Anyone here use a TurboCAD program? I just downloaded a 15 day free trial version but I'm afraid it'll take me 15 days to draw a simple line, much less find out if I could actually USE the program.

Looking for suggestions where a beginner like me could get a decent, SIMPLE tutorial or other advice.

Thanks!

 

Chaikwa,

I have been using autocad since the dos command line days. It takes me a while to get back into it, but when I came back to CAD, it was archiCAD and AutoCAD release 13. the point,click, drag and drop methods confused me at first.

Just play with different icons, and get used to what they do. I realise it takes time.

The only good part about CAD, is if you want to use CNC metal forming as an end product. you can draw it out in CAD, then feed it right into the plasma or whatever you may be using. otherwise... it just makes you look cool. Until you show the noobs that you can still use a t-square and triangles to produce the same effect.

Good luck with it.

 

Thanks Pind.

The reason I'm interested in it is because I sell plans to sawmills, and quite a few customers have asked for an 'exploded' view of all the semi-assembled parts on one page so they can have a reference of the parts orientation in relation the the rest of the mill. I can't do that the way I draw now. But at the rate I'm going with TurboCAD, the design of the mill will change before I get it drawn!

 

Find yourself a young EIT fresh out of school that could use a little extra money and get him/her to learn you a thing or two or two. Most of the bright ones can do CAD with their eyes shut. Oh most of the time it shows in their plans.

 

Sorry about that chaikwa. I seem to forget that most people cannot fathom the relationship between parts on a print.

nut + bolt + torque = fastener. Nope, thats beyond me too.

I understand the plans changing as you go, so yeah, it might be in your best interest to find someone who can do the first one, and teach you along the way.