Looking for a design program

[cowboy63645]

After reading through 83 pages of material on this webiste I still didnt find the answer I was looking for. What kind of programs are you goys (and gals) using to make designs for your TD and TT. I am looking for something to more or less blue print out a design and where I can see the design in 2D and 3D. Any help is greatly appreciated!!

[planovet]

What?? We need a computer program to build our tears? NOW you tell me!

Seriously, I'm a design as you go kinda guy. I picked a profile from the design library, bought Steve Frederick's shop plans and just dove in. It may come back to bite me in the a$$ but so far so good.

I'm sure someone else will give you more helpful info than I just did.

[mandy]

Hi Cowboy,
People here seem to like sketch-up from Google cause it's a free download. I have it too but I'm having a hard time trying to figure it out.

Just my 2 cents...
Mandy

[Hinermad]

Check out the "CAD Secrets" section of the forum. Here's a link to a sticky post with further links to some free drawing software. These are mostly 2D CAD programs.

http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=1413

Mandy has already mentioned Sketchup, which seems to be a pretty capable 3D modeling program. (And the price it right!)

http://sketchup.google.com/

Dave

[angib]

Attention - Sketch-Up users
(I hope that's not too garish!)

I've been using CAD for quite some time so I'm not ideal to comment on what's easy to learn - though I found Sketch-Up very easy and intuitive (which most CAD isn't) for the short time I tried it.

However, can the folks who've learnt Sketch-Up for their trailer building, and then gone on to build what they designed, tell us if it helped them with the building.

I have a suspicion that plenty of Sketch-Up designs are done instead of building (just like me, really!) but for those that do get built, I wonder how useful they found the Sketch-Up model/model to be - it looks to me quite hard to get Sketch-Up to give you back detailed information and so the builder has to work out the details in his/her head just like if they hadn't used Sketch-Up.

Never underestimate how good, how accurate and how useful a decent size scale drawing is - all it needs is a pencil, a ruler, a rubber and either a (kid's) pair of compasses or a selection of jam jar lids to draw circles.

Andrew

[Hinermad]

However, can the folks who've learnt Sketch-Up for their trailer building, and then gone on to build what they designed, tell us if it helped them with the building.

I have a suspicion that plenty of Sketch-Up designs are done instead of building (just like me, really!) but for those that do get built, I wonder how useful they found the Sketch-Up model/model to be - it looks to me quite hard to get Sketch-Up to give you back detailed information and so the builder has to work out the details in his/her head just like if they hadn't used Sketch-Up.

Andrew,

That's a good point. I want to use Sketchup just for basic modeling - figuring out of the major pieces like the refrigerator and stove are going to fit - but most of the details I'll do in 2D. I've never used a CAD program so I suspect I'll give it a try, get fed up with it, and switch to pencil and paper. (Grin)

Dave

[mikeschn]

the learning curve on most cad programs, and most solid modeling programs is pretty steep. I use Pro-Engineer, Unigraphics and Turbocad.

But for someone who just wants to draw a teardrop, I'd suggest finding something easier. I've done 2d drawings in Paint... and there's a lot of users that say Sketch up is the best thing since sliced bread. I don't know, I never spent any time with sketchup.

but it's free, so check it out!

Mike...

[madjack]

Cad-Std is free(pro version costs 25 bucks) and will do all the 2-D line drawings you could want and has a very reasonable learning curve...I like it.... http://www.cadstd.com/ if you look on the 2nd and 3rd page of my album, you see some things done with it..if you want to put the time in to beat the learning curve, there is a free version of Turbo-Cad (called LE) out there...
madjack

[mikeschn]

And the free version of TC LE is here:
http://www.al-ki.com/tcad/download.php#TurboCADLE

Mike...

[madjack]

And the free version of TC LE is here:
http://www.al-ki.com/tcad/download.php#TurboCADLE

Mike...

...that would be my choice if starting from scratch..................................

[Ken A Hood]

I use AutoCad 2005, and am still learning all the tools/commands. When I was in school we used AutoCad Release 11.......

I'd add that in order to use (some of) these programs you need a background in drafting/engineering since these programs don't teach you the drafting/engineering basics...

