment'
Properly sucks balls though. Can do it freehand but i'm a messy bastard.
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Simon
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Registered: 24th Apr 03
Location: Oxfordshire
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If scale is important go with AutoCad, easy enough to learn and draw simple plans and elevations
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Simon
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Registered: 24th Apr 03
Location: Oxfordshire
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check if your uni has an account with autodesk as well, try and sign up here
http://students.autodesk.com/?nd=register
may be able to download it all free
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jrsteeve
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Registered: 3rd Apr 02
Location: Manchester
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Am i better with standard autocad or the architecture version? Tried autocad for a min but does look rather complicated!
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Simon
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Registered: 24th Apr 03
Location: Oxfordshire
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Just standard for what you are doing. Is can look complicated but if all you are doing is a simple porch you probably only need to use the straight line tool and anything else you learn will just make it easier
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jrsteeve
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Registered: 3rd Apr 02
Location: Manchester
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I wish it was just a porch! Have to reproduce drawings of a timber framed house, then redesign it in masonry instead.
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jrsteeve
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Registered: 3rd Apr 02
Location: Manchester
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Cheers for the help though, i'll give it another go.
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Simon
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Registered: 24th Apr 03
Location: Oxfordshire
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Oh sorry only read the Porch bit. If it's only 2D drawings then you will do fine with it
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Daveskater
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Registered: 29th Apr 08
Location: Oxford, UK Drives: Jap wagon
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AutoCAD sounds spot on tbh, I use it every day 
The way I learned half of the tools I use is just pressing buttons and seeing what they do Play about with it and see what happens 
Numberwang!
Originally posted by AlunJ
I like you Dave, you are a man of men
Originally Whatapp'd by Neo
Dave's maybe capable of a drive-by cuddle
Look at my pictures
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jrsteeve
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Registered: 3rd Apr 02
Location: Manchester
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yeh but my god there's a lot to learn with this! Using the 2011 trial version but am a little stuck and all the 'how to' vids on youtube are for the older ones. Looks like i'll be 'purchasing' an older copy.
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sigibbons
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Registered: 10th Feb 04
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Go with architecture. I had a very similar assignment and tried std AutoCAD but found Architecture so much better as it has pre-designed building elements such as windows/doors, cavity walls etc..
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Bart
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Registered: 19th Aug 02
Location: Midsomer Norton, Bristol Avon
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quote:
Originally posted by Daveskater
The way I learned half of the tools I use is just pressing buttons and seeing what they do Play about with it and see what happens
Yep, thats it.
With trim, fillet and the basic shapes, you can create most things.
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Daveskater
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Registered: 29th Apr 08
Location: Oxford, UK Drives: Jap wagon
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From what I remember, you can get to the Architecture tool palettes in normal AutoCAD, but I can't remember how I have used them before and we use LT at work.
Too right Bart, we use blocks a lot now though to keep stuff consistent throughout the company. Using other tools like fillet etc just comes down to people's education/curiosity really. I was talking to one of the guys a few weeks ago who's been with the company 3 years and he'd never used fillet before I told him how to use it Soing it the manual way with arcs ftl.
Numberwang!
Originally posted by AlunJ
I like you Dave, you are a man of men
Originally Whatapp'd by Neo
Dave's maybe capable of a drive-by cuddle
Look at my pictures
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Daveskater
Premium Member
Registered: 29th Apr 08
Location: Oxford, UK Drives: Jap wagon
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Whilst we're on the subject of CAD, anyone know if there's a command you can type in to switch from the model space to layout space?
But not maximise viewport or anything gay like that
Numberwang!
Originally posted by AlunJ
I like you Dave, you are a man of men
Originally Whatapp'd by Neo
Dave's maybe capable of a drive-by cuddle
Look at my pictures
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Bart
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Registered: 19th Aug 02
Location: Midsomer Norton, Bristol Avon
User status: Offline
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should be tabs along the bottom?
Atleast there is in 2000LT and 2009LT which I have both on my PC.
[Edited on 19-04-2010 by Bart]
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Daveskater
Premium Member
Registered: 29th Apr 08
Location: Oxford, UK Drives: Jap wagon
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Yeah there are tabs but I was wondering if there was a keyboard shortcut as I type 99% of commands in instead of using buttons.
Numberwang!
Originally posted by AlunJ
I like you Dave, you are a man of men
Originally Whatapp'd by Neo
Dave's maybe capable of a drive-by cuddle
Look at my pictures
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