Can anyone recommend a good 2d CAD program for use on Mac OS X?
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Hesed-
ViaCad 2D from Punch Software
http://www.punchcad.com/
has loads of capability but a skimpy user manual. They supply a number of video tutorials, and the on-line forum is helpful. If you have experience with other CAD programs, you should be able to use it easily and figure out it's idiosyncrasies as you go along.
There's a 2D/3D version for about $100 and a 2D-only one for half that price. Those are excellent prices for the amount of capability.
TurboCAD markets, as TurboCAD MAC, what seems to be the identical program. That strikes me as hugely misleading in that the Mac program bears no resemblance to the TurboCAD programs for the Windows OS.
ViaCad has announced an updated program to be available in June, so you could probably get a free upgrade if you bought now. They do have a downloadable 14-day free trial, and that would be a cheap way to find out if the program suits your needs.
VectorWorks. Great program. Expensive, but it does it all.
TurboCad is OK, but compared to VW it has some shortcomings... mostly in the ease to carry out drawing sequences, scaling, moving objects,etc. I bought a copy recently because I was getting shell shocked at having to buy new software for a new iMac running Tiger and I didn't want to spend the $$ to upgrade my VW. In the end, I did upgrade and now the TurboCad sits idle.
My partner uses Vectorworks, and I have Turbo Cad.
I feel like I'm driving a Plymouth Horizon.
Another option is to use Virtual PC to enable Windows based programs - or buy one of the new dual-processor units.
Frosty
"I sometimes think we consider the good fortune of the early bird and overlook the bad fortune of the early worm." FDR - 1922
Attempting to run PC based graphics under VPC on a MAC will most likely be frustrating. VPC emulates a very slow Intel microprocessor (I think they told me something like 200 or 400MHz). ••••••• Exo 35:30-35
Edited 5/25/2008 2:54 pm by Cincinnati
I ran DataCAD (an AutoCAD equivalent) under VPC for several years. VPC is slow - but not S-L-O-W. Of course I no longer do dense, plant layouts etc. and no 3D, so the speed was not an issue. The dual processor has been working well.Frosty"I sometimes think we consider the good fortune of the early bird and overlook the bad fortune of the early worm." FDR - 1922
Dear Cin,
The newer, Intel based Mac will run Windows native or in a window in OSX. Best,John
JOhn,You are correct.I was responding to the idea of running it on an older Mac under VPC emulating an Intel PC. This emulates a very old and slow Intel chip.Greg
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Dear Greg,
OK...... gotcha.......... and you would be correct.Best,John
Hi Hesed,
I think that Solid Edge works on a Mac.
Google
Solid Edge v20 free 2D download
Should answer the question for you.
Cheers,
Andrew
eddie-Nope. Solid Edge is Windows only according to their site.
Google Sketch-up is a 3d draw program that is a free download. Don't know what your needs are, but a lot of contractors over on breaktime are using it. Have seen several articles in the woodworking mags on it, too. I've downloaded, but never even bothered to go thru the tutorials.....
bd,"I've downloaded, but never even bothered to go thru the tutorials....."That's like a photographer saying I've been given Photoshop for free but have never bothered finding out what it can do!Sketch Up is NOT a CAD program. It's a 3-D "visualization" program that let's you "sketch" a project onto a 3-D "drawing board" and develop ideas by "pushing and pulling" masses and lines around to rapidly get an idea of how things "fit together" and how things relate to each other in 3-D space.(However, CAD files CAN be imported into Sketch Up to be "expanded" into 3-D objects.)The "sketch" can be "left in the rough" or refined to the highest degree of precision and measurement and rendered with photographic realism, if needed.If you haven't looked at the (extensive) Sketch Up tutorials, do yourself a favor and watch a few. They are pure entertainment to anyone drawn to the mechanical process such as woodworking. They are so good and so compelling that you'll find yourself wanting to jump in and use the program. WARNING: The learning curve is steep but the experience is so intoxicating that you'll find yourself spending hours, if not days, glued to the computer! Worse than computer games by orders of magnitude!The program was initially developed for architectural uses, but what is a woodworking project if not an "architectural object" with rectilinear mases and lines?And the Sketch Up on-line "community" is even more active than Knots. There is enormous opportunity for help and guidance, ideas, projects.Rich
Edited 5/25/2008 10:37 am ET by Rich14
LOL!.......thanks for intro to Sketch-up.........maybe one of these days, er years, I'll get to it. However, after approx 35 yrs of working w/ computers, I'd just as soon have a few teeth pulled w/o Novocain. Right now, I prefer the manual method -- tho' it does get tiresome when you want to look at options.
