I'm looking for a cheap copy of autoCAD?

[Crawford]

Wonder if anyone has an old copy laying around they don't need? Would love to start fooling around with it. Is there a free program like auto cad I can design 2d/3d stuff with that someone could suggest?

[ZTFab]

PM sent!

[slodat]

I'm interested in the same..

[AB75901]

I'm interested in the same..

x2 I have been looking around for a while but havent came across anything.

[Static-XJ]

At one time Alibre had a free version that was limited in the number of parts an assembly could contain. Not sure if they still do.

Google Sketchup has a free version. Everytime I try to learn it I get frustrated because I'm used to Solidworks. Seems like you can do just about everything in Sketchup with the mouse.

Maybe a technical school around you has a CAD course that you could take to get some instruction and hands on time.

[Crawford]

At one time Alibre had a free version that was limited in the number of parts an assembly could contain. Not sure if they still do.

Google Sketchup has a free version. Everytime I try to learn it I get frustrated because I'm used to Solidworks. Seems like you can do just about everything in Sketchup with the mouse.

Maybe a technical school around you has a CAD course that you could take to get some instruction and hands on time.

I plan to enroll in an intro to autoCAD class next semester along with my welding classes and possibly auto classes.... Hopefully the student edition of autoCAD is fairly inexpensive. Besides, I need to get off my dead ***, not like there's any jobs around these parts to apply for right now anyway... :laugh: if it get's me one step closer to a job in industrial or 4x4 fab I'd be happy.:waving:

[Knotbored]

I just found this drafting program that might have some posibilities-I haven't downloaded it though-I am on dialup and its 58meg download (OMG-58?) I might go find a broadband connection somewhere,

http://www.aplusfreeware.com/categories/business/FreeAutoCADAlternatives.html

[salem747]

www.isohunt.com

[DNC]

I have been using Desing CAD 2D for years and it works well. I googled and it shows up at 'www.imsidesign.com for about $50. I have taken the 16 ea. layout points calculated using 'www.pipesaddlelayout.com, and drawn a pipe saddle template in the mentioned CAD program. The older version I have lets you print to scale so the pattern fits the pipe.

DNC

[slagmatic]

What exactly are you trying to do?

Google sketch-up works great to do basic layout and get a nice visual you can show a customer as part of a quote or whatever.

[nikodell]

http://www.alibre.com/
From what I recall this can be used for free in a limited manner and they often have great deals on the basic, say like $99.00 at times.

[kenklingerman]

bitorrent downloads people, you can get anything you want. TRUST ME!

[Crawford]

bitorrent downloads people, you can get anything you want. TRUST ME!

every time i try, viruses EVERYWHERE...

[stanward]

Ouch! file sharing programs are full of viruses and spywares!

[kenklingerman]

Ouch! file sharing programs are full of viruses and spywares!

the keygen software almost always appears as a virus, I've never had a problem, just download the most popular copy and you'll be alright

I walked smokinranch through this and he's very happy with his new autocad!

I've been downloading for years now, my current pc has never had a virus. I guess norton does it's job.

[Aquafire]

the keygen software almost always appears as a virus, I've never had a problem, just download the most popular copy and you'll be alright

I walked smokinranch through this and he's very happy with his new autocad!

I've been downloading for years now, my current pc has never had a virus. I guess norton does it's job.

That's because keygen software usually IS a virus. Many hackers don't work independantly- they spend their time developing these keygen/cracks/etc for some group (search CORE or Warez). The groups interest can vary from having control of your computer to use in a unified Denial of Service attack, or something as innocuous as gathering market research info on where you go (or maybe just selling ads to companies to use as annoying popups on your PC).

Anytime you download something from some shady site, particularly executable programs (exe's)- you have to be very careful. What you think is just a quick app might open up one of your thousands of ports to the network and then "terminate and stay resident", listening for it's marching orders.

Norton only picks up programs that its developers KNOW are viruses. The good hackers leave their source code on the desktop and as soon as the virus companies identify their app, they change the code enough to make the .exe a new program (takes 30 seconds) and repost it.

Make sure you always update your virus definitions, and if your operating system (Vista)/firewall/security app notifies you that what you've run is trying to do something like open a port/access parts of memory it shouldnt need to access/make itself an autoexec/contact a remote site, etc- deny it.

[kenklingerman]

So sorry, didn't mean to speak from actual experience, after all why would anyone risk their 500 dollar computer for a 2500 dollar piece of very useful software. Sorry again.

