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I currently use pretty basic software for drawing house plans etc and I really need to start using something better. I'm not Autocad trained and wondering what programs people use apart from this. I understand there are a few modern CAD programs but I cant find them on google I only really need to draw scaled floor plans so can be basic(ish) program.

Any advice would be helpful.

chop

STi wanna Subaru

iTrader: (1)

There are lite versions of AutoCAD you could use. I used to use Microstation now using AutoCAD mech. For simple stuff they tend to all work in a very similar way.

speedking

Autosketch is relatively cheap, works in a similar way to AutoCAD, has a library of objects, doors, windows, furniture etc, and can load and save AutoCAD files.

IMHO a very good starting point. Even AutoCAD Lite is expensive and packed with unnecessry features for the type of work that you are doing.

HTH

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Hi - thanks for replies. will look at Auto Sketch now.

I have found SmartDraw which seems quite good on the download, objects are brilliant drawling th plans to scale is quite tricky.

chop

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That looks very good (and quite cheap), would you say someone who has only used the old school ways (by hand and very basic CAD) could use? I am pretty sharp on PC's so that isn't a problem. Just dont want to get something that is to complicated for a relative amatuer to use?

Any info would be helpful.

chop

sti-04!!

Hi,

I am looking to design a couple of houses to fit a plot & was looking for something similar, ie easy to use & cheap. Does anyone have any solutions ??

Cheers

Stephen

darrens_here

Screw'd, who is building a MOTOGP shed often posts in DIY on here or on visordown uses a programe that can produce plans and 3-D images, looks simply enough............. no idea what it is though

speedking

You don't draw to scale, you draw at 1:1 and then scale the plot depending on the paper size.

There is a tutorial that leads you through the basics from drawing a line up to fairly complex procedures.

However there is a lot to using CAD that is not the actual mechanics of using the software, such as snapping and layering, which only comes from experience. Perhaps a basic CAD course would be useful after you have familiarised yourself with the software.

Brendan Hughes

I don't have a 200ft-long monitor

speedking

Then stand further away

If you're drawing in mm then a 20m line is 20000 units long. You don't say "I'm drawing at 1:50" and make it 400 units long, no point. If drawing in metres, then the same line is only 20 units long. Zooming the display means they both look the same.

Drawing 1:1 means that measuring stuff later is a lot easier.

Brendan Hughes