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Computer Aided Design
| CAD packages need not cost the earth and some can be completely free,
(although some are dross) the best option is to go for something that is
reasonably well known and may only cost a small amount. This route will provide
you with the most support using one of the online forums. TurboCAD is probably
the one to go for if you are interested in learning CAD, mainly as it is simple
to use and cheap. Certainly with the older versions, you can quite easily work
in 2d and progress up to 3d at your own pace. TurboCAD
cheap and easy to use, second-hand versions can be bought very cheaply on ebay,
go for version 8.0 , try to get the professional version.
RC CAD
automated model aircraft design program |
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Alibre
express version is a free download at the moment, the current version is V9 and
is limited such that you can only save a model containing either 10 or less
parts. You can insert more but the save and export functions are disabled.
I have been using this lately to model a OS 15 engine,
see picture.
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Solid Edge 2d Drafting
Solid edge are doing a free download of their 2d package. Very nifty drafting
package , very good for designing artwork for your plane.
I have just designed some insignia for my electric
400 P-47, and used this software to design the logos. I then printed
them out on water slide transfer paper bought from
Lazertran.
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Co Create are pushing an express version of their CAD software at
the moment, I have not tried it but it seems to have 60 part limit on it
which is quite generous for a free version. |
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Journey 3d Education Site with professional CAD packages
for student and home personnel use, if your serious about using cad for your own
purposes I would purchase one of the packages on this site. ProEngineer is
approximately £200 , which is a complete steal for the full package (a
commercial use license would probably set you back 20 times that.) Its
also a perpetual license as well. Blender is a 3d
modelling and animation program and although it is not really a mechanical CAD
program it is still of interest here. It is freeware which is amazing
considering its capabilities.
Moi is another free design and
animation suite
If your looking for a free photo editor and paint software then the
GIMP is a very good
alternative to Photoshop, and its open source which means its completely free.
Its extremely powerful as its open source this means that a great many people
over the world develop it .
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