Official Luthiers Forum!

Hesh, Turbocad is pretty good for just doing 2D kind of things. It is relatively cheap if you buy any version other than the current one too. The best price I found on it was through www.nothingbutsoftware.com. I'm not sure whether they have a Mac version or not.

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

One of the better woodworking mags (Fine Woodworking, I think) did an article on CAD programs. They rated DesignCAD 3D very highly. From IMSI, who also sells TurboCad. I'm not sure which one is better, although I've played with both. Depending on how much CAD background you have, most of these programs have a pretty steep learning curve, at least at first, until you learn their basic capabilities and associated nomenclature. This isn't to discourage you, but the best of these are really powerful programs, and it just takes a basic time investment to get comfortable with them.

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Gene

Politicians and diapers must be changed often, and for the same reason- Mark Twain

Hesh,
You should check this out.
http://www.alibre.com/xpress/software/alibre-design-xpress.a sp
It's free.

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Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com

Hesh

I have used DesignCAD since it was a DOS program and am currently using the latest version from IMSI. I don't remember how many versions that I have used, but I really like it. However, there is a very definite learning curve and it may take a while to learn to use it. I am still finding things that I can do with it that I didn't know existed. It is a good and relatively inexpensive 3D modeling program, but is best and strongest as a 2D program. You can import and export work in AutoCAD format which is useful. There are free DFX (AutoCAD format) to PDF conversion programs that I use to have full scale prints made at Kinko's.

Auto is too expensive and too hard to learn to use in my opinion.

Hope this is useful and if you need further information, please let me know.

Ron Shriver

Hesh,

     I use Autocad everyday as part of my job. I do not have a lot of experience with other Cad software, but have tried TurboCad. You will find you have to get used to any drafting software you use. The big plus is that most of these programs have become much more user friendly. My recommendation would be to choose a program that people you can talk to are proficient with. That way you can get quick tips and answers.

     If I can ever help you out with some drafting or looking over how you are assembling the drawing. Feel free to drop me a line.

Peace,Rich

I've been fooling around with Cadintosh. You can try it for free or buy it for about $30.

on Apple's site

I think I'd like it if I could buckle down and learn how to use it, which shouldn't be too hard given my several years with AutoCAD a long time ago. But maybe the long time ago part is the problem!

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now known around here as Pat Foster
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

Rhino

    Here's a free CD of Rhino 3D. I've heard all kinds of good things about this.

    Men use 3D!!

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Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

"Multi famam, conscientiam, pauci verentur."
(Many fear their reputation, few their conscience)

Hesh,

I would also reccomend the Alibre design program that Jim pointed out.

I use a program called Catia at work, which is a very high end CAD program and after downloading Alibre, it appears to be a pretty good software program in both 3D and in 2D. I think I actually prefer the 2D of Alibre better than Catia.

It's a rather large download, but they do offer the download free of charge. If you can't download it in a reasonable amount of time, I would be happy to send it to you on CD if you just PM me your address.

Also if you decide to try out the program and have any question about how to use it, let me know. I'm not claiming to know Alibre inside and out, but alot of CAD programs are very similar in how they function so figuring them out is usually not too bad. And from what I've seen so far in Alibre, it's fairly easy to use.

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Thanks,
Blain

http://www.ullrichguitar.com

"89.67% of all statistics are made up on the spot."

I spent a lot of time trying out demos for Mac 2D design. I highly
recommend MacDraft. It is far more user friendly than Cadintosh and
TurboCad. It is available in a "Personal Edition", which I use, for $120. The
Pro version costs $320 and adds layers and DWG/DXF import and export.

I have designed buildings and pegheads with it. Here is the link:

Microspot


For more money, PowerCad is a very highly regarded 2D program:

Powercad

Good luck,
Brook

Hey Blain, I used to do a lot of CATIA back in my aircraft days. I don't meet too many people how are familiar with it. Great software.

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Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com

Hey Jim,

That's cool. I don't meet too many people familiar with Catia either. It doesn't seem like a lot of companies in the Austin area are using it (not yet anyway). My company started using Catia about 3 years ago and so far it's been great. And I agree, it is a really great software package.

Now if I could just find the time at work to model a guitar....

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Thanks,
Blain

http://www.ullrichguitar.com

"89.67% of all statistics are made up on the spot."

[QUOTE=Jim_W] Hesh,
You should check this out.
http://www.alibre.com/xpress/software/alibre-design-xpress.a sp
It's free.

[/QUOTE]
I have alibre too, works for me
Tim