What is a decent autocad like free mechanical drafting program?

[Dostradamas]

Trying to draw up a part in a format that is easily emailable.
2D just something that can draw circles from center points and add dimensions.

I am designing a part to be machined and don't have much for software.
Looking for an easy free download.

Any ideas?

[twodollarbill]

Sketchup? SketchUp

[Crawling Calvin]

Originally Posted by twodollarbill

Sketchup? SketchUp

Sketchup is ok but be warned if your going to try and make a usable file from it that can be somewhat problematic. I have used it to make STL's for 3D printing and sketchup has a nasty habit of sometimes filling in circles on the STL that you didn't ask it to do.

Main problem with a lot of "free" design softwares is they have some kind of issue with the exported files or drawing. If your desperate you can always get a trial download of like AutoCAD or if you have proof of being a student in a school you can try for a student download license of the software.

[Dostradamas]

I am really looking for a bit more versatile Microsoft paint.

Just something I can draw fairly quick and save as a jpg file and attach to an email.

I am just trying to avoid drawing & scanning if I can.

[DrewHammer]

3ds DraftSight? This is my go to CAD for 2d stuff. It'll export in just about any file type.

[drzoo2]

Librecad.
http://librecad.org/cms/home.html

Open source and cross platform.

[Eric0424]

Originally Posted by Dostradamas

I am really looking for a bit more versatile Microsoft paint.

Just something I can draw fairly quick and save as a jpg file and attach to an email.

I am just trying to avoid drawing & scanning if I can.

Look into e-Machine shop software. You build in 2D from the front, back, left, right, top and/or bottom, then you can view and save the 3D model as a Jpeg. It may be more complicated than what you're looking for (it's still CAD software), but it was what I found that was close to a high tech Microsoft paint style program.

I've searched for what I believe you're looking for several times, but ended up just using the e-Machine Shop software that I already had. The paint programs were all photo editing based and it just wasn't what I needed.

[Etype R]

I started using onshape for my projects at home, even though I have full access to solidworks.

[spookyseven]

My experience with using sketchup to make a .stl. was kinda like chopping down a tree with a 3lb hammer, it worked but I sure didn't enjoy it.

[StrangerRanger]

If you are a student, or know someone with a .edu email address you can get free 2yr license for any full Autodesk programs. Inventor and Solidworks are good.

[Leon Sidursky]

PM me if you are still looking for a program. May be worth your while if you are.

[Crawling Calvin]

Just because the thread got resurrected there are now available:

On Shape (not used but some people think its the next best thing to sliced bread )

Fusion 360. (used for like 10 minutes although it is interesting... can also do CAM functions if you got a CNC machine)

Also AutoDesk has some more "basic" CAD programs like 123D Design that maybe worth a peek at...

[onebullet]

can anybody recomend a program that i can design and print out a chassis on? Ive never worked with cad so something that is either easy to use or has a good lesson somewhere online would be nice. Ive watched the harly design videos of him making things in cad and then printing them out 1:1 on huge sheets of paper, i dont have a huge printer so something that can use a normal size printer would be great.

i know zero about things like this so if this is all stupid questions i apologize and would appreciate being pointed in the right direction.

Thanks

[snapon boy]

Try draft sight it's free it's whit I printed my styreen builds with. I print on resume paper and cut it out for template .