Could you recommend CAD software?

I'm after some cheap or even free CAD programe just so I can draw some basic 3d desig ideas. Any recommendations?

Google Sketchup is completely free, very easy to use and worked well for me.

I made these within just an hour or two of downloading.
http://yourimg.in/m/31119d9.png
http://yourimg.in/m/vwm6pch.png

(real things... http://yourimg.in/m/f1pli9r.png)

As I said, the program is extremely intuitive. It's not the most complicated piece of software, but it works.

Thanks. Just got it downloaded hopefully it will do the trick.

Has anyone got any recomendations for higher quality programes if i want to try them in the future aswell.

autodesk 123d

Thanks.

@Relentless, well done for managing to draw those motors, been playing around on it for ages now and im rubbish at it.

Thanks! Once you understand the tools and you're able to navigate around the program comfortably, you're there. I completed the drill motor within 40 minutes of download, and it's precise down to fractions of a millimeter! Watch some tutorials and use the manual/help, you'll pick it up quickly enough. :)

I've said in the past we should have a section on the forum were everybody uploads their 3D models in different formats. That way people going I wanna put a B&Q drill in my robot can just check the section and download one someone else has already made. That way people can have accurate components in their CAD's and just worry about designing the other bits.

i just use prodesktop, it's free and can also do 2d cad. and it can export as .stl which is handy

ProDesktop!!!!!!!!!!!!

The most awesome CAD software ever!!!

(Everyone that took their GCSE's in the last few years will know what I'm on about)

Difficult to find nowadays though......

i know right :) i got it from my school for free, if anyone wants i can burn a copy to a cd for them

DO I!

I had a copy, but it was temperamental, plus no Mac version :(

Maybe it was because I never learned to use it properly, but I never thought much of ProDesktop. I was introduced to it at school but even just doing basic CADs of robot designs, there would always appear to be a lot more space inside the CAD robot than there would be in the actual robot, despite everything being drawn to size. (not great when you start your build and realise you're short of space!)

Transferred across to Solid Edge at uni which, while having a more complex interface, produced much better results with many more features. I've got copies of both on disc but learning SolidWorks (comprehensively and correctly) is my next planned CAD software phase. Just need to burn an....ahem...legal copy of it first :wink:

Oh don't get me wrong, PROD was full of flaws (although IMO its interface it much better than modern CADS) but it's worth using it for the nostalgia!

I cant get to grips with autodesk 123d. I've watched the tutorials on YouTube but she talks through it too fast to follow. Might try a different one or just build a prototype from wood instead (it's got to be easier) an use that to figure out where to put everything.