Free, basic, 2D cad software?

[Captain Ledd]

ARGH. Been having a bit of a headache lately trying to find one that works and is simple.

All I need it to do is make lines, have a snap function, and snap to polar (the polar function seems to have disappeared with all of them)

I used to have Draftsight. But after my old computer died I didn't get around to immediately installing it and they've upgraded to a new version that I just cannot get to work right, it won't even let me type in " 5' " to draw a 5ft long line.

Tried nearly a half dozen others, smartCAD, Librecad, sketchup, DraftIt, a few others that I can't even seem to find now, or remember. None of them seem to have that "click on a point, move line in the direction you want it to be in (generally 90°), type in measurement" that I'm looking for. They're all this free form, artsy, worry about it later nonsence.

I even found my old install file from Draftsight but it won't work for whatever reason, it won't load/find any templates, even though I just installed the thing.

I mean, I do have pencil and paper, but it goes so much quicker with a CAD program. The only ones I can currently find a barely more than free-hand doodling.

Does anyone have some suggestions?

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I have Turbocad, compared to the AutoCAD I went to school for and used at work it sucks... hard to drop $2k for it though.

I will have to watch this, I am on the market too...

 

[88_Eddie]

have you tried google sketchup?

http://sketchup.google.com/intl/en/

 

[Mac]

One someone asked me to look at a long time ago at this one: emachineshop.com. I never got around to it but looking now, seems to have a lot of the same drawing symbols as Autocadd.
Dave

 

[88B2EB]

Draftsight is probably your best bet. You might have to go into programs and uninstall your old version before it will let you load the new one. I like it because it's basically a simplified clone of AutoCAD and drawings are interchangable between the two. The best part is it's free. Online support is a little limited compared to the AutoCAD forums but I expect that will improve as the program catches on. Same with a few glitches they're still working out. I'm actually designing an office building/training facility for one of their regional distributors and one of the project requirements was that all drawings be done in Draftsight, so I've been using it quite a bit. It has felt a little clumbsy going from AutoCAD but those 'missing options' actually make it a little easier to use for basic drawing. My opinion, you can't beat it for the price (free!)

 

[Brownie Mobile]

It truly sounds like user error the fact that draftsight wont work for you. Assuming its not try a couple things, make a new user account and try using draftsight from that account. If youre on XP go to run type msconfig and hit enter, in the services AND startup section disable all the programs youre not familiar with, note you can do some damage here so make sure you check "hide all microsoft services". If youre on windows 7 i have no clue. If youre in 7 make sure you run everything as administrator. Also google is your friend google your exact problems, the internet has the answer somewhere. If none of that works try formatting and reinstalling the OS on your computer, a fresh start always helps.
Also if youre not against 3d modeling software, you can i believe get a free education edition of solidworks, so simple a baby can use it. People tend to stray away from solidworks for architecture but ive built several houses, including my house and a quonset hut project i had in solidworks. Its fun and simple!

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Also if youre not against 3d modeling software, you can i believe get a free education edition of solidworks, so simple a baby can use it. People tend to stray away from solidworks for architecture but ive built several houses, including my house and a quonset hut project i had in solidworks. Its fun and simple!

Most student versions you can't print anything and a few you can't even save stuff, is it better than that?

I have used Inventor quite a bit, never really did anything with Solidworks though.

 

[ThatGuy]

I've used DraftSight and ProgeCAD (both free)

Since I have no formal CAD experience, I couldn't figure all the stuff out. My Torchmate table came with a CAD program that is so simple that my kids can use it. I use it exclusively now.

 

[backwoods]

Intellicad, if it is still free, was by far the best. Haven't used it in a while though. Autocadws has some VERY basic features. And turbocad has already been mentioned.

I have been thinking about starting a Linux based cad program, just need to get a few more hands involved before I commit.

 

[cvar]

Try Google Sketchup? It's limiting, but free. http://www.sketchup.com/

 

[Brownie Mobile]

Most student versions you can't print anything and a few you can't even save stuff, is it better than that?

I have used Inventor quite a bit, never really did anything with Solidworks though.

Well i havent used the education version for a couple years when my school started buying the real versions of solidoworks, but i know for sure you could save, but being as i was learning on the education version i didnt get to print anything on the plotter or regular printer so i couldnt tell you for sure. Also Sketchup is a good option those who want to can use it in my cad class, and they still get a lot of GOOD work done.

