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Home/Garage CAD packages

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NUROADSIR

Active member
Joined
Nov 14, 2007
Messages
29
Location
So MN
Do any of you guys have recommendations on a decent lower cost Home/Garage CAD design packages. Mostly looking to do some 2D but 3D would be beneficial. Not looking for a full blown AutoCad or Solidworks.

Thanks!
 
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bluesman2a

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Aug 16, 2005
Messages
1,312
Location
Atlanta, Ga.
Try using PUNCH. it's a decent package... Simple to start with does 2-d or 3-d models. their full boat package is around $100.

Here are some pics I did with mine:
Model_1.jpg

Floorplan.sized.jpg
 
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N

NUROADSIR

Active member
Joined
Nov 14, 2007
Messages
29
Location
So MN
I was looking at Punch today at BestBuy. I think they had two versions on at 69 and one at 99. Appeared to easy to use. Did you come up to speed pretty quick?
 
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jerry46765

Member
Joined
May 26, 2007
Messages
16
Location
Indianapolis
I used AutoCad 1.0 back in the day, at school, but there is no way I would consider buying a current pro version.

I bought a new copy of AutoCad LT 2000 from Ebay. It was cheap ($60), and it did everything I needed for a garage layout. Plus, I could remember some of the keywords.


My wife purchased a copy of Punch. I played around with it. It does that 3d modeling, but it would be cumbersome to provide detailed drawings on it.

Thanks -

Jerry
 
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jerry46765

Member
Joined
May 26, 2007
Messages
16
Location
Indianapolis
Quick follow-up, I spent a lot of time using these drawings to figure out exactly what I wanted.

With AutoCad, I made a number of blocks to represent the junk I needed to get in the garage. Then I was able to change the building and property layout to fit in all my junk.

Plus, while it took some time to develop my plan, I could keep saving up money in order to build what I really wanted.

Thanks -

Jerry

Here are some examples:

Autocad_example.jpg


Autocad_example2.jpg
 
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PAToyota

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Joined
Jan 20, 2006
Messages
4,366
Location
South Central Pennsylvania, USA
I use AutoCAD at work, but I have to admit that there is a learning curve that would probably be a hindrance for someone just using part time - even with LT. Even at work I use SketchUp (the Pro version) for my preliminary design work. It is one of the easiest programs I know to play around with as far as figuring out spaces and such. And with the "Warehouse" you can find all sorts of models of cars, tools, and such to put into your spaces to get an idea of how things will fit.

Actually, I am getting ready to start a project at work that I want to experiment with using Layout (SketchUp's sheet layout program) and do all of the construction documents entirely with SketchUp just to prove that it can be done.
 
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boiler7904

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Joined
Apr 4, 2006
Messages
3,414
Location
NW IN
If it's a one time thing, AutoCAD (or AutoCAD LT) isn't worth the expense or learning curve. I use it every day at work to some degree. We had two new guys start a year ago August. Their previous experience was with Microstation with a couple of AutoCAD classes in college. It took each of them about 2 months to become proficient even when using it 8+ hours a day 5 days a week.

On the other hand, you could always take a basic AutoCAD class at a local community college for a couple of hundred bucks. Their bookstore probably sells it at a discounted rate to students.

SketchUp is good for basic planning and space relationships but doing full blown construction drawings would be tedious (Good luck Pat with that task by the way).

I've heard that programs like 3D home architect and Punch are pretty good if you practice.

Whatever software you get, make sure your computer exceeds the software's minimum requirements. Graphics programs that include a lot of calculations will eat up system resources like you wouldn't believe.
 
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NUROADSIR

Active member
Joined
Nov 14, 2007
Messages
29
Location
So MN
Thanks for the tips everyone. I have access to Inventor and AutoCad but the learning curve is too steep for my time frame.
I am more after a tool to get the floor plan roughed in (for house and garage) so I can turn it over drafting design service that knows and understands state and local building codes to finalize. The plan is for a two level garage. ( A front entrance street level and a side entrance for the lower level. )

Thanks again
Eric
 
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GuerrillaCycles

Well-known member
Joined
May 1, 2007
Messages
75
Location
Powell, OH
FWIW, at work I use Pro-Engineer, Microstation, and Autocad, but for Home and Garage design work, I use Home Designer Pro 7, from Chief Architect. It's pretty intuitive to learn and has great tutorials for the uninitiated.

Sketch-up is probably quicker for general brainstorming, but HDP will do full detail drawings from your 3d design. It took me about 1 hour to do the layout below. Mind you it's just rough layout, and all the details will take a few more evenings to fill in (while enjoying some Top Gear re-runs and frosty cold ones :beer: )

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/12009583@N06/2085706208/" title="shop5 by npulliam, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2405/2085706208_238c0da309.jpg" width="500" height="340" alt="shop5" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/12009583@N06/2085705878/" title="shop3 by npulliam, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2195/2085705878_0cc260933b.jpg" width="500" height="342" alt="shop3" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/12009583@N06/2084921527/" title="shop1 by npulliam, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2155/2084921527_f36c5a6907.jpg" width="500" height="342" alt="shop1" /></a>
 
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