Expert: Paul Jordan - 2/2/2009

Question
QUESTION: hello paul, i have been trying to find myself a simple free cad software but i am having some trouble. all of the programs i have been working with have been for too complex. i would like to work with something similar to using a block of wood and a band-saw. any help is apreciated and i will rate accurately=]

ANSWER: I'd have to recommend Sketchup in your case Austin.  There's a free version as well as a pro version.  Without knowing what you want to use it for, it's kind of hard to suggest anything else.  Give it a try and if it's not what you're looking for, give me another shout with a little more information.

Paul

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QUESTION: this program was very helpful to me, but im not really sure if there is a better one. i am trying to start my career as a car designer and havent had much luck with anything other than sketchup.

Answer
There are a lot of higher end programs that Autodesk has that are being used in the car design industry but, none of them are free.  You'd be hard pressed to even find them on the student website for download if you were in a formal education program.  

Unfortunately, they're all pretty expensive as well.  

My best recommendation is to check what the schools or the designers themselves are using and work from there.  Free is always nice but, if this is your career, you want what the others are using so everything is compatible and works together.  Nothing turns off a client or employer more than having to convert files from one format to another in order to work with them.

Best of luck,

Paul