Replies

1. 
   Turbo | Apr 21, 2005 04:12am | #1

   Dear Adastra,

   Check with your local community college. Many offer CAD classes, etc., programs. Technical colleges offer it too, though often they want you to enroll for their whole program, instead of a particular class they offer. Consider talking with one of the local better architects.
   Turbo

2. 
   DonaldCBrown | Apr 21, 2005 04:25am | #2

   If you've never used CAD, you're in for a treat. Lots and lots of new concepts and program idiosyncracies to learn.

   TurboCAD is a complete program (I'm guessing you got the full-bore Professional version) that can do pretty much everything you want in 2D and 3D, but see my opening comment. The company sells a couple of training manuals that are well worth the investment.

   Good luck.

3. 
   Telemike | Apr 21, 2005 07:20am | #3

   I use TurboCad 7. Because it was cheaper by far than AutoCad, the industry standard. Prepare for a serious learning period, whatever CAD program you use. But, the complexity is the price of the versatility.

   The documentation kinda stinks; they sell the program really cheaply, but recoup some of the costs with "Tutorial" CDs. Factor these costs in too when pricing out CAD programs.

   There are huge numbers of libraries out there for symbols etc. Some are free, lot's more cost money. I've not looked for pre-drawn hardware, but it's out there and TurboCad can use AutoCad symobol libraries also.

   There's a reason why design is a profession and practioners are paid fairly well. You have to learn to use it. I use it like an automated drawing program with construction lines and erasers. I'm still not skilled with the 3D stuff and 7.0 isn't as good as later programs with 3D.

   Note that if you want a dedicated drawing program there are much simpler ones dedicated to specific tasks. There are kitchen cabinet programs that are simple and focused on every aspect of cabinet design and manufacture. There are architecture programs that design houses and walk throught them in 3D. But, real CAD is the basis of all of them if you take the time to learn it.