[Hinermad]

I use AutoCad 2005, and am still learning all the tools/commands. When I was in school we used AutoCad Release 11.......

I'd add that in order to use (some of) these programs you need a background in drafting/engineering since these programs don't teach you the drafting/engineering basics...

Dad used to teach AutoCAD when he was still teaching at the vocational school, but he doesn't do that any more.

I took some drafting in school. I get the idea of how to make lines on paper mean what I want - it's convincing the software to do it that throws me. (Whattaya mean, there's no "45 degree triangle" button?)

What really annoys me is that I just got rid of a set of drafting tools about 2 years ago. "I'll never use these" says I. Famous last words.

Dave

[Trackstriper]

I have a suspicion that plenty of Sketch-Up designs are done instead of building (just like me, really!) but for those that do get built, I wonder how useful they found the Sketch-Up model/model to be - it looks to me quite hard to get Sketch-Up to give you back detailed information and so the builder has to work out the details in his/her head just like if they hadn't used Sketch-Up.



Andrew

I haven't really started my build yet so I know what you mean. I have purchased my axle units, wheels and frame materials though, so I hope I'm not a total wannabe!

I had a background in drafting (before computers) and my first CAD program was TurboCad LE which was easy enough to pick up without any real training...just played around with it. I still use an older version of TurboCad (v9.0) that's no longer supported, but it gets the job done. The newer versions have more bells and whistles that I wouldn't use. I still think in terms of plan view, side view and end view, just like old-style drafting. My CAD will do 3D, but I don't know how to make that happen, so I use Sketchup for the 3D stuff.

Each as it's own good points. The CAD is great for making sure things fit here and there, and will give you very good, real dimensions. You can create and move objects in a much more controlled manner than in Sketchup. The Sketchup, if you can put together a close likeness of an object, will allow you to visualize the object much better...the zoom and rotate functions help me see what the thing might actually look like from different angles. I could probably do that with my CAD if I took the time to learn how. The Sketchup, while limited, filled that mission.

So, I use both when trying to work out a design.

The free TC LE should let someone design a teardrop and learn a new skill.

Bruce

[angib]

I wrote the following on this forum three years ago, but I think it bears repeating for anyone starting to use CAD (any program, though maybe not Sketch-Up):

1) It is important to understand that a CAD entity (a line, a circle, etc) is not a final product, like a line drawn on paper - there is often a good reason to draw something and then modify it - I often draw a line overlength and then correct its length afterwards. Equally you can draw construction lines that you might delete later. The difference between CAD and drawing on paper is rather like the difference between word processing and using a typewriter.

2) Learn to use the 'snap' functions of your program, instead of trying to move your mouse to 1/64 inch! You will want to use both a grid (to place the end of lines on a 1" grid, for example) and individual 'snap points' (for example to make a new line start exactly on one end of an existing line). In TurboCAD, if you hold down the 'shift' button while drawing, lines will go only vertically or horizontally. Also learn how to input dimensions when creating new entities - if you've drawn one side of a floor, you want the line for the other side of the floor to be exactly 48" (or whatever) away, not 47.637"!

3) Learn to use the parallel line function, rather than drawing each line individually. A large number of lines in a trailer are either vertical or horizontal and it's much easier to place them accurately if you create them as a new line parallel to an existing line.

4) Learn to zoom in and out while drawing (I now think a wheel mouse is essential for CAD!) so that you can position entities correctly - a pencil line on paper can never be in exactly the right place, but a CAD line can be - if you learn to put lines in the right place to start with, you will find that many functions of a CAD program work better or more easily.

Just my twopennyworth!

Andrew

PS Since I wrote this, the dollar has declined to half a British pound, so that twopennyworth is actually worth four cents American....

[Mstro]

Choosing a CAD program isn,t easy, Most user interfaces are as different as what you see here in different design choses in TD's.
The best way to choose is start with the free trials and find an interface that fells comfortable yo you.
I personally prefer TurboCad because it was quicker to get use to.
I also use Sketchup as a tool to judge the concepts that i am thinking about.
Once you find a program you like, let the head aches begin

Marc