Free CAD Software
We only suggest links to help you get going with CAD
The Rhino3D link takes you to an excellent 3D program that can be used for 2D. It has a long time limit or none, but limits the saves you can make to 25 and then you can still practice and view.
Rhino3D is also a fantastic viewerthat can also measure parts and can load almost anything.
We use Rhino all the time.
Try this one, I've had a play and it looks pretty good
The link gets changed from time to time and can be hard to find but it has no time limit
- reads and writes AutoCAD® DWG files from 2.5 to 2009
- has industry standard AutoCAD Commands
- has AutoCAD® Menu, Script, Font Compatibility
- has AutoLISP® Compatibility!
- has Basic Rendering Options
- has Express Tools
- export to PDF and JPG
- 11,000 standard symbols and blocks available for free
Smart! Forum DOWNLOAD progeCAD 2009 Smart!
progeCAD 2008 Smart! is here. Read and write AutoCAD 2007/2008 DWG files for free*
progeCAD 2008 Smart! the FREEWARE CAD*
progeCAD 2008 Smart!, powered by the most recent IntelliCAD engine, is derived directly from the professional versions of progeCAD, and maintains all the base functionality of its outstanding parents in a set of installation that is compact and easy to install.
progeCAD 2009 Smart! is related to a charitable initiative in favour of Doctors Without Borders for the Darfur, a western Sudan region in Africa, that endures a humanitarian crisis without precedents. All of the users that want to help us in the initiative can carry out some donations.
Donations do not limit in any way the free usage of the software.
*Private use Only: progeCAD 2009 Smart! is for private, non-commercial use only. The use of progeCAD 2008 Smart! within any organization or for commercial and business purposes is strictly prohibited.
CAD links and comments supplied by Bob Boyd
DraftSight is a genuinely free 2D application based on the Graebert rather than the Intellicad engine.
http://www.3ds.com/products/draftsight/download-draftsight/
Although ported to work on Windows and Apple machines it will work on Linux under WINE. (A native version for Linux is, "coming soon").
Graebert's own product is called ARES and may be trialled for a limited period. It however has a native version for Linux ready, but there are some bugs with that version when 3D modelling.
Bricscad is my favourite 3D alternative to Autocad. Like DraftSight and ARES the same commands that are found in Autocad may be used.
http://www.bricsys.com/en_INTL/
(The Linux version always seems to be playing catch-up with the Windows version as far as functions are concerned. Both versions are available for a trial period.)
I've not tried Alibre, but it seems to get good write ups. Not free but available once again for a trial period. (Only Windows).
Blender is free open source software. It is very sophisticated allowing 3d animated films to be produced.
Well worth looking in on there website to see the gallery.
I've up had a look at this and it is most impresive, Ideal if you want to make your own movies.