[Yaaarc] Cheap/Free CAD Packages

[Neal Probert]

Most of us can't afford things like AutoCAD, Inventor, OrCAD, TurboCAD and 
various other packages for electrical or mechanical design.  But there are 
cheap or free alternatives.

Most of these are already available as Debian packages under Linux and easy 
to download and install.

Electronic Design
-----------------
Gnu EDA (www.geda.seul.org) is another electronics design package for free, 
and integrates with SPICE for analog circuit simulation.  Here's a good open 
source page for electronic circuit design:

	http://www.opencollector.org/

There is a package called PCB (http://pcb.sourceforge.net/), for pcb board 
layout, that Paul Haas used on Linux to design the Y3MD.  It's not the same 
thing as PCB123 (www.pcb123.com) which includes Windows/Mac software to 
design your board and then have them print the boards for you.

Mechanical Design
-----------------
For Linux, there are quite a few 2D CAD packages, some free like Qcad 
(http://www.ribbonsoft.com/qcad.html).  For 3D CAD or Modeling, try Blender 
(www.blender.org).

	http://www.linuxlinks.com/Software/Graphics/CAD/

LEGO Digital Designer is package for you to design your own LEGO things and 
you can order parts kit to make it from your design.  Otherwise, here's:

	http://www.ldraw.org/

Software Design
---------------
For software, there's plenty packages on Linux.  Editors range from Emacs 
and VI to many, many others.  As for IDEs, some very good ones in Eclipse, 
Komodo, KDevelop and Guile.  Design packages like Umbrello, Argouml, Gaphor, 
Dia and autodia mostly work in UML.

Btw, Open Office 2.0 is as good or better than Microsoft Office for office 
type stuff.  And a hell of a lot cheaper!

bellfours at aol.com wrote:
> James,
> I could try out the TurboCAD. I have done some work using an older version of TurboCAD.
> If the newer TurboCAD is there for me to try it out, maybe I could help you out. 
> If your TurboCAD in your laptop, please make sure there is an external mouse for me to use because it is too difficult to use those finger or internal mouse to do CAD work. 
> Since I work for Yazaki, I use CAD software all the time. 
> I will be coming from out of town, and I will be late, but no later than 8 pm.
>  
> Anthony
>  


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