Cadalyst - January 2008 - (Page 37)

mcadmodeling Low- or No-Cost CAD These 2D and 3D modeling tools suit shoestring budgets — for work or for home. By Mike Hudspeth, IDSA new 386 computer. I didn’t find much, but eventually I found a program that said it could do what I was looking for. I spent way too much money for it — $399 — and tried to learn it. I never got anywhere. It was a disaster, but it taught me a few things about 3D modeling software, not the least of which was to look very carefully before I buy. Nowadays, we designers have it so much better. The software has improved immeasurably, prices have come way down (even for the highend stuff), and we have access to support channels like never before. It’s a modeler’s paradise! For next to nothing, we can access capabilities that were once only affordable to large multinational companies. Some of it is even free! Let’s take a look at some of the tools you can acquire on a shoestring budget. W hen I was a kid, I built models all the time, and being a huge science fiction nut most of them were spaceships. After a while, I started to build my own designs, but I was always somewhat limited by the parts I could get or what I could make. When I got a little older, my company jumped onto the 3D solid modeling bandwagon. I was hooked! I had access to a tool that would allow me to make my models any way I wanted, without physical limitations. The only problem was I only had so much time on the computer, and — go figure — the company wanted me to concentrate on work-related activities. I needed something of my own. It was then that I started looking around for affordable modeling software that would run on my brand Figure 1. Draft IT has object snaps and dynamic dimensioning. 2D Deals Many people are happy dealing in 2D geometry. Even a self-declared evangelist of 3D modeling like me has to admit that there is certainly a place for 2D work. But I couldn’t call myself a decent 3D evangelist if I didn’t point out that if your product occupies 3D space, your company would probably benefit from 3D modeling. Siemens PLM Software (formerly UGS) has been working to get CAD users to transition from 2D to 3D. It has created many tools toward that end. One of its most interesting attempts has got to be the Solid Edge 2D product scheme. Declaring that 2D CAD is now a commodity item, it split off the drafting module and started giving it away scot-free! That’s right, you can have just about the same level of 2D drafting software prowess as a several thousand–dollar seat of AutoCAD for nothing. Figure 2. Inventor LT can import and export many software formats. In this article Alibre www.alibre.com Autodesk www.autodesk.com CADLogic www.cadlogic.com Caligari www.caligari.com CoCreate www.cocreate.com Dassault Systemes Another free 2D product is Draft IT from CADLogic, a British company. It’s very straightforward, easy to use, and full of functionality. You just click and drag your entities, and dynamic dimensions rubberband out to let you know what you’re doing. You have snaps (figure 1) that will ensure that your lines end where you intend. It’s a relatively small download (37 MB) and runs very fast. www.solidworks.com Robert McNeel & Associates 3D Steals Of course, when you’re ready to move to 3D, you have some great low- or no-cost options. Autodesk has an amazing free offer for Inventor LT. Inventor LT lets users create parametric models, translates a surprising number www.cadalyst.com | cadalyst | January 2008 www.rhino3D.com Siemens PLM Software www.ugs.com/en_us/products/ velocity/solidedge/ 37 http://www.alibre.com http://www.autodesk.com http://www.cadlogic.com http://www.caligari.com http://www.cocreate.com http://www.solidworks.com http://www.rhino3D.com http://www.ugs.com/en_us/products/velocity/solidedge http://www.ugs.com/en_us/products/velocity/solidedge http://www.cadalyst.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Cadalyst - January 2008

Cadalyst - January 2008 Contents Editor's Window Cad Central Chasing the Dolphins CAD that Won’t Break the Bank AliasStudio 2008 — Design and Visualization Software VectorWorks 2008 — CAD/BIM Authoring Software Dell Precision M4300 — Mobile Workstation What’s in Store for 2008? Low- or No-Cost CAD Goliath Reinvented Doin’ the DEED Cad Cartoon Issue Indexes The Return of Hot Tip Harry

Cadalyst - January 2008

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.