I'll just mind my business and go back to using my very clean computer (2 years old now) and creating 3d models with my 5000 dollar solidworks, and editing photos with my 995 dollar photoshop CS3.

Oh, and I just thought of a song I haven't heard in 20 years, in about 5 minutes. I'll be listening to it.

Damn all these viruses, they make me get sooo much use out of my computer, damn, I hate that, I was just planning on looking at it and posting my assumptions on some dumb *** welding sight.

[rlonstein]

Adding two cents... Not AutoCAD, but after fussing with the free Sketchup, I tried the trials for IMSI TurboCAD Deluxe (http://www.turbocad.com/) and Punch ViaCAD 2d/3d (http://www.punchcad.com/products/viacad2d3dV6.htm). Lacking any training, I found ViaCAD easier to use and the video and tutorials helpful. Search the web before buying, I found a seller with it on Amazon new in box for $60.

[Martini]

Ken: "So sorry, didn't mean to speak from actual experience, after all why would anyone risk their 500 dollar computer for a 2500 dollar piece of very useful software. Sorry again."

[shakes head] so true. As long as you use decent sites and proper transmission protocols (ie. torrents) usually you can avoid virii/trojans. Just use common sense. Alot of people buy into fear too easily.

[Crawford]

So sorry, didn't mean to speak from actual experience, after all why would anyone risk their 500 dollar computer for a 2500 dollar piece of very useful software. Sorry again.
.

Ken i understand what your saying, i tried again doing what you suggested and had viruses from the top 5 files for autocad. Do you remember where you snagged yours from? I'm using frostwire.

also, some of us have $2,500 computers that were built at home, so it's a bit different. :laugh:

[kenklingerman]

Ken i understand what your saying, i tried again doing what you suggested and had viruses from the top 5 files for autocad. Do you remember where you snagged yours from? I'm using frostwire.

also, some of us have $2,500 computers that were built at home, so it's a bit different. :laugh:

I'm not a PC gamer or a video editor, so I don't need an overbuilt machine like that. anyway, I use btjunkie.com for the files and bitlord1.1 for downloading.

[Crawford]

downloading x64 bit version now, will see how this works, thanks Ken.

[Crawford]

well, got it all downloaded 2010... now I just need to learn how to use it.... soooooo many buttons........


Thank you ken for the website suggestion.

[bruceb]

Wow Ken..you have your real name on here and you are bragging that you are using pirated software on your computer! This is too tempting!

http://www.siia.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=85:internet-anti-piracy-program&catid=11:anti-piracy-programs&Itemid=32

Looks like we can get a reward too!

Software piracy is theft..plain and simple.

[kenklingerman]

Well, your right, but I've always viewed it as an opportunity to learn expensive software for the possibility using one or the other professionally someday in which case it would be legit, in which case everybody wins. Cause god knows I would never commit to prices like that without fully knowing whats being payed for.

Years ago I led Domore Chair Corp to buy Mechanical desktop based on a sales demo, the software was 2500$. in the end it was a waste of money. After that, Pro-E was there trying to sell us their new software for a total cost of 70-80,000, ridiculous but it may have been worth it I'll never know. And everybody knows when you buy software, your'e stuck with it.

Please note, Bruce, though that I'm not really arguing with your point though. Not really and excuse, but just my own reasoning.

[i4sillypwr]

progecad. Just google it and you will find some free DL of the older version. I heard they are selling it now. Its pretty similiar Autocad. I think I have progecad2009 right now. I never use it since solid works is about 5000 times more fun :--p

[bruceb]

Well, your right, but I've always viewed it as an opportunity to learn expensive software for the possibility using one or the other professionally someday in which case it would be legit, in which case everybody wins. Cause god knows I would never commit to prices like that without fully knowing whats being payed for.I have been in Engineering for over 20 years and have NEVER had a problem with calling a rep and getting a trial license to evaluate software.

You are recommending to people here to steal the software plain and simple just like you did. You can try and justify it any way you want but it is still stealing.

[BTD]

For cheap cad, try IntelliCad. It's basically an AutoCad clone. Cost is around $150 for the std package. I bought it back in '98 and still use that version....no problems.

Re crack'd programs, I saw some time ago that that SolidWorks has a student package that includes all the features of SolidWorks plus Cosmos FEA. There was only three differences...first is that everything you print has a watermark on it stating something like "Educational Version" or something like that....second, the software has a 2 year life limit after which time you have to pay another fee....third, it's only $150 (Cheap!)...

