Thread says Computer Applications so I'll give it a try!

[kshansen]

Thought someone here might have some suggestions.

I'm looking for an easy to learn program that can be used to draw up things like say some cabinets or work bench. Fifty years ago I took a couple courses in drawing at the local community college but even the guys building moon landers hardly had computers back then! I do still have my Tee-square and drawing tools so I can go old school but just wanted to give doing this on my computer a try.

I did have a couple programs many years ago but they seemed more suited for building nuclear reactors than just designing a work bench or knickknack shelf.

And yea I'm cheep and would prefer freeware programs which actually many times they are easier to used because they don't have all the fancy stuff that I don't have a need for at home.

 

[CM1995]

Well K this forum is kinda for that sort of thing but then again not really at all.

Anyways try Google Sketch Up. It's kinda clunky to get started with but it's free...

Now since it's Google and free - rest assured they will be tracking not only your every move on the Net but the new cabinets you are building in the garage.

 

[John C.]

I keep an old Mac Book because it has an early CAD program in it. It worked great when I built my shop. I only had to draw one item and then copy and paste it as many times as was necessary. Once I learned how to scale the pieces it put in all the measurements automatically. The computer is so old though I spend more time in the help menu trying to train myself how to use it again. I have seen simple CAD programs on the app store. I don't know how they work though.

 

[A. Williamson]

I know this is a old thread but I recommend FreeCAD. I use it to make professional quality cad designs and fabrication drawings. There are a ton of YouTube tutorials. The work flow can be as similar to solidworks or inventor as you want it to. It's kind of a Swiss army knife of a program as my friend says.