Anyone have their own “easy” CAD program?

[Emeraldsaremyfavorite]

I’m trying to do my own CAD. Anyone have a good app they can suggest? I have the exact dimensions of my EC, traps and bullets. Thanks!

 

[pearaffair]

Cool! Hope there is one out there.

 

[OoohShiny]

You mean like a ring design program?

SketchUp is a free CAD-like download from (evil ) google, I think - I've used it for designing square things but I'm sure one can download a ring pattern or find a guide somewhere that would tell you how to create a basic ring design.

It would probably be quite difficult without a program specifically designed for rings, which would do all of the tricky stuff for you!

Hopefully there is a freebie program somewhere, as I'd also be interested

 

[yssie]

If your goal is to create functional CADs (that could be used for casting) you’ll want a “real” programme - I’ve used SolidWorks and AutoCAD (for work, not jewellery) and much prefer the former.

As @OoohShiny points out is a time-intensive venture: you’ll need to learn the software (none are particularly intuitive) and you’ll need a good understanding of state and structure of the metals and shapes you’ll be working with.

For non-structural visualizations I would think photoshop is probably the easiest thing out there! You can distort reality (just need a starting point image...) as much as you want without worrying about whats going on underneath...

 

[Emeraldsaremyfavorite]

Thanks guys! Sounds way too complicated for me. Just wanted a quick draw up to see how my traps would look up against my EC after the bezel is removed. Mark doesn’t do CADS. But no problem... it is what it is!! I can’t go buy new traps if they are too small

 

[OoohShiny]

@yssie's idea of photoshop is a good one - post a 'photoshop needed please!' thread with a pretty high-resolution picture in it, and someone might be able to take out the bezels

 

[Emeraldsaremyfavorite]

@yssie's idea of photoshop is a good one - post a 'photoshop needed please!' thread with a pretty high-resolution picture in it, and someone might be able to take out the bezels

Thank you! I will try that.... may not get much feedback tonight but will give it a shot

 

[sledge]

Sketchup is a pretty good and powerful program. Lots of guys on a garage forum I participate in use it for designing their shop areas. Does 3D relatively easy. Lots of YouTube videos to help you.

I trained and learned on AutoCAD years ago. Great program but even the LT program is an $800 admission ticket unless you get an academic version. Most the designers I work with like Solidworks best. The maker of SW is Dassault Systemes who offers a FREE fully functional 2D and basic 3D/isometric program called DraftSight. The commands are very similar to ACAD and what I run on my home systems as I am constantly drawing and designing something for projects I take on. Last big thing I did was design my own house plans which I used when custom building.

I've not ever done any ring designs but ACAD has "plugins" for specific drafting types. I'm thinking their might be something similar. I'm old school and do my stuff from scratch.