So, you get to learn/use a full-blown 3D solids modeling program complete with finite element analysis and you pay next to nothing...at least compared to the normal purchase price....and no fear of viruses.

[markfuga]

I started playing around with Google's Sketchup late last year and I have to agree it's a little tough to figure out at the start, but once you get the basics down it's a quick and easy tool to model stuff. After you get past the basics and into some of the advanced features it's an amazing tool for working out mechanical problems with your design. I recently sold a small 3 point backhoe from my tractor and before I sold it I measured everything on it with the intention to build a similar one some day. After taking the measurements I tried to make some crude drawing on paper and then a friend told me about sketchup. It took some determination but I figured it out and "rebuilt" the entire backhoe to correct dimensions in sketchup. Then I learned about a physics plugin for skecthup and was able to animate my model. The animation helped me to find a couple binding issues that I corrected in the sketchup model which saved me alot of frustration when/if I ever build it for real :) Some reading about these backhoes revealed the "digging depth" measurement is the backhoes ability to dig a 2 foot flat bottom hole at X depth. I used the animated model to set two lines at 9 feet deep and made a white box at that depth. You can see my design digs nicely to that depth.
heres a video and a few pics, all generated out of sketchup.

[Kevin Morin]

kenklingerman,
I can't say that Acad is worth the high costs of licensing unless you're going to use the features for work/business/make a living. I've been a licensee since Ver.9 in '89-90' and instructor since '92 - all for the business so the costs were like heat and lights- overhead.
We also need Rhino, Alibre, SketchUP (one of the first few hundred licensees), and a few others that aren't as well recognized CAD and Modeling applications.

But I've had plenty of people pirate my designs, drawings and 'inventions' (innovations might be more descriptive?) and system designs in that period too, and I have to say that its poor practice regardless that the digital piracy that makes it possible is so simple to perform.

kenklingerman, do you agree that others should have free rein with the contents of your bank account just because a hacker can get them in there? That's how you're acting according to your posts, or are you one of the "well they have enough money without me being honest and paying for it" shop lifter types? What about the impoverished hacker? Will you just forgive him for draining the bank account, instead of asserting its 'your' money- he would have 'taken' it just like you 'took' ACAD from Autodesk?

I really don't think the WWeb-site should condone posts advocating or explaining software piracy and if a man is willing to do that: what else won't he rationalize taking that's not his? So I'm not as good a programmer as the thousands of people who work on Acad and the other big name packages; I can't agree that is justification to steal their product- just because I can and don't want to pay the market value.

An honorable man has to delete the stolen goods or buy licenses.

bruceb, thanks for your stance for right clearly stated about a wrong, moral dishonesty goes without remark to often today and silence in dishonesty's presence is acceptance. Just because folks steal and rationalize it doesn't change the theft.

markfuga, SketchUP is the Pro!
Nicely Done. Your job with the animation is really clean, what is the Sk'UP plug-in's link? if you don't mind me asking? Do you have, or are there already, any other areas on this site to discuss SkUP applications to the welding trade?

Cheers,
Kevin Morin

[markfuga]

To get the plugin, just google sketchyphysics and it will land you at the site for the download and list a few tutorials. I wish there was a section to discuss CAD in general, it would have made my learning time a lot shorter and smoother. I was surprised by the lack of discussion forums for sketchup anywhere on the net. I now have a great amount of working knowledge with it and no place to share it :( I also recently learned to do "fly by's" with it which I did the hard way at first, then learned there is a plugin for that too :dizzy:

[Kevin Morin]

Mark,
Thanks for the reply. I'll get the plug and start flying by and moving some grouped objects and components.

We'll just have to hold our own discussions about how to do -what to do in SkUP.

Lots of guys don't realize that once the drawing models are done in SkUP you can export and get to CNC code very quickly. Yes there are some built in headaches but lots of work arounds - therefore many guys who now cut by hand or shear material could use NC plasma services by just learning SkUP.

Thanks again for the great example of work and reply.

Cheers,
Kevin Morin

[taystew]

get some graph paper, a few pencils and erasers, ruler, protactor, basic calculator, and 6-pack. bam! ManuCaD

[oxy moron]

I download viruses all the time... all those .exe and .dll files don't really do anything on an OSX box. If you're not interested in paying loads of money to apple to buy their over priced hardware, you can now build your own mac (www.osx86project.org) and venture into the gray side of things.
if you want to keep completely legit, just install FreeBSD or some flavors of linux... most of the "apps" or programs are free for unix and linux based OS computers.

unfortunately, the learning curve is pretty high, but so is learning to tig with one arm... so, if you can conquer tigging, learning a new OS isn't all that difficult at all.

