CAD for Mac

jamiepage · Feb 22 2012 20:26

Hello,
Does anyone have any experience of a CAD programme for a Mac that they could recommend please? I am looking for something that comes with easily understood instructions for a complete beginner, and instructions that are relevant to the Mac version - the Draftsight guide seems to be Windows only, Turbocad have run out of copies of their 2D Mac instruction book and only offer Windows tuition, so any help would be gratefully received.
I really need a noddy guide at the most basic level.
Thank you very much.
Jamie

Traininvain · Feb 22 2012 21:15

Hi Jamie

what type of Mac are you running?

Ian

jamiepage · Feb 22 2012 22:07

Hello Ian,
Umm, maybe I'm not cut out for this computer lark after all, because I really don't know. It's a desktop- or is that a really dumb answer?
Jamie

dajo · Feb 23 2012 03:19

Try this, I have been using it for years; it is cheap (32 euros), and you can use the trial version for nothing.
dajo

http://www.ribbonsoft.com/qcad.html

Traininvain · Feb 23 2012 09:02

Hi Jamie

If you are running an Intel Mac then you can run Windows software. To find out, click the Apple icon at the top left of the screen and then About this Mac. You will then see what processor your machine has. If it is an Intel one then you can run Windows and any software that runs on Window, just like a PC.

Ian

jamiepage · Feb 23 2012 11:48

Hello Ian,
Thanks for that.
Yes, it seems to be an Intel- it says '2.4 Ghz Intel core 2 duo.' So if I put a Windows CAD programme into it, would it function as, and look like, that programme's noddy guide for beginners?
So far as Draftsight is concerned, I downloaded the 'for Mac' version which looks nothing like their Users Guide (which is Windows based) hence my problem in getting started.
Can I therefore download a 'for Windows' version into this machine and have something that would be compatible with the Guide?
Jamie

Andy B · Feb 23 2012 13:41

Jamie,

I'm using DraftSight on Linux (OK, its not Mac, but not Windoze either!).
Can you email me a couple of screenshots of things that look different to the manual - partly I'm interested to see how they are different, but I should be able to give you some pointers (having used at least 6 different CAD tools over the years on a variety of operating systems).
My email address is on a paper slip in the MR wagon kit.

Andy

Traininvain · Feb 23 2012 17:09

Hi Jamie

not quite. First of all you need to set up a 'partition' using special software such as the free Boot Camp or the approx £40 Parallels (parallels allows you to run Mac and PC software at the same time and switch between the two, while with Bootcamp you have to reboot the computer to switch from one to the other). Once this has been done you can load Windoze and then load a PC compatible CAD programme. The reason I suggest this route is that there's a far better chance of getting some cheap(er) CAD software that runs on a PC than a mac. Despite the apparent complexity it's really v straightforward.

Ian

jamiepage · Feb 23 2012 17:46

Ian,
Thank you for the suggestion- I'll look at Parallels.

Andy,
Thank you. I'll pm you over the weekend. - Very impressed with the kit by the way.

Jamie

ChrisC · Mar 04 2012 23:48

I use Moi3D for all of my pattern making CAD work. Top notch software with an incredible support system. It is written by the fellow who wrote RhinoCAD.

Available for Mac or Windows here: http://moi3d.com/download.htm

Only $299 US! It will output STL for rapid prototyping as well.

Cheers,

Chris

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