I use QCAD for 2D drafting.  It wasn't that expensive, and works with dwg
files.  I got my copy a few years ago and haven't updated.  It is fine for
my uses.

For schematics you would be better off with something like Eagle.  That
works for me too.

Regards,

Gordon Williams


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tamas Rudnai" <tamas.rudnai@gmail.com>
To: "Microcontroller discussion list - Public." <piclist@mit.edu>
Sent: Thursday, April 01, 2010 2:05 PM
Subject: Re: [TECH] Drawing tool (aka CAD) for doing product drawings
andschematics.


> On Thu, Apr 1, 2010 at 7:22 PM, M. Adam Davis <stienman@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Have you considered google sketchup?  It's free for the regular
> > version, and does shading, etc.
> >
>
> Yes, I was thinking to bring this up as well, but not sure if you can
> replace a CAD with that? I mean can you draw entering x/y/z position and
> length of the line, the centre and radius of a circuit etc instead of
> clicking with mouse only? Or is there any other way to draw with accuracy?
>
> BTW there is QCad as well. Also I was using lightly TurboCad and is quite
> good -- do not know if that makes photo realistic 3D models, I just needed
> for traditional sketches.
>
> Thanks
> Tamas
>
>
>
> >
> > Perhaps not ideal, but it's easy enough to work with, and may meet your
> > needs.
> >
> > -Adam
> >
> > On Wed, Mar 31, 2010 at 4:51 PM, Forrest W Christian
<forrestc@imach.com>
> > wrote:
> > > I'm again trying to get to the point of being able to produce some
> > > decent product drawings for manuals and the like....
> > >
> > > I'd really like to be able to import/use the 2D/3D cad drawings
> > > available from most of my suppliers in either .dwg, .dxf or .pdf to
> > > produce a 'real' line or possibly 3d-shaded drawings of the products,
> > > and then be able to show wiring options.
> > >
> > > Of course, I'd love to just buy a copy of soldworks, but I have a hard
> > > time justifying the estimated $4K price tag for the product.  So I'm
> > > looking for something not nearly as expensive.   I'm ok with spending
> > > money on the right tool for the job, assuming it will really work for
> > > me.   I've downloaded and tried several, but they all seem to come
with
> > > their own set of issues, and not nearly enough functionality and/or
ease
> > > of use to make them worthwhile.
> > >
> > > So, my question is, what tools should I be looking at to do these type
> > > of product diagrams?
> > >
> > > -forrest
> > >
> > >
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>
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> printf(s=%s%s%s, q=%s%s%s%s,s,q,q,a=%s%s%s%s,q,q,q,a,a,q); }",
> q="\"",s,q,q,a="\\",q,q,q,a,a,q); }
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