affordable CAD software

[mipoikel]

EDIT:  Mip, I would not call AutoDesk Inventor a low cost solution.  I think it fits in the "big ouch" cost solution category. 

Well it depends on... If you are not used to handle big money, it may feel expensive. (sorry, had to say it. Old joke in our company, someone said it once to a customer with bad results. ) 

[Skuzzy]

I work for a game company Mip.  My idea of big money is slapping a texture and material, resembling gold, on a 20 foot long rectangular primitive scaled to fit on your screen.

Like I said, I have used AutoDesk products since the late 80's.  I have a good solid idea of what it costs to get into that licensing.

[2bighorn]

I think both, AutoCAD and SolidWorks are considered low cost level, NX would be mid-range, tops would be the likes of Pro/E and Catia.

For a grand, there isn't much out there, Rhino is maybe an exception.

[Chalenge]

I am in complete agreement with themaj on Civil 3D being intuitive but only to an AutoCAD user experienced in civil design or land surveying. The fastest CAD system to learn is unfortunately TrueSpace which is made by Caligari and they just made the latest version free for download but its not anywhere near as accurate as AutoCAD and it depends on what you want to do with it I guess (I would not use it to design mechanical devices). Inventor is by far my favorite program but its having a hard time getting a large share of the mechanical market. Solidworks is quickly growing into THE program to use. Rhino is absolutely wonderful and if you are interested you should download the evaluation copy and play with it.

[Scherf]

I'd second/third what's been said about Rhino - it's wonderfully easy to learn.

(Not that I ever had to produce any professional output with it....)

[eagl]

I work for a game company Mip.  My idea of big money is slapping a texture and material, resembling gold, on a 20 foot long rectangular primitive scaled to fit on your screen.

This year's con mission is a 20 ft flying twinkee?

[DREDIOCK]

What I know about CAD you could balance in the head of a pin so..

But I came across this.
Dont know if this is helpful at all
Or if its powerful enough for you. But for the price...

Open Office has a CAD extention

http://extensions.services.openoffice.org/project/cadooo

[dkff49]

It has been a little over 5 years since I had to contend with doing drawings and submit them for cnc machines. I used to work for a company that built industrial refrigeration and air conditioning equipment (the very large, bigger than most people's houses are).  When working there I bought a TurboCAD reasonable inexpensive. It worked very well, easy to learn, and converted files to DXF and compatible with the software used at the factory as well.

I used to have parts made at work all the time for projects at home.

link to their website

[SHawk]

I've been doing CNC work since I was 18 (Now 47) (holy crap that 29 years) and have been in business for myself for 13 years now doing Wire EDM work. I've used just about every CAD package on the Planet.
SolidWorks is hands down the most powerful and intuitive. AutoCad (Autodesk) is the mainstream and probably the hardest to learn (as many of you already said). But for what your trying to do there are many low end packages out there that would do the job. Under 1K is gonna be tough to find though. I'd have to agree with the others, get someone to do the design work for you. I think the estimate of 300-400 and hour is a bit high for Cad work, at least in my area. Also DFX is a 2d file exchange. Use IGES for 3d translations, many today also support Step Files which will work fine. Just my 2 cents.

[Captain Virgil Hilts]

I've been doing CNC work since I was 18 (Now 47) (holy crap that 29 years) and have been in business for myself for 13 years now doing Wire EDM work. I've used just about every CAD package on the Planet.
SolidWorks is hands down the most powerful and intuitive. AutoCad (Autodesk) is the mainstream and probably the hardest to learn (as many of you already said). But for what your trying to do there are many low end packages out there that would do the job. Under 1K is gonna be tough to find though. I'd have to agree with the others, get someone to do the design work for you. I think the estimate of 300-400 and hour is a bit high for Cad work, at least in my area. Also DFX is a 2d file exchange. Use IGES for 3d translations, many today also support Step Files which will work fine. Just my 2 cents.

I'd really prefer to control all of the design aspect myself, especially since I'd like to protect my concept carefully. MOST of what I'm doing will be modifying existing parts, adapting them from one unit to another. The other thing about getting my own software is that instead of paying someone else to do a job I should do myself, and having only the one job for my money, I'd have the software to do other projects. Regardless of whether or not the current project is successful, I'm sure I'll have other projects I'll want to tackle later.

[SHawk]

Savage,
              I just noticed your from Murfreesboro. Many moons ago (Late 80's) I worked for McMinnville Tool and Die and lived on 70S just west of the small airport there. Probably about 30 minutes from you.

[Captain Virgil Hilts]

Savage,
              I just noticed your from Murfreesboro. Many moons ago (Late 80's) I worked for McMinnville Tool and Die and lived on 70S just west of the small airport there. Probably about 30 minutes from you.

LOL. I have a customer who has a crew chief who works there. I've been here since 1973. I was away for a couple of years helping my parents, but always was around here even then. Still a nice place, but boy has it grown. You wouldn't recognize it.