Thanks, Barumite,
I just downloaded the trial version of Alibre.
I like that they provide a quick start. I will give an update once i have tried it.
Trev

OK, Ron
I am downloading Fusion 360, full well knowing it is well over my head. 😮😮
I'll be calling you for help!!😁😁 Just Kidding.
All kidding aside, I did take mechanical drawing in High School, loved it. Shame I did not pursue it.
Trev

Yes, 123D Design support was discontinued several years ago but still downloads were available from other sites. There are also helpful videos for it on YouTube. Easy to use but also does some amazing results for its simplicity. The downside is Autodesk removed their library for 123D Design models and no one (like Thingiverse) has the version 123D files for download.

Lew

I am looking at nanoCAD it has many similarities to the commands and placement of toolbars
I reviewed the
Introducing nanoCAD11 - Lesson 1

Lew,

123D Design is no longer available. Autodesk has discontinued it.

Hi Stephen
I have used Fusion 360 in the past ( the free version for non commercial use) and with certain restrictions on the number of active documents you can work on at any time it is fine for a hobbyist. You can save your non active documents and swop to active subject to a max 10 active so no real problem. I have just reinstalled a copy as my present PC did not have it installed. I found the installation challenging as you use Autodesk's site to install and need to select the UK site along the way (if UK based). You will be allocated a user name as well as the email address you register and I used the auto generated password. Finally got it working but unlike other programs the sign in will not pick up the saved username or password so you have to enter this manually each time. There may be a setting to avoid this but I just created a text file on my PC and copy and paste to the login screen. I could just change to a very simple password but I prefer a certain level of protection of my data.
So there is no need to pay and it works with some effort to learn the program on the part of the user.

dave976

I’m confused now on Fusion 360. I’ve downloaded the free for personal use version. I’m sure if you’re not generating an income above a certain threshold you can use that software for free? I think it’d apply to most of us here using it just for our hobby?

Stephen

Ron, what Autodesk does, does not surprise me a bit. Both of my Autodesk products are not supported but still works for me. The 123D Design does act a little weird after I use it for a couple of days and I have to restart the app then I am OK for a while.

Fusion 360 right now is under $400 (US) per year "on sale" - wow, that is about eight times what I bought the Autosketch 9 for 10-12 years ago on a CD and still runs great (for me). Someone is selling it on Ebay for $39.99 US). There are tutorials on youTube if you want to look at it.

I just took a look at Delftship - looks interesting but is not for me. It looks rather "artistic" rather than functionable.

When I have a need for 2D drawings it usually for design parts, i.e., motor mounts, structures, etc., and if I need to do a whole boat because no drawings exist.

The majority of my of my CAD work is 3D modeling because I can print it. From servo mounts to superstructures and almost everything in between I use 123D Design solid modeling. Tonight I am working on a motor mount - its printing right now.

Lew

Does anyone know about delftship designing software?

https://www.delftship.net/

Lew are you aware…

As of March 2023, Fusion 360 will no longer support macOS 10.15(Catalina) or lower, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10 Version 1803 & older. This means that Fusion 360 will no longer live update or support new downloads and installs from this point on. When uninstalling from any outdated operating system, it cannot be reinstalled.

Note: Fusion 360 will continue to work on the operating system after the March update, but will no longer continue to update. Eventually it will stop functioning correctly, as it no longer meets the minimum system requirements to run Fusion 360.

I will not be downloading this as I am running Windows 10

Lew, apparently 123D Design is no longer available unless I was looking at the wrong site.

I have a 2017 version of AutoCadLt which is fine with me as 3D printing has not been needed for the type of boats I have been doing. With Autodesk they do not support anything “old” as 2017, but I don’t want a new version. I don’t think my laptop would handle much more.

Ron

OMG Ron, you got me thinking of the old days when the drafting board "ruled"! (ops, you forgot the rulers, templates, and compasses.)

