Alibre CAD

[Gadget]

I think there are some free DXF to gcode generators out there, but only 2d.

I use sheetcam TNG for 2 1/2 D files and it works great.

[Kiwimike]

Hey Dan, I have been using a Cad/Cam program called Google SketchUp7 to 3D model a bunch of ideas running around in my head (it's a scary place, trust me). I'm not sure whether or not it has interface capabilities to do what you want to do, but it's the right price (free) and it's real easy to use.
There are lots of training videos on Youtube that are great to follow and the bonus is that you can download other models that people have designed and incorporate it into your own.
You may want to check it out.

[Gadget]

Google Sketchup works well for modeling but doesn't export to anything useful for me in the free version. The upgrade (paid for) version will but the cost is comparable to other cad programs so there isn't any advantage to it.

[tking]

Gadget,

Take a look at DesignCAD 3D for $69 at: DesignCAD 3D MAX V20

and then at their ContourCAM software for $149 at: Contour CAM for DesignCAD 3D MAX

I have never used either of these, but I do use their TurboCAD Pro and I like it and it has a big following and support group. I just got an email about these this morning and it seems the $69 is an upgrade price, but the link I gave doesn't say that.

Toad

[matteh99]

Did you look at Alibre's Cam software? I think I saw on their site a limited free version. I don't have windows installed on my mac yet so I haven't gotten a chance to play with it yet.

[Gadget]

I downloaded the Alibre Cam trial but in spite of what the website said I couldn't convert it to the Express. I contacted Alibre and got the run around. The full Alibre CAM is nice but at $999.00 I'll pass.
I'm going to order the Vectric Cut3d shortly, that is only $299.00 and seems to be very user friendly.
I did buy the Alibre CAD for $97.00. That is a very easy program to work with and doesn't take a college degree to figure out. The DXF files from that work quite well in the Cut3d too.

[matteh99]

What OS are you using Alibre CAD with? I installed it in windows vista and had some issues drawing. It told me to select a plane to draw on but wouldn't actually let me select a plane. It was the first run after the install and I hadn't restarted the computer so that might have been the problem. I haven't really fiddled with it but I was curious if you ever had any problems with it.

[Gadget]

I'm running it on Windows 7. The select a plane thing is kind of tricky, I had trouble with it at first. Not sure what I did but it works now. There are a lot of free training videos that will probably explain the plane selection process.

[Gadget]

What OS are you using Alibre CAD with? I installed it in windows vista and had some issues drawing. It told me to select a plane to draw on but wouldn't actually let me select a plane. It was the first run after the install and I hadn't restarted the computer so that might have been the problem. I haven't really fiddled with it but I was curious if you ever had any problems with it.

Turns out to select the plane you click on the border of the plane Eric. I found it in one of the video tutorials. (second downloadable one)

Dan

[SpyGuy]

I bought TurboCad Pro several years ago. I became fairly proficient with it but was never too pleased with it. I even bought an upgrade (only to discover that the bugs from the prior version were not fixed).

That was several generations ago, and hopefully the prodect is better now than it was then. But I don't think I'll upgrade it.

Alibre CAD looks intriguing, although I think the $97 version is not functional enough for what I want and, in particular, it is missing the parts library.

Has anyone used both Alibre and TurboCad? If so, I'd like to hear a comparative review.