[happyhado]

This may be a dead thread but if you download any file that you question the integrity of you can upload it to virustotal.com (http://www.virustotal.com)which checks the file with 40+ virus scans. It has a file size limit stated at 10mb but actually around 15mb and usually the smaller parts of any file are the dangerous ones. Not the program itself, but a keygen or crack would be scanable. It saved my butt a few times for sure.
Nothing beats the security of having a paid for serial number though. The hassle I had a few years ago when I was broke and pirated was an energy sucker and probably took good time away from becoming unbroke at the time with all the bugs and update nightmares.
If you still haven't found a good solution, try posting an ad on craigslist or even better yet there are so many businesses falling apart right now looking for extra money. You might be able to approach a graphics place that is privately owned locally and ask them to trade with you or see if you can buy into their license (tho I don't know if that is legal either).
Good luck.

[Hammerwelder]

i got a copy of autocad 2000 when i was in school. i bought it at the school store and i think it was around $150. i'm sure you can goto your local trade school or college and find one if they have cad classes. just make sure you get it new because you need the product key and all that good stuff. and once you register it its only good in your name. mine was the student addition by the way

[lost_cause]

a lot of software packages offer student editions, or academic pricing breaks for students and teachers. if you're a stickler for the rules, make sure to read them all. several years ago i looked at one piece of software, and the student qualifications weren't just taking one class, but technically you had to be a registered student in a full time program.

i have tried to use autocad / lt / freeware clones, and i have never been able to get the hang of it. i last used autocad back in 1989 for about a month, and long since forgot what little i knew. i most recently have used a piece of steel detailing software at the last two places i worked, but since it's a $30k per seat cost, it's not practical. not to mention that it's geared toward structural steel detailing. it has a decent solid modeling core, but it is limited in comparison to the versatility of the $1000-$5000 packages.

the only piece of cad software i have had any success using over the last 15 years was a program called drafix. it was a $150 retail 2d cad package. i finally found it - it had been bought by autodesk and is now called autosketch. the previous version can be had for $29 + $3 shipping on ebay. the current version is $250 from autodesk. i find it very useful for what i do, not to mention that it can export a dxf if you ever have the need of making files for a plate burner (that's why i originally learned to use it back in 1995).

[Hertz]

Any valid student with a .edu email can download it straight from the Autodesk website. I just got 2011 last week. Now I don't have to go to the library to do homework. More time for other important college activities. :drinkup:

[Nukisen]

Hi Crawford!
Yes the Sketchup is incredible good and for free as far as you are not using it for earn money.
If you need to open .dwg or dxf and even some more fileendings i suggest you to download the Doublecad xt and this is also for free. You are able to open meassure and draw in most common filendings. Also you are able to save files in a various filending.
http://activate.imsisoft.com/doublecad.aspx?productpage=DoubleCAD_XT_v2

Just fill in the form and the download will start.

And also you dont need to be a pirate. :)
Good luck!
//Janne

[Dad-07]

When you do get your cheap copy of auto cad try this for a tutorial.

http://www.fbe.unsw.edu.au/learning/autocad/r2000/

[Nukisen]

Also they do have tutorials for the programs on both sketchup and doublecad.
Then you will have tutorials for your program.

Will be much easier to learn your program.

[gwiley]

bitorrent downloads people, you can get anything you want. TRUST ME!

I hate to pee on your campfire there but bittorrent costs a LOT of my buddies their jobs. For the folks that make a living writing software bittorrent is similar to customers having you do some welding and then not paying you for the work.

If the fact that pirating copyrighted software doesn't slow you down. at least think of the folks whose pay is measurably affected by software theft.

I know it sucks to see the price tag on some software, but the reality is that at least in some cases it is expensive and difficult to write. Pay the price or don't use it, but please don't steal it.

[weldingroper]

I agree with mark, google sketch is a little tricky at first but after you figure it out it works pretty good.

