CAD recommendations

[cliffcoggin]

Does anybody here have a recommendation for an engineering drawing (often known as CAD) programme they have actually used? Libreoffice Draw is unsatisfactory in many respects so I am considering
https://librecad.org/
https://qcad.org/en/
https://qcad.org/en/
but I am open to suggestions.

Note that I do not want arty creative applications like GIMP, Krita and the like. I am looking for something I can specify line lengths and angles, with the ability to group and ungroup them, with snap feature and the ability to add dimensions.

[deepakdeshp]

https://itsfoss.com/cad-software-linux/

[cliffcoggin]

I'd seen that thank you. I am looking for personal recommendations.

[Petermint]

What you want to draw?
2D? LibreCAD
3D? FreeCAD
Machines? Buildings? Electrical circuits? https://petermoulding.com/cad_-_compute ... ign_-_free

I wanted to draw a 2D layout with the option for a 3D "lightray" evaluation later. The 3D stuff was too complicated for the initial drawing and the easiest initial drawing software produced a file that could not be input to the 3D software. There were other problems including the way starting points are defined.

Due to all the problems, I moved up to a more advanced and flexible technology. I did the initial sketches on paper and used bits of cardboard for the lighting model.

[lsemmens]

I've yet to find anything remotely as easy to use as Sketchup, so I just run that in vBox if I ever need it.Trimble do not do a Linux version of Sketchup but I do believe that there is a limited spec version that runs in a browser.

Otehrwise, you could have a look at Alternatives to

[bjmh46]

For 2d, I was a longtime user of Draftsight, which is no longer free as of the end of 2019. On my mint 18.3 installs I'm now using librecad 2.1.1 appimage. It's a little rough but usable--takes a bit of getting used to for someone with over 30 years of autocad experience (un-learning is harder than learning!). Mint 19 has librecad in the repos, so not necessary to use the appimage. Cad is one area where Linux in general has a long way to go. For windows, there are any number of autocad clones available free, and I will admit to keeping a win 7 laptop around for the occasional drawing for which I find librecad too frustrating to use. Here I run either progecad 2009 free, or nanocad. Part of the frustration is that I'm often working on a drawing from a considerable archive, and librecad is hit and miss on opening older dwg and dxf formats. I don't use wine or virtual machines. For 3d, freecad in linux is pretty good--but get the appimage as the repo version is old and buggy.

Regards
Bob

[cliffcoggin]

My usage would be two dimensional line drawings to work from at a lathe or a milling machine, hence the need for accurate scale drawings with dimensions. 3D would be pointless for me because of the added complexity and longer learning process.

I have no objection to paying a reasonable charge up to £30, but £200 or more for commercial software can not be justified for my limited usage once or twice per year.

Like Peter, I resort to pencil and paper. I'll just have to scan the drawing to enable electronic storage and easy reprints.

[bjmh46]

For your use case, and the fact that you will be pretty much new to whatever cad app you might choose, Librecad should be absolutely fine. There is a related app called Qcad (a qt app, surprise!) which is available in a community version (free but limited), and a reasonably priced paid version. However you choose to go, bear in mind that most any cad program is going to involve a rather steep learning curve, but it's well worth the effort. I've designed and built literally hundreds of machines using cad. Started using it in 1978--had to be dragged kicking and screaming, away from my board. Well, I never looked back! I still make quick pencil sketches to develop basic ideas, but they get refined in cad.

Regards
Bob

Edit: I see after re-reading your original post, that you already know about qcad and librecad. There is also an appimage of qcad available.

[Petermint]

LibreCAD:

LibreCAD started as a project to build CAM capabilities into the community version of QCad for use with a Mechmate CNC router.

[absque fenestris]

CAD under Linux is a tragedy with infinitely many well-intentioned experiments without working solutions.
2D-CAD with reasonable dimensioning with a good print quality?
Was no problem more than 20 years ago with Adobe Illustrator and a corresponding plug-in. Besides full-grown CAD programs.

