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This topic has 32 replies, 19 voices, and was last updated 14 October 2014 at 19:59 by Neil Wyatt.

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15 November 2013 at 21:24 #21163
Bob Perkins
Participant
@bobperkins67044
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15 November 2013 at 21:24 #135638
Bob Perkins
Participant
@bobperkins67044
I've downloaded a copy of FreeCad this week . I'm currently using a 1990s copy of Autocad LT, and wow what a difference……. I've had a short play with it tonight and managed to draw a circle and a line after a brief YouTube tutorial. Perhaps a bit disappointed with progress . I hoped it may be more intuitive, but perhaps 20 plus years with my old LT which I can drive with my eyes shut have led to impatience. Perhaps a cold winter evening project. Is anybody else using this? Is it worth persevering with?
15 November 2013 at 21:48 #135640
Versaboss
Participant
@versaboss
Hello Bob,

I had a look into this program lately and feel a bit like you. This program seems to be very capable, but the interface is a nightmare… E.G. the drawing tools (line etc.) are not active when one starts with a 'part design'. Dunno what this is called in English; my version is mixed German and English…
But I think it would be worth persevering. The possibility to extend it with Python could be interesting too.

Can you give the link for that Youtube tutorial? From the link on the start page I get nothing…

Greetings, Hansrudolf
15 November 2013 at 22:02 #135645
Bob Perkins
Participant
@bobperkins67044
Hi Hansrudolf

thanks for your thoughts. Try this link.

**LINK**

Bob
16 November 2013 at 00:19 #135660
Ady1
Participant
@ady1
If it's an MSI program will you not need to get the microsoft .NET download first?

About 800 megabytes the last time I looked…

Is there an .EXE anywhere?

Edited By Ady1 on 16/11/2013 00:20:32
16 November 2013 at 00:30 #135661
GaryM
Participant
@garym
Hi Bob,

I am a complete novice at CAD but since starting model engineering have been impressed by others skills that I thought I would like to have a go at learning it just for fun. I didn't want to buy anything because I don't intend doing any design work or CNC. Just a source of entertainment in the winter months. Anyway I tried Google Sketchup, ProgeCAD 2009 Smart and Draft IT and didn't really make much progress. But I downloaded FreeCAD about a week ago after reading the other thread on CAD programs and I've found it easier to get started with than the others. I realise that you get what you pay for and that it is a steep learning curve but this is just my thoughts as a beginner.

The tutorials on YouTube by Martham Engineering **LINK**

and Bram De Vries **LINK**

are good starting points.

Gary
16 November 2013 at 00:42 #135662
Ady1
Participant
@ady1
Gave it a hurl in WinXP to save others with poor net connectivity

I never have any luck with MSI files

—————————
C:Program FilesFreeCAD0.13binFreeCAD.exe
—————————
C:Program FilesFreeCAD0.13binFreeCAD.exe

This application has failed to start because the application configuration is incorrect. Reinstalling the application may fix this problem.

—————————
16 November 2013 at 02:16 #135666
Muzzer
Participant
@muzzer
I had a couple of issues with it crashing. The recommendation seems to be to save often which sounds like good advice. It seems to be very much WIP in some areas but will hopefully "harden" (software term) with time. If it does so, it promises to have a lot of the functionality of the "proper" parametric applications.

Wouldn't be surprised if it struggled with XP unless you have chosen to marry a powerful machine with an old OS.

They all claim to be intuitive and in some ways they are – but all in different ways! Perhaps I'm just getting too old…
16 November 2013 at 07:35 #135668
Russell Eberhardt
Participant
@russelleberhardt48058
FreeCAD looks like a very capable program but, like you Bob, I find the human interface difficult. For 3D work I use a very old copy of Solidworks and I guess because I'm used to that it's difficult to change.

If you want to upgrade from your old AutocadLT for 2D (or 2 1/2D) try Draftsight. It's human interface is virtually the same as Autocad and it will read and write all versions of .dwg files.

Russell.
13 October 2014 at 19:16 #166461
Iain Campbell
Participant
@iaincampbell84581
I did use FreeCAD for a while but the lack of certain features like drawing over JPEGs and converting to 3D (AutoCAD can do it) plus a difficult interface and sometimes very buggy code, I got fed up of it. I could easily learn Python and extend it, or get involved in the community and go from there… but that's a lot of hassle when I'd rather be making stuff instead of improving software. A shame, because it has huge potential. Maybe in a few years…

I've gone over to Designspark Mechanical (a collaboration between RS and SpaceClaim), instead. Has a feel much like Google Sketchup but from a mechanical persepctive. So far, it's been able to do everything I've needed, more so than FreeCAD, and is very intuitive. The only downside it is limited in output formats, but Step files are one format it does do.

Iain
13 October 2014 at 19:49 #166470
Neil Wyatt
Moderator
@neilwyatt
I can't give any details, but I'm hoping to get a high-spec CAD program as an MEW cover disc – watch this space…

Neil
13 October 2014 at 19:52 #166471
Steambuff
Participant
@steambuff
Neil,

Will Digital Subscribers be able to download it?

Dave
13 October 2014 at 20:35 #166476
WALLACE
Participant
@wallace
Hi Neil.

What a good idea !

W.
13 October 2014 at 20:50 #166478
Roger Provins 2
Participant
@rogerprovins2
Posted by Steambuff on 13/10/2014 19:52:01:

Neil,

Will Digital Subscribers be able to download it?

