CAD software

[seabod91]

Good evening. I work in the sheet metal industry and have been putting together some ideas on a business I would like to start up going through the company I work for. The business I work for uses AUTODESK inventor and AutoCAD and they have no problem with me learning the software but I want to keep my “business “ and work separate if that makes sense.

AUTODESK I feel is a bit over the top and way out of budget for what I need. Could anyone recommend a CAD software that I could use at home. I’m planning on getting into decorative cladding for gardens so most of my needs would be 2D, but I would also like to have the option of drawing 3D parts as well like simple fire pits, gas meter covers, small water features and the like.

Thanks for any replies.

[chrisch77]

Onshape is worth a look - it is cloud based so runs in a browser, and you can use it for free if you don’t mind your personal designs being ‘public’, I.e. viewable by other users. A standard account to keep stuff private is £1200 per year IIRC.

[Harpoon]

I've done plans for relatively simple things like log stores in the free version of Sketchup

https://www.sketchup.com/plans-and-pricing/sketchu...

[thebraketester]

Fusion 360

[jules_s]

LT is under £500 a year so not a massive outlay

[ARHarh]

thebraketester said:

Fusion 360

Another vote, learn it with a free account, and then move to a proper license for commercial use. Seems to be £357 a year.

[seabod91]

Cheers for all the advice. Will take a look at the suggestions.

[Sporky]

I like Rhino3D. Really sensible interface, straightforward, hugely powerful, and no ongoing licences.

[julian64]

solidworks. Surprised it hasn't come up already TBH.

[motco]

I used CorelDRAW for a decade or more but it seems to have become very expensive. I liked the layers option so I could draw up a folded Zintec part and then a mating part to fit on a separate layer for printing. All this was in the 1990s so it has probably been superseded several times since!