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<blockquote data-quote="Phil Graham" data-source="post: 51310" data-attributes="member: 430">Re: AutoCAD AlternativeBrandon,Can you define what you mean by system design? That takes many different forms.I&#039;ve never found a good open source CAD program, but there are several free to very affordable programs that exist, depending on your requirements.2D PackagesFrom Dassault, the makers of <a href="http://www.solidworks.com/" target="_blank">Solidworks</a>, there is the free <a href="http://www.3ds.com/products/draftsight/overview/" target="_blank">Draftsight</a> which serves many needs.There&#039;s also <a href="http://www.doublecad.com/" target="_blank">DoubleCAD</a>, from the makers of <a href="http://www.turbocad.com/" target="_blank">TurboCAD</a>, if you want parametric CAD that acts like AutoCAD and talks well to <a href="http://sketchup.google.com/" target="_blank">Google Sketchup</a>.3D PackagesThere&#039;s only one 3D package I know of that is free, and that is the standard version of Google Sketchup. Be forewarned that Sketchup is not a true parasolid modeler, and is missing multiple useful features (like lofting) from the free version. Trimble acquired Sketchup from Google like a week ago, so the future is unclear for Sketchup.For paid 3D parasolid CAD, there are lots of options. Almost all the major players have packages at multiple price points. If you don&#039;t need super advanced CAM, finite element, or advanced assembly and interference features I think <a href="http://www.alibre.com/" target="_blank">Alibre</a> is the best overall value.Hope that answers the question</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Phil Graham, post: 51310, member: 430"] Re: AutoCAD Alternative Brandon, Can you define what you mean by system design? That takes many different forms. I've never found a good open source CAD program, but there are several free to very affordable programs that exist, depending on your requirements. [B]2D Packages[/B] From Dassault, the makers of [URL="http://www.solidworks.com/"]Solidworks[/URL], there is the free [URL="http://www.3ds.com/products/draftsight/overview/"]Draftsight[/URL] which serves many needs. There's also [URL="http://www.doublecad.com/"]DoubleCAD[/URL], from the makers of [URL="http://www.turbocad.com/"]TurboCAD[/URL], if you want parametric CAD that acts like AutoCAD and talks well to [URL="http://sketchup.google.com/"]Google Sketchup[/URL]. [B]3D Packages[/B] There's only one 3D package I know of that is free, and that is the standard version of Google Sketchup. Be forewarned that Sketchup is not a true parasolid modeler, and is missing multiple useful features (like lofting) from the free version. Trimble acquired Sketchup from Google like a week ago, so the future is unclear for Sketchup. For paid 3D parasolid CAD, there are lots of options. Almost all the major players have packages at multiple price points. If you don't need super advanced CAM, finite element, or advanced assembly and interference features I think [URL="http://www.alibre.com/"]Alibre[/URL] is the best overall value. Hope that answers the question [/QUOTE]

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