Computer stuff

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Guilliaume woodworks

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Nov 18, 2012
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Hello fog, I'm a small business which does custom cabinets,mill work, & carpentry in calif. I've never been much for computers however becoming more familiar with them and see the benefits of comp. aided design.  I'm a little intimidated by full blown cad,I think just some cabinet design software would suit my needs. I still do pen and paper drawings,but have seen competitors awesome looking computer drawings and realize I've got to step it up a notch. Does anyone know of any easy to learn software for someone like myself ? Inexpensive would also be nice but I know you get what you pay for.
 
Thanks for the advice guys.. I've heard of sketch up. Sounds like exactly what I'm after. @ kev..like the two key words "ease &  save $" 
 
+1 for SketchUp. It's awesome and free.  [smile]

Check Youtube for videos to get started or purchase books like 'Google SketchUp 8 for Dummies'.
 
i have not tried to use Sketch Up for a couple of years.  The main problem i had with it was with dimensioning. I could not dial in any dimensioning without dragging an item for size.  My hands sometimes can be quite unreliable in that they don't always go where i tell them to.  if they go there, they end up all over the place like a jack hammer is driving them.  I have a 2-D program that I can designate dimensions and the lines go where I tell them to go. i can do my drawings in 3 views as i learned in high school back in the 40's.

The last time I tried S-U it was 6.  i see it is now up to 7 and even to 8 for more advanced.

Kristian said:
+1 for SketchUp. It's awesome and free.  [smile]

Check Youtube for videos to get started or purchase books like 'Google SketchUp 8 for Dummies'.
Click to expand...

Ah! "... For Dummies."  That has to be designed for me. [unsure]
Tinker

 
I use the free sketchup. It often takes me as long to draw soething as to make it, but I try to persevere.
Tinker, you can type in dimensions for anything very precisly. Draw anything or move anything and before you go to the next step, type in the dimensions - it should solve any problems of moving the cursor too rapidly. It doesn't always work perfectly, but then it is free.
 
I like Sketchup and use it on every job.
You can basically build a project and solve problems both in the workshop and on site before you make the first cut. That alone saves me money in wasted time and materials.
I have not used other programs so I really cannot recommend any others.
Like all good products it's not so much the product itself but the support and users who take the time to help others learn to use it. The amount of "free" education in the form of videos, blogs and websites devoted to Sketchup makes the program that much more valuable.
Tim
 
richard.selwyn said:
I use the free sketchup. It often takes me as long to draw soething as to make it, but I try to persevere.
Tinker, you can type in dimensions for anything very precisly. Draw anything or move anything and before you go to the next step, type in the dimensions - it should solve any problems of moving the cursor too rapidly. It doesn't always work perfectly, but then it is free.
Click to expand...

Ah! The magic phrase.  IT IS FREE.  Many moons back when i tried it, it was not possible to do dimensioning other than by dragging.  From what you say, here have been some improvements along the way.  Like other programs, if the version # is higher, there must be some improvements.

a few years ago, i got suckered into a 3D CAD program being developed.  It had everything i needed and was working fine until it was upgraded.  With the upgrades, i lost the program and had to call the developer.  there was no problem with reinstating and it worked fine until i upgraded my computer.  Lost again, but a quick call to California got me back in business again.  This problem went on thru several upgrades to my computing and several upgraded versions of the program.  Finally, with my most recent upgraded computer, I lost the program once more and also the contact person seems to have been upgraded into very thin air.  [mad]  I have gone back to my ancient 2D program and using for basic dimensioning and simple three view drawings as I learned in HS.

I will look into SU again.  thanks for the info.
Tinker
 
Tinker said:
The main problem i had with it was with dimensioning. I could not dial in any dimensioning without dragging an item for size.  My hands sometimes can be quite unreliable in that they don't always go where i tell them to.  if they go there, they end up all over the place like a jack hammer is driving them. 
Click to expand...
Tinker,
When drawing a line, once you get the direction set you can just type the length you want, press Enter, and it'll jump to that length. 

http://support.google.com/sketchup/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=94817&topic=2458137&ctx=topic

You may also find the inference feature helpful.  It makes it easier to get lines parallel and the same length as existing lines.
http://support.google.com/sketchup/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=94820
 
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