Expert: Bob - 3/2/2006

Question
hello Bob  -  I'm a beginner in the realm of CAD.  I'm looking for a recommended software for beginners with CAD and something that might interface with a milling machine a ways down the road.  Can you suggest a brand/model/version of CAD program for firsttimers that is easy to moderate in user friendly terms and not overly expensive.  
My computer is Dell 4400 with Windows XPhome and pentium 4 processor.  
Thanks.   Bill Dobni
wdobni@comcast.net

Answer
Hi, Bill --
I really need to update my profile here, because most of the questions, not just yours, leave out these essentials: your experience level, your industry, your purpose, whether you work alone or want a job, etc.
I can usually reply, but with more elaboration and less certainly than I might, with full knowledge.

Here goes:
1-- the best suggestion for a CAD program is to learn the one that is most common in your industry (if you want to be employable) OR-- the one that you find works the best with the type of work you will do, (if independent).
2-- being an Interior Designer, I can't speak much about milling machines, but I put "CAD milling machine" into Google, and saw that there seem to be a number of programs I would normally never hear about. Some of the machines come with software, I see.
The general best advice:
Ask around in that industry, find its trade publications and discussion groups online, and form a judgement after some research. For instance, in Architecture and Interiors, you MUST learn AutoCAD to be easily employable in most cities, but an independent can choose from several others. In Mechanical it's AutoCAD or Solidworks, pretty much, with Inventor coming up.

Does this help?

BOB