However, as you can see in the photo I have all my old drafting tools (except for the hammer, chisel and stone), templates, compasses, mechanical pencils, T-square, and even my drawing board I bought 61 years ago (which is in my attic now). (Check out that "French curve" in the photo.) Perhaps I had a feeling there would be a oil (power) shortage and we could not use our computers to make drawings.

Take that long list of items needed to make drawings the old way and replace that with a computer (PC, keyboard, mouse) and printer. Faster, neater, easier, and accurate!

I hope you can find a replacement for your Autocad. My cheap-o CAD does everything I need it to do when my hand sketching is not enough.

Lew

That's pretty much my bag of tricks, Ron
But I aways wanted to have and learn Auto Cad, 🤑🤑 prevented me from doing so.
Trev

Right Trev, an eraser, brush, various mechanical pencils with different leads soft to hard, sharpening board. Did I leave anything out?

A Pencil and Paper🙄🙄😔
Trev

You forgot the eraser (which is a BIG plus in using a CAD program) .

Lew

Yes, a good sharp pencil, set squares, French curves and T-Square are great tools which I will use for some drawings, but a CAD program is a good tool to have in your tool box.

Thank you everyone for your comments and suggestions. I logged on tonight and have not been locked out of AutoCadLt 🫰

A pencil....😂

I am a civil engineer and use Proge CAD. it is about 1/10 the cost of AutoCad.
Ron, it was a very easy shift from AutoCad.
Since I work at home it is also the model drafting tool.

As a test equipment designer, I have been involved in CAD software since 1989. (Before that, the drawing board (ugh☹️). We migrated from 3D wireframe to PTC's Pro Engineer solid modeling (parametric☹️☹️). Retired early in 1997 so for home use I bought a Russian made 2D CAD program (☹️☹️☹️).

Then I found a good basic 2D program called Autosketch😊 by Autodesk (Autocad). I have been using it for quit a long time for my model boat work. About 3 or 4 yeas ago I downloaded (free) Autodesk's 123D Design😊😊😊, a 3D modeling software program. It is real easy to use. At first I was sending my files to Shapeways for printing but now I have two 3D printers from QIDI and do most of my work in ABS which cements very well to styrene. I can also make a 2D drawing in Autosketch and export it into 123D Design and extrude (rotate, etc.) into a 3D item.

The first drawing is replacement thoughts for my Dusseldorf FLB2 superstructure I created in Autosketch. Here a scan of the kit plans is overlaid with my notes using Autosketch.

The second drawing is of my future (if I can get to it) towboat, the MV Arne Christiansen. This is page one of seven large pages detailing everything in 1/35 scale. (real boat: https://www.cummins.com/case-studies/steiner-delivers-fourth-z-drive-pushboat ).

The third is is my current project, a WWII AMMO trailer using 123D Design and I am 3D printing this in 1/16 scale.

Lew

I learnt AutoCad at trade school and decided to use Fusion 360 for 3D printing purposes. Fusion 360 has been a bit of a learning curve for me, so initial thoughts are that it's a bit cumbersome and slower to get what you want done until you are more experienced with the program.
It's free for hobbyists and has plenty of functionality. YouTube tutorials are a great help when learning new software. Kevin Kennedy tutorials are a good start.

I use FreeCAD 0.20 its free 😊

I used to use AutoCad for years, but recently been using Fusion 360. Simply because of the price. AutoCad is extortionate now, even for hobbyists which is a shame. Once you get used to the text commands in AutoCad for various functions, it's a much faster tool than anything else I've tried though.

Fusion 360 has been a big learning curve for me, so initial thoughts are that it's more cumbersome and slower to get what you want done; but I guess it's ok once you're used to it. It's free for hobbyists and has plenty of functionality. Always worth getting some YouTube tutorials for the basics when learning new software. I've found it helps.

Stephen

Hi Ron.
I use Draftsight which is almost identical to Autocad. I pay £90 per year for the licence. It is supported by Dassault.
Peter.