I'm sorry to hear that you aren't interested in giving SketchUp a shot. The learning curve isn't all that steep nor is it long. As Rich indicated, you can make very quick, rough sketches and if that's all you need, stop there. You can, however, quickly refine the model and add details such as joinery if needed. You can also quickly display various options such as different door styles or different wood combinations. After you've settled on the design, it is possible to get a cutlist in seconds.
SketchUp is an excellent tool for communicating ideas with clients. since the model can be viewed in perspective and context can be provided, there is little chance that you and the client will have a misunderstanding.
And, for those who need a 2D application, even for Mac, SketchUp can be used to make 2D drawings. The free version, as Rich said, will import CAD files. The Pro version will also export them.
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Thanks Dave,I bought the full-priced version about a year before the free one came out. I forgot there are some differences between them.I was involved in my own home design then and had no idea how useful it was for furniture making until after I started using it.The free version is so full-featured that there is very little more needed, short of using it professionally.I DID find the learning curve a bit steep. It is not intuitive to do things "the Sketch-Up way" in many instances. And Sketch Up uses certain operations (such as "grouping") very differently than most other graphic programs recognize that concept.I will agree however, that the operations have been extremely well developed and show nothing short of brilliance behind their implementation. Everything that Sketch Up does, it does better using ITS methods than ANY other logic. Once one learns to think in its terms, one realizes that they ARE the best way to approach the task and that they solve issues the artist would never have otherwise anticipated.Rich
Rich, you are correct in that SketchUp handles some things, such as grouping and layers differently than other programs. When I am teaching others to use the software, my biggest challenges come in trying to unlearn behaviors that come from other applications. It seems those who haven't learned those other applications have an easier time of it.
I do think there's nothing better at the price point for woodworkers. Even at the price of the Pro version, it has other applications beat hands down. I always get a laugh from people who try to convince others that they should go with Solid Works. If I recall, a seat of Solid Works is somewhere around $9K. Pretty hard to convince me that it is better for the average woodworker to spend more than they have in invested in their tablesaw on a drawing program.
Say, if you've got any questions about using SketchUp, feel free to ask. I'd be happy to help.
Dave
Dave,"Solid Works is somewhere around $9K. Pretty hard to convince me that it is better for the average woodworker to spend more than they have in invested in their tablesaw on a drawing program."$9K?!?!Yikes! $9K is more than a lot of woodworkers have invested in their entire SHOP!I've never heard of Solid Works. I'll have to look into it. I hope it comes with a guarantee of successful sales for anything designed with it!
$9K is just what I recall being told. I couldn't find the price when I went looking for it.
I figure for that price it ought to cut the wood and sand it too. ;)
Buy SketchUp for Dummies. The book will open the program to you within a very short time.Rick
Nah,I'm lookin' for SketchUp for Smarties!
Good luck,I have found the Dummie's series very helpful on some subjects. That said, I had to draw the line, when a friend of mine handed me a copy of Dating for Dummies, after my divorce almost 10 years ago. Relative to SketchUp, the Dummie's book made it possible for me to use the program. From there it was just a matter of working through the particulars, relative to cabinet and furniture design. I would love to learn how to generate a cut list from my drawings. That would be a huge time saver.Rick
Rick,Sorry if I gave the impression that I have any problems with the program. I said that the learning curve was steep. But the tutorials and the help from the SketchUp online community are great.I've had it for several years and use it all the time.Rich
"I would love to learn how to generate a cut list from my drawings. That would be a huge time saver."
