Design software

[wreckingba11]

Hello Everyone,

I would like to know if anyone has used a garage building Software. I would like to plan out my summer project but tired of pen/paper. Any recommendations would be preferable

Thanks

 

[loganb]

What is your experience with Computer Aided Design(CAD) software?

 

[wreckingba11]

What is your experience with Computer Aided Design(CAD) software

None .... But there is youtube

 

[gleman]

Sketch up is great if you don't have a lot of cad experience. YouTube has a lot of tutorials on usage.

 

[BearsFan315]

I'm Autodesk all day, but 30+ years of it

SketchUp is a good one (has a lot of support) as well as FreeCAD
simple 3d design use HomeStyler online (i know it is for homes but done up my garage with it )

 

[Max]

I’ve used Librecad for basic CAD stuff around the house. When we had to update our plat for a permit this is what I used. It runs on Mac/Windows/Linux and it is free.

LibreCAD - Free Open Source 2D CAD

 

[NORTON'S SHOP]

I designed my shop with Pro/E, now known as CREO. Overkill? Waaaaayyyy overkill. I've been using it for almost 30 years, so it was easy for me. Learning curve goes on forever. I'm still learning new things after all this time.

 

[loganb]

Sketchup or Fusion360 are probably the most well supported on YouTube U. If you may be interested in doing more design work down the road for more mechanical parts, stuff to make in the garage, Fusion is probably a better choice. If it's just the garage major space planning Sketchup is probably faster to learn.

 

[HPRifleman]

I did a very simple 3D model in SolidWorks to gauge the interior volume. But laying out the space for all the cars, motorcycles, tools, electrical, etc. was done in AutoCAD.

 

[BTL-A4]

If you know nothing, go with SketchUp. There's a free version. However, how much detail do you need/want? The old school way with pencil and paper might be just fine for figuring out material and such. With SketchUp, you have to create everything anyway, and there's always changes. I've found it's easier to get a rough idea with pencil and paper, then go to a 3D model so you can visualize it really easy and show it to others.