For 10 years I've been trying to do reasonable and commercially viable things with Linux... CAD in particular is certainly not one of them - and I see absolutely no progress in the corresponding programs - LibreCAD, and all the others too, were at that time on the same level as today.
Paid CAD job today?
I certainly don't expect Apple anymore, and if my very old Mac things can't do the job, I buy a reasonable Windows thing and do the job under Windows - maybe even with a free program. After that I can still use the device under Linux... until the next order.

I would like to exclude Blender here: they certainly do wonderful things... Only: I see their user guidance always like more an esoteric religion - at least I have no access to it...
The most potential for a reasonable 2D-CAD would probably be Inkscape - but also this program is bobbing around somehow - many gimmicks, but stupid user interface... and no dimension settings - but many possibilities to deface the drawing - burning corners in three dimensions and so on...

[bjmh46]

CAD under Linux is a tragedy with infinitely many well-intentioned experiments without working solutions.
2D-CAD with reasonable dimensioning with a good print quality?
Was no problem more than 20 years ago with Adobe Illustrator and a corresponding plug-in. Besides full-grown CAD programs.

For 10 years I've been trying to do reasonable and commercially viable things with Linux... CAD in particular is certainly not one of them - and I see absolutely no progress in the corresponding programs - LibreCAD, and all the others too, were at that time on the same level as today.
................

I admit Librecad development has been extremely slow, but the 2.1.1 appimage release is quite usable. Commercial use?--No! But fully functional for drawing and printing the occasional part. I've even done some 2d layout work with it. If you are used to autocad, you just have to develop a little different way of working.

Bob

[cliffcoggin]

Thank you gents. I'll investigate LibreCAD.

Back in the days of Win95 I had a free drawing programme, whose name I have long forgotten, that I had to re-learn it every year because I used it so seldom, so I have an inkling of how difficult CAD will be to learn.

[Petermint]

Some of the specialised tools have a use.Yesterday I switched from paper to Sweet Home 3D to work out dimensions for a house. A draftsperson will draw the final plans.

[absque fenestris]

...
I admit Librecad development has been extremely slow, but the 2.1.1 appimage release is quite usable. Commercial use?--No! But fully functional for drawing and printing the occasional part. I've even done some 2d layout work with it. If you are used to autocad, you just have to develop a little different way of working.

Bob

Indeed, LibreCAD has the charme of AutoCAD 1992, except that in 1992 I could somehow more efficiently assign one of the 16 DOS colors to the lines...

[absque fenestris]

do not forget about DraftSight

Hi smgordon1259
Thank you for your suggestion. I've been looking for the Linux version of DraftSight some time ago, but I always ended up on their commercial purchase page.
Now I've done the Ubuntu .deb download of DraftSight 2019, accepted incredibly long license declarations, and loaded the thing.
It doesn't work on my MacBook with Mint Rosa - but that was to be expected. Yes, yes upgrade, upgrade...

For all CAD enthusiasts (Please don't be afraid of the red warnings; this only applies to Windows - the Ubuntu download is just below... )

https://www.3ds.com/products-services/d ... raftsight/

[bjmh46]

If "free cad" is what you want, I wouldn't put too much effort into learning draftsight. Per info from the company that provides it "....all free versions will cease to function at the end of 2019." Otherwise a great program, and I used it since it was first offered, but decided to wean myself off of it when this announcement was made.

Bob

[absque fenestris]

As far as I'm concerned and DraftSight on Linux meets my expectations - Yes, that's where I'd buy it - why not?
The alternative would be a Windows machine - and that has a strong smell - the other freak show I'm certainly not doing anymore.

In practice I still use formZ under MacOS 9.2 on a 17 year old PowerMac - and that's almost forbidden somehow...

[cliffcoggin]

I have decided not to install LibreCAD as I am not adventurous enough to experiment with PPAs or anything not in the Mint 18.3 repository. Thanks for the advice everyone, but having hand drawn three versions of the tool I intend to make I feel my time is more productively spent with pencil and paper.

[absque fenestris]

Nothing speaks against a hand drawing - independent of any operating system - like you can read any book on paper or listen to music on bad, bad PVC... or shellack

[absque fenestris]

Just to make that clear to all younger computer users: Shellac records can in principle be played with a toothpick and a sheet of paper...