Rick, I can help you with that. Check your e-mail.
Dave
Dave,
I too would like to learn how to generate said cut list from sketchup
The answer is here. Design. Click. Build.
why would you be using a Mac anyway?..... switch to a PC......that's what the pro's use. I know, I am one. but if you are still wanting one....try Google Sketchup...2D & 3D..... its a free download...
imadethat1,"why would you be using a Mac anyway?..... switch to a PC......that's what the pro's use. I know, I am one."You don't say!I'm really resisting the temptation to tell you how misinformed you are and how useless responses such as this is.If someone asks how to properly adjust a plane, do you chastise him for using a brand different then your favorite?"Oh, you'll never achieve fine shavings with a Leigh Valley. Switch to a L-N, 'cuz all the pros use them. I do and I are a pro.A "pro" is someone who knows how to use tools, not because they are of a certain make or brand but because his skills transcend those issues.Grow up. This kind of thing was old last century.Rich
Rich..
I hear you with sort of deaf tones.. Old Tank mechanic and I got caught off-guard as a 8 inch gun went off back in the very early 1960's .. I still have ringing in my ears!
I (think) sort of got use to it..
In my working life I used both Mac and Windows.. Many versions.. THEY HAVE A PLACE for what you want to do! Nothing bad OR good about either!
Sort of like a scrub plane! I use a belt sander! Neither is the perfect answer if that is NOT your thing!
I just switched from a PC to a Macbook Pro, and love it! I am also a heavy duty AutoCAD user and a Sketchup user. I run AutoCAD using Fusion VPC and have not noticed any performance issues. Of course, I wouldn't reccomend AutoCAD to an occasional user due to the pricepoint, unless you go with AutoCAD LT. I use Sketchup a lot to model details, and visually see how things will work together. I figure, if I can't draw it in Sketchup, then I can't build it either. I do have a pro license of Sketchup on the PC side, but have the free version on the MAC side. So far, I havn't noticed any significant differences.
hyssop"I figure, if I can't draw it in Sketchup, then I can't build it either." Interesting observation.Not only does SketchUp give you the opportunity to work out relationships before committing to making a lot of sawdust, but it tests your ability to think through the design in the first place.I think it is a little harder to resolve the 3D relationships in SU because the 2D computer interface and the simulated 3D is not as real as the "real thing." So when I'm done visualizing and working out the design in SU, I think I 'm a bit ahead of the point I would be by just picking up some wood and having a go at it.I wonder if there is a cross-platform licensing arrangement for the Pro version so that you could run it natively on your Mac?Rich
"I wonder if there is a cross-platform licensing arrangement for the Pro version so that you could run it natively on your Mac?"There probably is, I jusn't havn't gotten around to it yet.So far I havn't designed any furniture in Sketchup, but I do a lot of architectural design. One time I had this grand idea for a porch railing that I had drawn in 2d in CAD, but when I tried to draw it in Sketchup, it didn't work very well, so I scrapped it. Better to learn it then than to waste a lot of time and material.
I have both PC and Mac machines at home. I've been running SU Pro on the PC since before there was a free version. I inquired about getting a license so I could run Pro on the Mac. They said I could switch the license but I couldn't have both.
Hi guys,I run Solidworks on my iMac using VM Ware Fusion 1.0 ($79.99) and it works great.The earlier comment about Virtual PC is correct, but out of date - now with VM Ware it uses accelerated graphics and with 3GB RAM in my 20" iMac performance is fine, especially for furniture design. Loading a huge assembly may be a different story, but that's not what most of us are doing.As for the guys who said "why use a Mac, go to a PC"... well, what can you say!Have a good weekend,vb
Not true. Pro's can now use a Mac with a Windows emulator program, such as Parallels and Virtual PC. We use SolidWorks 2008 on Mac Pro notebooks using the Parallels emulator. You will need a copy of Windows to put on the Mac hard drive and then you can install any CAD program you want. I am a Mechanical Engineer in the Offshore industry. I am lucky enough to have old versions of SolidWorks that are "left over" to draw all of my woodworking or metalworking projects.
Edited 6/5/2008 9:16 am ET by hippyengineer
I have another suggestion. look into Corel....a lot of people in the Sign industry are using this program and there is a Mac version. it will do 2D drawings, I am a design engineer and have been using Autocad since version R10 and I am also schooled in Solidworks....(15k by the way) and the learning curve is far to advanced for most to bother with. the question is how serious are you in learning it?
Edited 6/4/2008 12:09 pm ET by imadethat1
I don't think anyone has suggested this, but if you download Bootcamp from the Apple website, it will essentially split your hard drive in half, allowing you to run both Mac and Windows on the same computer. I am doing this on my Mac with mixed feelings (most of my problems/headaches are due to the fact that I run Windows very rarely). I don't know if this will work for you. If you have any questions just ask, I will answer them to the best of my abilities (which may not be all that great).
I hope this helps,
Brent
Why would anybody use a MAC to do REAL drawing?
Thanks for using my honest question as a chance to show how pompous you are.
To all that have responded, thanks for the suggestions and help. It sounds like I should check out sketchup at least at first to see if it meets my needs. I've downloaded it but haven't spent too much time with it yet. Any tips on how to get a feel for the program?
Follow the tutorials that come up as a standard feature of the program. You can turn this feature on and off.If you step through the various lessons, and visit the SketchUp Web site, there is an enormous amount of instructional material, as well as numerous forums to ask just about any question related to the program from the most basic operations (do NOT be afraid to ask, especially don't be afraid to ask "stupid questions" - the only stupid question is the one not asked) to the most sophisticated use.Try this link, and click on the Introduction to Sketchup tutorial first.http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/cldetails?mid=36e1fa0d054a15eecc725c514c21d975&prevstart=0 Rich
Edited 6/11/2008 5:32 pm ET by Rich14
The offer of help that I sent you today via e-mail is still open. You might also check out Design. Click. Build. right here on the Fine Woodworking site.
Dave,I just want to compliment you on the support you've given to the subject of SketchUp and computer-aided design on this site. People like yourself are the reason I like this place, and the field of woodworking itself.On a completely off-topic note, I see that you are located in SE Minnesota. My son lives in Cedar Falls, IA and I'm monitoring the horrendous weather that's sweeping through your area of the country tonight. His wife and 2 kids evacuated to Minneapolis yesterday. It looks like there are tornado warnings over the entire geographic region, covering the entire state of Iowa. The rain just won't stop and the flooding and destruction are heart-breaking.Stay dry and God bless.Rich
Rich,
Thank you for both sentiments.
We've been fortunate. Although there's been a lot of rain recently, including overnight, we haven't had any flooding in our immediate area.
I wish your son and his family the best.
Cheers,
Dave
Thanks for using my honest question as a chance to show how pompous you are
Yes I Am..
I was just funnin ya! HAVE USED MANY COMPUTERS IN MY LIFETIME.. Some cost more than they were worth even by USA Military standards!
I just said it because most MAC folks get SO upset! Hell, a computer is WHAT YOU LIKE! If it does the job for you IT is perfect! As a chance to show how pompous you are.. I'd say back.. You have no idea of some of the computers I have worked with!
Each has a place and I'd bet You are looking for a fight.. None from me! You do YOUR thing and I do mine is what I say!
I'd bet you are ALOT smarter than your post to me!
Apparently you have never seen a Mac Guy / PC Guy interaction?Greg
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