Simple to learn Cad program for plasma???

[All Cut Up]

I am using Fusion 360. Is there a free or small cost easy to use and learn 2D cad program ??? I have sheetcam for Cam just need Cad program ?? Frustrated with Fusion 360 ...... Thanks Dave

[acourtjester]

I think QCAD is free, or Google free CAD programs to find others

[Joe Jones]

FreeCAD is a god program!

http://www.freecad.org/

Google SketchUp is great, and easy to learn. I believe they still have a free version that is fully functional, except that it is limited to exporting files in its own proprietary format.

Try DesignSpark Mechanical. It is also free. Lots of You Tube videos with a VERY patient guy who trains you on the software.

There are lots of free 2D cad programs out there, since 2D is essentially 1980s technology.

Joe

[adbuch]

LightBurn is great for simple drawings and such. You can get a free 30 day trial, and if you decide to purchase the cost is around $65.
David
https://lightburnsoftware.com/

[robertspark]

qcad is similar to librecad both are very simple 2d cad programs and perfectly fine for sheetcam.

freecad is file for 3d and zero cost, if can be clunky

I dropped fusion 360 years ago once they closed off some of the functions and hiked the price.

[adbuch]

Design Spark Mechanical is another free one that is simple to use and will export as dxf.
David
https://www.rs-online.com/designspark/m ... stallation

DesignSpark Mechanical.jpg

[adbuch]

Inkscape is also free and can easily be used for creating simple 2D cad shapes.
David

[adbuch]

Protomax is another free one you might try.
David
https://en.protomax.ro/software/

Protomax.jpg

[Joe Jones]

Protomax is another free one you might try.
David
https://en.protomax.ro/software/
Protomax.jpg

David, I went to this link. I see no way of downloading the software for free. Evidently, it is installed onto a laptop that is sold with the machine.

Can you provide the link you found to download the free software? It looks interesting. I'd like to add this to my bag-o-tricks!

Thanks.

Joe

[tinspark]

Here is a link to the free download page for protomax :

https://www.omax.com/libraries/omax/download/

[tinspark]

it seems to have a pretty decent trace feature; Intelli-TRACE which seems interesting...

[adbuch]

Here is a link to the free download page for protomax :

https://www.omax.com/libraries/omax/download/

Thanks Doug! Google is your friend.
David

[adbuch]

it seems to have a pretty decent trace feature; Intelli-TRACE which seems interesting...

Doug - that's the main reason I took a look at it a few years ago. But I still find that Inkscape bitmap trace works best for me compared to any of the others - including Design Edge, CorelDraw, LightBurn, etc.

David

[tinspark]

it seems to have a pretty decent trace feature; Intelli-TRACE which seems interesting...

Doug - that's the main reason I took a look at it a few years ago. But I still find that Inkscape bitmap trace works best for me compared to any of the others - including Design Edge, CorelDraw, LightBurn, etc.

David

agreed. Same for me too.
into Inkscape for a trace , for artwork and graphics and such. then out to Designedge for final cleanup and any extra ginger-breading.
I also rarely use Designedge for CAD work either. I still am using DesignSpark for my parts and things that I want to draw in CAD, then I convert to a DXF and then open and finalize in Designedge. I guess it is what w get used to doing. as long as it works, is repeatable and it doesn't take forever to do, I am pretty good with it.... Of course new tricks are cool too and keeps things interesting.

[acourtjester]

Inkscape has many optional features that will help with project creation. Changing size and position, align and distribute to pattern items in the drawing. Path effects for shaping and arranging many things for artistic drawing. Positioning items for nesting a group before moving info the CAM software, or breaking apart items in a drawing you have traced or imported. Changing the line thickness for better control in plasma cutting of a shape. Saving files in different formats for importing in other programs.

[adbuch]

Tom - nice demo of some of Inkscape's many capabilities.
David

[plasmanewbie]

I don't think any of them are easy, the trick is just to pick one and stick with it. If your doing mechanical stuff not much is easier than Fusion, if your doing artistic stuff than it would certainly be frustrating and cumbersome. I personally like Corel Draw. Let us know what you decide on and how its going. Many here are happy to help, we have all been there.

[Rodw]

You could also look at onshape web based. It is free if your parts are publically available. Soo much nicer than F360. Save as dxf and layout in sheetcam.. Onshape is very powerful.

[Deezl Smoke]

I'm another one for Qcad and Inkscape. Both came loaded on my computer with my Arclight dynamics table. I'm 60 years old now, but bought the table at 56. Having zero experience with cnc before that, and even less computer know how, I was able to learn Qcad quite easily and can do fairly well with it today. Inkscape is a bit more involved, but for art and bitmap import, it is awesome, though mostly still over my head. I watch the youtube channel "Logos by Nick" for my inkscape tutorials when I need them.

[robertspark]

one for qcad + sheetcam

[kn612]

Solid edge 2d and 3d are free too. Solid edge 3d is handy for flattening 3d stuff found on the internet to plasma cut. Another+1 for Qcad, it's hard to beat.