hi all,
seeing the discussion thread for designcad prompted me to post… i’ve moved to mac os/x at home — a much better fit for me all around (basically, os/x is BSD unix with a finder thrown in, so i can run ms office and x11 apps at the same time). but, this has presented a problem in getting an affordable design program. i’ve found that most of the reasoanbly priced, and all of the magazine reviewed, CAD programs are windows xp-based. i did find that sketchup is available for os/x, but it’s $475. can anybody recommend a CAD program that runs on os/x?
many thanks!
bert
if it’s worth doing at all, then it’s worth doing well.
Replies
Take a look at gizmolab.com.
hi jim,
many thanks for this tip! have you used design intuition?someone else also mentioned design intuition by gizmolab... i looked at the website, and this thing looks to be the ticket. in fact, it seems like it was designed to provide CAD for woodworking.their example is a coffee table with mortise and tenon joints. it has 2d and 3d views, will do rescaling with click-and-drag, provides repeaters to duplicate structures or substructures, generates a materials list for you (which updates when you add new parts), and even provides cutting diagrams. you can download the program to use for free (lacking only save and print) for as long as you want, then buy a key to turn on save and print. and, they advertize a money back guarantee if you're not happy.i'm definitely trying DI out, and will report back what i discover.cheers,
bertif it's worth doing at all, then it's worth doing well.
Hi, Bert!No, I've only been looking at it (been real busy in the shop), but I got the reference from Tom Trapnell here on Knots. His email is [email protected]. Tom has done quite a bit with DI and showed some of his drawings here. I believe the program is due for an update. I'm going to keep an eye on it, but I would apprerciate it if you would let me know if you get it and how well it serves your needs. I do mostly original designs and I admit to being wary of giving up the sketch pad and alpha state in favor of a CAD program. Guess I qualify as a late adopter, certainly a late adapter. Also, the prospect of having to learn a whole new software routine seems to overshadow any benefit over my present way of doing stuff. I'm gonna stay open, though.
I also use Design Intuition. I am also a beta tester. It's a great program, has lots of features, lots of pre-made items that can be adapted to your use (cases, drawers, doors, etc), you can make your own pre-sets, and all sorts of other stuff. The programmer, Jonathan Sand, is very approachable and willing to listen to all sort of suggestions to make the software better and better.I have posted some images in the past of a quick workbench storage unit I'll be building soon. Took me all of 5 minutes to mock it up.Michael
Just wanted to throw my two cents in. I have been using macs for a couple of years now and would not go back for anything. At work I use PowerCadd for the Mac. Great, but it costs $800 and that is a little much for hobbyist use. When I NEED to run MS stuff on my mac, I use VirtualPC. VirtualPC creates a simulated PC environment on your mac and allows you to run ANYTHING for a PC on a mac. It is a little slower than running natively, but if you have a newer mac, it is about the same as a 750MHz PC. Plenty fast for anything I do. I believe the cost of VirtualPC with Windows XP Pro is $250. Available at the Apple store. Well worth the cost if you just have to do stuff in a PC environment.
I'm a complete idiot when it comes to CAD, and maybe when it comes to everything else, too. Would you mind answering a few questions via email? Mine is [email protected].
Long time MAC junkie here. New to the MS world, and just purchased DesignCAD for the MS platform. You mentioned in your post that you can run MS on your Mac. Can you give me some advice on how to do this cross platform stuff?
I'm not a big fan of Bill Gates' products, and would appreciate the help!
Thanks
I've used Macs since 1992 and I've used Vector Works since about 1998. I don't recommend it. It cost me $800 with the RenderWorks 3D add on-that I've used maybe three times to make fake looking 3D. I use it at least once a week often more and the only advantage over paper and pencil is erasing is quicker.I'm no computer weakling. I've master Photoshop and illustrator, FileMaker, Quark, written HTML, 3D.... Compared to Photoshop or Illustrator VecotrWorks is a mule cart without wheels or the mule.
VectorWorks is just clunky, expensive and unlike PhotoShop and many other Apps it never gets any faster. There are no shortcuts, only menus and pallettes without key command shortcuts. Also the manual is pretty worthless as are the few aftermarket books.
It is however accurate and can make dwf (???) standard CAD format file format.
I'm also wondering if there is a good less expensive alternative. I could upgrade VW to OSX but I don't want to throw any more money at what I consider to be an inadequate product.
I guess if you're really serious AutoCAD on the windows is the gold standard.
What I'm hearing is that when it comes to CAD on a MAC. you're either talking a heavy duty modeling and dimensioning program like Graphite or you're going to have to use the MS platform.Sounds like it's time to sit down with the DesignCad tutorial and start learning!Thanks.
I haven't looked into CAD options for the MAC in recent years but it may be that Windows has the most options. I know there are several freebie kayak design apps-none of which work on a Mac.
With computers costing $500 its not like the religious conversion it used to be to use an other OS.
Try this,
http://www.apple.com/education/hed/academia/creative/architecture.html
I'm also looking and just found this page at Apple so I can't comment one way or another and am jumping back now to see what's actually there.
HTH
Notrix
BTW
I'm more interested in a program that would help with cabinet construction or kitchen remodel type stuff....for Mac OSX please.
Hi you should check out Qcad it is only $28 and will work on a mac
Well, here's another opinion about Vectorworks: I like it. It does everything that I want a CAD program to do. I find that it is fast acting and quick to learn. There is a lot to learn although one doesn't have to know it all for it to be useful. I have the basic program without any of the add-ons. Even at that base level, it is an expensive program.... about a grand nowdays I think. Mine is version 10.
Jeff
There is a free tryout from Interstudio Domus.cad 13 available on the mac site. I don't know anything else about it. Decent cad programs and inexpensive, seem to be mutually exclusive.
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
take a look at sketchup. it's not as much a CAD program but more of a 3D program. try the free demo for 8 hrs.
http://www.sketchup.com/
http://www.sketchup.com/forum/search.php?f=4&search=woodworking&globalsearch=0&match=1&date=0&fldsubject=1&fldbody=1
I found an academic version of Vectorworks on eBay a year ago. They show up every so often by architecture or other students dropping out.
You might look at Cadintosh. Its by Thorsten Lemke, who wrote GraphicConvertor, one of the best graphics programs for the Mac. It's not industrial strength, but it's decent for not much money.
<http://www.lemkesoft.de/en/cadintosh.htm>
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Powercadd, another vote
We have used macs since the late 80's and a drafting program originally called Power Draw and now Power Cadd. It works and works well.
Of course it depends on what you need. If you are drafting furniture I would think Sketch-up would be more than you need. If you producing plan sets of houses or a lot of shop drawings, then the investment in PowerCadd with it's add on Wildtools will be a wise investment.
If you've never used a Cadd package before it will take a while, no matter which program you select, to see why others sing their praise. Intuitive programs are only such if you already pretty much know how they work. But you should be concerned about whether the mac program can create pdf files, and some way to open and write dwg files.
Peter
Wow! Let's dig up a thread that is 7 years old and post some spam in it. Sheesh!
Spam in old threads
Apparently, Internet spamming is where all the job growth is. ;-)
CAD apps are really expensive I generally install them for free on TutuApp https://tutuappx.com/ I find it much convienent than paying for the app.
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