Matt Whiting wrote:
mustanger wrote:

Coming to R.S.'s defense. I've used AutoCad in various versions for
years and have had projects from RC aircraft, home construction, parts
design, and full size aircraft components.
After already investing a lot of learning time into AutoCad, I
bought a
copy of DeltaCad 3.0 at a discount store for $10 years ago. I was
amazed at
how simple it was to learn and how powerful it was for such a small
program.
I've kept that program through three computers and dozens of projects.
For
all projects I now use DeltaCad to work up my drawings. I no longer have
AutoCad installed on my computer.
The only drawback I've seen with DeltaCad is my old version doesn't
properly save multi-point spline curves in .dxf files. I know this was
corrected in later versions.
Currently, I use DeltaCad to create templates for aluminum cutting
for
aircraft components, and reproduction of gauge faces and decals of
cockpit
labels and such. All of this is in conjunction with the restoration
work we
are doing on a WWII vintage North American Aviation P-51H Mustang at the
Octave Chanute Aerospace Museum in Rantoul, Illinois.
In my experience, there is not a better entry-level Cad program to be
found. If you don't believe me, try the demo.
http://www.dcad.com/demo.html
I'm certainly not a salesman for DeltaCad, but I don't mind spreading
the word when something works this well for so little cash.


Norm,

This is a timely post! I'm looking for a low-cost program to draw
simple dimensioned objects for a structural engineering course that I am
taking. I want to use MathCAD for my homework assignments, but it has
no drawing capability and most of the problems I need to solve need
text, equations AND drawings/diagrams.

All I have to do now is confirm that MathCAD is able to import the files
that DeltaCAD creates. If it does, I'll be a happy camper and the $40
seems very reasonable.

Matt

Before you do that check with your school bookstore. As s student you
can buy AutoCad or MicroStation for a fraction of the usual price. My
MicroStation cost me about $200 when the commercial version's price was
a few kilobucks. The academic versions are full function. The only
difference is you get a nag screen reminding you it's the academic
version every time you log on. The books alone are worth the price in my
opinion. I do feel I have gotten my money's worth.

I prefer MicroStation for a number of reasons. Based on my
unscientific observations I have seen a lot more A-Cad users than
Microstation which might be a consideration.

As for the A-Cad users reading this, I forgive you

Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired