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CAD Software Advice Required...

Printed From: CAD Forum
Category: EN
Forum Name: CAD - general
Forum Description: General discussion about CAD, formats, standards, management, licensing, networking, harware, other CAD applications
URL: https://www.cadforum.cz/forum_en/forum_posts.asp?TID=11829
Printed Date: 28.Sep.2026 at 10:17


Topic: CAD Software Advice Required...
Posted By: SDCR
Subject: CAD Software Advice Required...
Date Posted: 27.May.2016 at 08:35
Hi,
 
I have a friend who is going travelling for ten months and wishes to learn how to use a CAD package while he's away.  I've shown him the rudiments of AutoCAD, but he doesn't have a copy, and is only taking a fairly basic laptop with him anyway.
 
Can anyone here recommend a piece of CAD software which is:
 
- similar to AutoCAD in terms of the content, i.e., layers, blocks, paperspace vs. modelspace, etc.;
- preferably similar to AutoCAD in terms of user interface;
- available online to download;
- free, or available as an evaluation or student copy;
- has a help file or manual available online (even if it's not written by the software author);
- preferably has tutorials available; and
- will run with a Celeron processor with 4GB of RAM (sorry - they're all the details I have).
 
3D capability would be useful, but is not necessary.
 
Sorry for the fairly vague post.  I only use CAD professionally, and have never had to worry about which software to choose - I just use the packages provided!
 
He's leaving next Wednesday, so a quick response would be appreciated.
 
Thanks, and regards,
 
Sam.


Replies:
Posted By: John Connor
Date Posted: 27.May.2016 at 11:33
He could always download the strictly 2D CAD program called DraftSight by Dessault Systemes the makers of Solidworks.  It is an AutoCAD clone and FREE.  There is even a FREE guide to the program, online tutorials and a user forum.  

-------------
"Humans have a strength that cannot be measured. This is John Connor. If you are reading this, you are the resistance."

<<AutoCAD 2015>>

Posted By: SDCR
Date Posted: 27.May.2016 at 11:35
Thanks, John - a colleague suggested that, but their website suggests that a minimum Pentium chip is required, and my friend only has a Celeron processor.  Do you think it might run on this (even if it's slow)?  I'm willing to try it out...
 
Thanks again,
 
Sam.

Posted By: Robert_D
Date Posted: 27.May.2016 at 15:56
I do a LOT of long distance flight commuting and have found my netbook (w/ it’s Intel Atom processor) most convenient.
Although I cannot comment on DraftSight, I find that I can run Bricscad on it without issues.

Posted By: Handsome
Date Posted: 02.Jun.2016 at 12:48
Another vote for DraftSight. I run it happily on a tablet PC which has a 1.4GHz Atom CPU, 2GB of RAM and has a 10" screen. It is very much a facsimile of ACAD, commands are near enough the same, has a block editor and can handle ACAD files with ease plus it uses the dwg file format.

And best of all it is free!


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