[Nukisen]

Weldingroper!
Yes Sketchup is a fantastic program. It takes about 20-25 videotutorial and then you know the basic.
Just continue use it and grow.

http://www.facebook.com/nukisen?v=app_2392950137#!/video/video.php?v=1376336777814

[joiseystud]

You can also use TurboCAD deluxe. Its $75 on Amazon, opens and saves AutoCAD files, etc.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003DUB9FO?ie=UTF8&tag=jussspa-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B003DUB9FO

[towel]

I saw someone mention taking an autocad class but didn't see it mentioned that students can get a copy for home use. You need a email address ending in .edu but I think there is an extra step for those that don't have one. It puts a water mark on the borders of your drawings that shows up when you print. Actually a useful feature since it proves to your teacher that you worked on your drawings at home in your spare time.

http://students.autodesk.com/

[tkanzler]

Some of the students on our HS robotics team, which I mentor, have a [free] student copy of Autodesk Inventor solid modeling software at home, as that's what the school uses. Same as AutoCAD student version, you need an .edu email addy, or you can run it through your teacher.

[Taiden]

I have only used Google Sketchup. I like it for... well... sketching things. :)

It is lacking a lot of features that dedicated CAD software has. No FEA for example

[SeanMurphy265]

I have taken several drafting classes in the past, I have used AutoCard R13, 14, and 2000. I have not used any of the newer releases. I was not good at the 3d stuff. DoubleCad XT seems to be one of the better free versions of Cad. It is a 2d drawing software that seem to be close to the older versions of Autocad.

[Misant777]

I just downloaded autocad 2011. It's pretty amazing. I wish I knew how to use it to it's fullest potential. But I don't and learning it is something i don't have time for so I deleted it.

I don't see anything wrong with having downloaded it however. I'm broke, I literally have no hope of affording a tool like this even if I desperately needed it. 4 grand is more money than I've seen in the last year.

The 2011 distro with the crack from toxic elvis worked like a charm.


Torrent link deleted. Linking to (allegedly) infringing material violates the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), and potentially opens up the site to being liable for contributory infringement. - Tensaiteki

[Black Wolf]

Doesn't really matter if it works or not....

Wrong is still WRONG.

Life isn't exactly Rosey in my world either, but I still have enough Self Respect that I will not lower myself to being a friggin' THIEF.

Besides, you can't be too "Broke"... You have a computer, and time to spend on here.

[brucer]

That's because keygen software usually IS a virus. Many hackers don't work independantly- they spend their time developing these keygen/cracks/etc for some group (search CORE or Warez). The groups interest can vary from having control of your computer to use in a unified Denial of Service attack, or something as innocuous as gathering market research info on where you go (or maybe just selling ads to companies to use as annoying popups on your PC).

Anytime you download something from some shady site, particularly executable programs (exe's)- you have to be very careful. What you think is just a quick app might open up one of your thousands of ports to the network and then "terminate and stay resident", listening for it's marching orders.

Norton only picks up programs that its developers KNOW are viruses. The good hackers leave their source code on the desktop and as soon as the virus companies identify their app, they change the code enough to make the .exe a new program (takes 30 seconds) and repost it.

Make sure you always update your virus definitions, and if your operating system (Vista)/firewall/security app notifies you that what you've run is trying to do something like open a port/access parts of memory it shouldnt need to access/make itself an autoexec/contact a remote site, etc- deny it.


internet explorer, bing, google, yahoo all of the search engines are virus, google chrome is probably the worse. they are data collectors thats what they are for.. market research so they say.

[Misant777]

Black Wolf: This isn't my computer and this isn't my internet. It's borrowed. I spend most of every day applying for work and trying to learn new skills, which is why I'm here and which is also why I had the urge to learn autocad, but thanks for the attempt at characterizing me, d1ckhead.

I guess the direct torrent link violates policy here so you can find it at most of the major trackers. Btjunkie, piratebay, isohunt, mininova, demonoid, scrapetorrent, badasstorrents etc.

With that said, the statement that "most keygens ARE viruses" is blatantly false. Keygens and patches are largely made by reversers and that takes time and effort to do. They get more respect for their work in supplying reliable patches for expensive software than they would for virus code. It's an ego thing. The patch/keygen by toxic elvis for autocad 2011 is a little more complex than your average keygen or patch. It's really quite well done and contains no virus for what it's worth.

Sometimes those patches/keygens are trojaned and re-released and sometimes these can be fixed anyway. It takes a bit more than a "30 second" alteration to change a virus. That's what heuristic analysis is for and a decent anti-virus package will catch basic changes to known code.

In fact with basic knowledge of computer usage and a decent AV package, it's pretty damn hard nowadays to get an infection through any route but sheer ignorance. No matter how much porn you surf or how many warez you download and install.

Personally I feel Norton/Symentec suck. They're bloated code resource hogs and they're not that great in the first place.

