Design Software

[rcktscientist]

New to this forum, it's a great wealth of knowledge. I have BobCAD and been using it for my design work but it's fairly limited. What other programs are popular? I was considering looking into Corel Draw. Also, are there better CAM software's that specialize in sheet metal I should look at. I have a Torchmate 4X4 table and Hypertherm 65.

[adbuch]

Fusion 360, Inkscape, and Solid Edge 2022 are all free, seem to be popular here, and are easy to use. Many use SheetCam for cam, and Fusion includes cam as part of the package. Fusion 360 does have a sheet metal module. Many also use CorelDraw for their cad software. CorelDraw 2020 is available at a reasonable price on Amazon.

David

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08B1 ... UTF8&psc=1

[acourtjester]

It depends on what you want to draw or trace. I use a fairly cheap CAD program called "TurboCAD 2018" they have newer version out now. This is for normal 2-D type exact measurement Drawing of parts I want to cut. And Inkscape for more artsy drawing or tracing of images (Free). The exported drawing are then opened in SheetCam for doing the cut planning into G-code. I use the same process for routing, diamond scribe,Pen Plotting, and drag knife (sign vinyl). For laser work I use Lightburn which does many of the same things for image manipulation to etch.

[adbuch]

TurboCad is one I had not considered. I will have to check it out. Thanks for that Tom.
David

[plasmanewbie]

For artistic stuff I use Corel and for mechanical parts I use Fusion, I used to use Corel for both. Fusion makes mechanical parts so much easier but very cumbersome for artistic stuff. Corel would do it all for you but if its strictly mechanical Fusion would be my choice.

[adbuch]

For most of my mechanical stuff I use an older version of AutoCad quite a bit, and also Bricscad and Design Edge. But I do like Fusion 360, and the fact that it is free is a big plus for many. I am just learning CorelDraw and as I mentioned above the price is very reasonable for a stand-alone single seat license. There are just so many different choices that it is sometimes hard to decide which one to use for a particular project.
David

[cutnweld]

I have been using turbocad, works well for me tho I am thinking of learning fusion 360

[adbuch]

I have been using turbocad, works well for me tho I am thinking of learning fusion 360

I highly recommend these Fusion 360 tutorial lessons from Arnold Rowntree. I went thru them several years ago and they really helped me.
David