 

[88B2EB]

Also Sketchup is a good option those who want to can use it in my cad class, and they still get a lot of GOOD work done.

Sketchup is a great tool. Where I work we use it a lot for preliminary design work then move to AutoCAD to develop the final drawings. Really everything in the profession though is moving to 3D BIM software like Revit. All depends on what Cap's looking to get out of the program.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Try Google Sketchup? It's limiting, but free. http://www.sketchup.com/

The only free Sketcup I see is a 3D modeler program.

I just downloaded "Draftsight". Holy crap... home sweet home.

EDIT: Case in point I haven't touched Autocad since late 2009 and aside from crude sketches on paper and frustrating attempts at Turbocad I haven't done any drawing/drafting to speak of... since I first posted this post (about an hour ago) I have a rough xref model of my F-150 to scale (per diminsions off the internet) laid out with a floor plan of a lean-to building I want to build to keep my truck, lawn mower and snow pushin' tractor in. I was worried about how much I had forgot but everything is going bing-bing-bing... I am really impressing myself.

 

[Captain Ledd]

have you tried google sketchup?

http://sketchup.google.com/intl/en/

Yes, however I dodn't particularly feel it was very tailored to engineering. Though that was a few years ago. I never really got connected to that one.

Draftsight is probably your best bet. You might have to go into programs and uninstall your old version before it will let you load the new one. I like it because it's basically a simplified clone of AutoCAD and drawings are interchangable between the two. The best part is it's free. Online support is a little limited compared to the AutoCAD forums but I expect that will improve as the program catches on. Same with a few glitches they're still working out. I'm actually designing an office building/training facility for one of their regional distributors and one of the project requirements was that all drawings be done in Draftsight, so I've been using it quite a bit. It has felt a little clumbsy going from AutoCAD but those 'missing options' actually make it a little easier to use for basic drawing. My opinion, you can't beat it for the price (free!)

I never had a version prior installed to using this one, fresh install on a completely new machine.

It truly sounds like user error the fact that draftsight wont work for you. Assuming its not try a couple things, make a new user account and try using draftsight from that account. If youre on XP go to run type msconfig and hit enter, in the services AND startup section disable all the programs youre not familiar with, note you can do some damage here so make sure you check "hide all microsoft services". If youre on windows 7 i have no clue. If youre in 7 make sure you run everything as administrator. Also google is your friend google your exact problems, the internet has the answer somewhere. If none of that works try formatting and reinstalling the OS on your computer, a fresh start always helps.
Also if youre not against 3d modeling software, you can i believe get a free education edition of solidworks, so simple a baby can use it. People tend to stray away from solidworks for architecture but ive built several houses, including my house and a quonset hut project i had in solidworks. Its fun and simple!

The only way I found I could make a line is by clicking on at least two arbitrary points OR, typing in coordinates. F-that. After spending close to an hour fiddling with things and searching I found no trace of a "polar" function and only basic o-snap controls.

My previous version worked GREAT right out of the gate, there was next to nothing to it.

Windows 7, 64 bit, was installing as administrator.

I'm not against 3D software, but I don't need it, at least not right now. Everything I have the capability to do can be layed out with a few perspectives and section views. Really I want to draw it out out (accurately) instead of cutting up all my steel, laying it all out and THEN going "oh #^%&, that ain't going to work".

The only free Sketcup I see is a 3D modeler program.

I just downloaded "Draftsight". Holy crap... home sweet home.

EDIT: Case in point I haven't touched Autocad since late 2009 and aside from crude sketches on paper and frustrating attempts at Turbocad I haven't done any drawing/drafting to speak of... since I first posted this post (about an hour ago) I have a rough xref model of my F-150 to scale (per diminsions off the internet) laid out with a floor plan of a lean-to building I want to build to keep my truck, lawn mower and snow pushin' tractor in. I was worried about how much I had forgot but everything is going bing-bing-bing... I am really impressing myself.

Exactly! Why isn't mine doing this? This is exactly my experience with the old one. I've cleared out the original install, redownloaded an entirely new file, same thing. uninstalled it, found my old version, no template issue. I don't get it?

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

The only way I found I could make a line is by clicking on at least two arbitrary points OR, typing in coordinates. F-that. After spending close to an hour fiddling with things and searching I found no trace of a "polar" function and only basic o-snap controls.

Polar is working mighty fine here, all the usual suspects are present in the snap department.

There is maximize/minimize boxes off to the left when I bring those windows up, are they minimized?