Author Topic: Free, Easy CAD Software  (Read 1391 times)

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valterra

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Free, Easy CAD Software
« on: March 22, 2008, 01:18:51 PM »
I found DeltaCad, but it is trialware.


When I'm making paper templates for blades (cut lines for the lead edge, trailing edge, and chord), it is MUCH, MUCH easier to enter all the measurements in as coordinate points, then draw lines between them.


Longer explanation below, but I found DeltaCad would do it.  Surely one of the free programs could do it.  I've tried several so far, and most don't seem to be able to do this.  Of course, I'd be the first to admit that it's me, not the software that is lacking...


Explanation:  


If you have all the measurements for a blade, you can use X,Y coordinates to design the template.  For example, if you're using a 2x6 that is 24 inches long, you use these numbers to make the rectangle shape of a board:


0,0   -24,0   0,1.5   -24,1.5  


Then you can plot out your leading edge using the numbers you get from your software.  The "x" coordinate is the "Radius," and the "y" is the "Thickness" from calculators like Alton's or from Ed Lenz here on the board.  


If you can print it out at full-size (uses about 3 sheets of paper in my example for each template) then it's the simplest way I've found to make a template with the exact measurements.  You could do 20 stations this way if you were really hardcore.


Hopefully the numbers won't get screwed up here.


Anyone have any suggestions?


Basically, I want to be able to put a dot at, say, 0,0 by typing in that number - NOT by moving it around until the cursor happens to be at the right place.  That is both inaccurate and tedious.

« Last Edit: March 22, 2008, 01:18:51 PM by (unknown) »

scorman

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Re: Free, Easy CAD Software
« Reply #1 on: March 24, 2008, 04:22:27 PM »
Not sure if this will do it for you, but Sun just released a suite with a fairily sophisticated freebie drawing program


http://www.openoffice.org/product/index.html?intcmp=1262


I installed it, since I wanted a means to draw some simple documentation without drawing 3D in Solidworks ...your mileage might vary


Stew Corman from sunny Endicott

« Last Edit: March 24, 2008, 04:22:27 PM by scorman »

SparWeb

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Re: Free, Easy CAD Software
« Reply #2 on: March 28, 2008, 12:40:20 PM »
How adept are you with this stuff?


This is a feature of AutoCAD, going back, like forever.  If you get your hands on *any* version of AutoCAD, you can do this.


Basically, start with the list of points in a simple text file.  Then convert the text list into a script by renaming it "*.scr".  Edit the text file with Notepad and add the word "pline" at the top.  The subsequent lines must be comma-separated, no spaces, one point per line.


eg.:


pline

1.00000,0.00025

0.95000,0.00644

0.90000,0.01263

0.85000,0.01882

0.80000,0.02500

0.75000,0.03118

0.70000,0.03721

0.65000,0.04289

0.60000,0.04801

0.55000,0.05244

... and so on...


0.90000,-0.01263

0.95000,-0.00644


Getting your hands on an old copy of AutoCAD shouldn't be hard.  The parent company, Autodesk, seems to have many design companies convinced that you must throw out last year's version, every year.  This is to get all the new "features" that IMHO are a total waste of time.  These suckers may just give you last year's disk(s).


If you decide to go this route, I have many other applications and software that can help with the process of manipulating AutoCAD scripts.

« Last Edit: March 28, 2008, 12:40:20 PM by SparWeb »
No one believes the theory except the one who developed it. Everyone believes the experiment except the one who ran it.
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valterra

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Re: Free, Easy CAD Software
« Reply #3 on: March 28, 2008, 01:53:12 PM »
Thank you Steven! I'll dig up an old copy somewhere.  Thanks again!  That's exactly what I need!
« Last Edit: March 28, 2008, 01:53:12 PM by valterra »

SparWeb

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Re: Free, Easy CAD Software
« Reply #4 on: March 29, 2008, 07:59:06 PM »
*cough*152MB on a CD*cough*

*ahem*(e-mail me)*cough*

*excuse me*

sorry didn't say nothin just clearing my keyboard buffers...
« Last Edit: March 29, 2008, 07:59:06 PM by SparWeb »
No one believes the theory except the one who developed it. Everyone believes the experiment except the one who ran it.
System spec: 135w BP multicrystalline panels, Xantrex C40, DIY 10ft (3m) diameter wind turbine, Tri-Star TS60, 800AH x 24V AGM Battery, Xantrex SW4024
www.sparweb.ca