[Taiden]

Go enroll in that cooking class you always wanted, use the email address from the community college to register as a student with Autodesk and get Autocad for the cost of your class, and legally.

[Fegenbush]

The program I recommend for 2D cad work is called QCad. There is a paid, professional version, or a free, community version.

Community version available here http://sourceforge.net/projects/qcadbin-win/

It is dxf native format, which can be opened in any version of AutoCad, and it is pretty quick once you get used to the interface.

[charlesb]

I downloaded a free 2D CAD program, DraftSight http://www.3ds.com/products/draftsight/draftsight-overview/, a couple of weeks ago and have been trying to learn how to use it. It is made by Dassault Systems, the same company that makes SolidWorks, so it should be good stuff. From what I have heard, it is a lot like AutoCAD 2007.

[SEAR]

surprising to see info on how to obtain illegal software on this forum. that stuff is best left on a WaReZ forum. :nono: now wheres the thread on where to get drugs ? (kidding)

[wintermute]

I'd love to see someone describing how to steel tools and product from the people on here who are condoning software piracy. Anyone feel like providing addresses, details of locks, when they're home, etc... for those people? I know that sounds worse, but it isn't. You're condoning stealing someone elses property, affecting someone elses job, reducing someone elses profit. I wonder if I would see someone saying that a miller welder is too expensive so you should just break into your local welding supply or the nearest shop that already bought one and steal on instead of buying it.

:cry::nono:

--Wintermute

[Black Wolf]

Black Wolf: <snip> thanks for the attempt at characterizing me, d1ckhead.

Wasn't an "Attempt" at anything. I simply stated that I won't lower myself to STEALING... To ME, that is thievery, and the act is commited by a THIEF.

If you take offense to my definition, then that is on you.

I truthfully hope you retain gainful employment in the near future.

Good Luck.

[wintermute]

Honestly, Misant, I hope you go to jail. I'll make no bones about it. If you were stealing food to feed yourself and your family, I'd accept that...stealing to stay alive is one thing. On the other hand, stealing because you're interested in something is just plain theft and I have no sympathy for you. Again, if you want to learn to weld, does it make it right for you to go out and steal a piece of equipment from someone? In my mind, absolutely not and you should go to jail if you do. Stealing software is exactly the same thing. It's amazingly expensive to make a complex CAD program. Selling it is also amazingly expensive, as is protecting your IP. You can be upset all you want, but jail is where you belong for theft.

--Wintermute

[joiseystud]

Go enroll in that cooking class you always wanted, use the email address from the community college to register as a student with Autodesk and get Autocad for the cost of your class, and legally.

Academic verson prints a watermark on plots fyi

[joiseystud]

Turbo cad is great and cheap. Deluxe version is under $80 on amazon

[jackjones]

I do not understand why people think only of Autocad when they think of CAD. There are plenty of other CAD packages that can do everything Autocad can do, with one major difference - they dont make a big dent in your pocket. Autocad will set you back $900, while something like TurboCad will only cost $30. It may be a slightly older version, but it will still do everything you need. 2D, 3D, DXF, image export, etc

[jel111]

Yea Ken I think you have a good point on that. I mean the free trial thing is a good Idea but you do not get to use the software to the supposed ability. They are great at marketing and they give you have an idea about what it should do (but really doesn't). You go ahead and purchase said software and it doesn't come anywhere near doing what you thought it would or the learning curve is so deep you will be dead or out of date by the time you figure it out. Whose cheating who?

[jel111]

By the way I am looking into something like this. I am as green as they come on this. The problem I have is that I have a Mac and that puts a whole new wrinkle in things. Me and my partner are going to purchase a plasma cutter soon and want to someday get a table for it. One of those torchmates or if anyone knows a cheaper way but still has functionality let me know. I was gonna get the grip's on the torch and the software first then see if I can hang. B4 getting into some real money. I know I can use the plasma but the software is a diff issue.

[Stage Hand]

As a teacher of AutoCAD, all my students have downloaded the free student version. It does stamp each drawing with a watermark saying"produced by an Autodesk Educational license" (or something to that effect). It will also put this mark on any file you import that drawing into. So if your firm has the full blown license and the intern imports a drawing they did at home, it will also stamp your firms drawings (it does ask you twice if you want to do this first). I have heard that you can get rid of this stamp by exporting to DXF, and then importing that DXF into a full license version, but basically any drawing produced in the student version will say student version when you print it.