Dave

… and will it work in Linux?
13 October 2014 at 22:10 #166483
Muzzer
Participant
@muzzer
Me first then. I'll go for Geomagic / Cubify 30-day trial? I hope it's proper 3D.

Great idea, whatever it is!

Merry

Edited By Muzzer on 13/10/2014 22:22:55
13 October 2014 at 22:20 #166485
Martin Cottrell
Participant
@martincottrell21329
Posted by Neil Wyatt on 13/10/2014 19:49:33:

I can't give any details, but I'm hoping to get a high-spec CAD program as an MEW cover disc – watch this space…

Neil

Great idea Neil, will it be Mac compatible as well as Windoze?

Martin.
13 October 2014 at 22:28 #166486
ronan walsh
Participant
@ronanwalsh98054
Siemans allow free downloads of their 2d cad programme called solidedge 2d. I did use their 3d solid modelling software in college, very similar in some ways to solidworks, but hugely expensive to get a licence for. Alibre design or geomatic or whatever its called now is very good for the price, probabily ideal for the home user.

http://www.plm.automation.siemens.com/en_us/products/solid-edge/free2d/
14 October 2014 at 00:37 #166495
clivel
Participant
@clivel
Posted by Neil Wyatt on 13/10/2014 19:49:33:

I can't give any details, but I'm hoping to get a high-spec CAD program as an MEW cover disc – watch this space…

Neil

The cherry on the top would be simultaneously running a tutorial series on using the program in MEW at the same time.
14 October 2014 at 01:03 #166497
Bill Pudney
Participant
@billpudney37759
I bought Alibre, had some problems with it so I phoned the local (in Australia) agent. I spoke to someone with an American accent, he described himself as "The Manager for Australia". I described my problem with Alibre, which The Manager didn't attempt to help me with, he went straight into a verbal destruction of my PC, and ended by calling me an idiot.

Now that the computer has been upgraded (?) from Windoze XP, Alibre has been lost, oh dear what a pity

So I reverted to TurboCAD.

Don't mention Alibre!

cheers

Bill
14 October 2014 at 02:39 #166498
ronan walsh
Participant
@ronanwalsh98054
Posted by Bill Pudney on 14/10/2014 01:03:44:

I bought Alibre, had some problems with it so I phoned the local (in Australia) agent. I spoke to someone with an American accent, he described himself as "The Manager for Australia". I described my problem with Alibre, which The Manager didn't attempt to help me with, he went straight into a verbal destruction of my PC, and ended by calling me an idiot.

Now that the computer has been upgraded (?) from Windoze XP, Alibre has been lost, oh dear what a pity

So I reverted to TurboCAD.

Don't mention Alibre!

cheers

Bill

Bill, i am surprised and sorry to hear that you've had problems with alibre, or geomatic as its now called. I downloaded alibre for a 30 day trial and found it excellent , very like the earlier versions of solidworks i had worked with and loved, but could not afford.
14 October 2014 at 06:35 #166501
Bill Pudney
Participant
@billpudney37759
I had read all the reviews, used the free download with some success when it was first available, (7 or 8 years ago?) Then there was some issue with our PC and as a result lots of stuff got deleted. It was reloaded with software that we had the CDs for. Obviously not Alibre as it was a download. Then a couple of years ago, Turbocad was getting a bit clunky and I started reviewing update options. Obviously Alibre came out (with one or two others, like Draftsight I think) at the top of the heap. So I bought it thinking that the "new" version would be better than the lost "old" version.

I'm sure that there are a lot of happy users out there, most of my issues were with the loud mouthed, egotistical person in the office. I'm sure that there must be an easier way to buy software than be forced to deal with downloads and having no CD in your hot sticky little hand is a problem, what do you do when the software needs to be reloaded, don't these people understand that sometimes computers go wrong? Of course not they're software people.

However I'm still open to other options!!

cheers

Bill
14 October 2014 at 07:46 #166504
Michael Gilligan
Participant
@michaelgilligan61133
Posted by Bill Pudney on 14/10/2014 01:03:44:

… The Manager didn't attempt to help me with, he went straight into a verbal destruction of my PC, and ended by calling me an idiot.

Now that the computer has been upgraded (?) from Windoze XP, Alibre has been lost …

.

Bill,

I have absolutely no experience with Alibre Geomagic but, out of curiosity, I've just looked at the System Requirements page [which, at first sight, all seems fairly reasonable].

It might be worth comparing the spec. of your P.C. with their stated requirements … then contact Alibre again, to have an "informed discussion" [preferably with a different Representative!!]

MichaelG.
14 October 2014 at 08:55 #166507
Howi
Participant
@howi
If you have bought software as a download only, surely you will have a licence key, what is wrong with re-downloading the software?

Did the software download fully prior to installation, if so why not save it to a cd /DVD or another HD?
14 October 2014 at 09:43 #166513
Ennech
Participant
@ennech
I have been using Alibre for a number of years. You can see some of the results in my albums. If you have any specific problems, give me a shout and I will be pleased to help.
14 October 2014 at 09:51 #166514
Bill Pudney
Participant
@billpudney37759
I checked the system requirements and our PC was well in, so no probs there. I did receive a licence key, but it was in an email, which went away, along with a lot of others, when we upgraded from Windoze XP to 7. In all honesty I couldn't face the prospect of contacting the agents again

I'm grateful for all the concern shown, advice etc, but please believe me when I say that I have moved on, and am still happily using an upgraded version of TurboCAD, (which works very well) and have put the Alibre thing down to experience.

cheers

Bill
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