This webpage reviews some interesting software tools. Most are free or have a limited free version or are opensource - but not all.
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This is looks very much like an AutoCAD clone. You can download and use (you'll need to check the license agreements). It's one of the best 2D CAD packages I've used (which doesn't necessarily mean it is the best as I haven't used many). What's really useful is that they have versions in Ubuntu, Mac and Windows, so I can have it running on all my CNC and office machines. It has 'real' engineering functionality with excellent snapping to existing drawing attributes (end of line, mid of line, interesections, cicles etc). It also has quick and easy dimensioning. Anyone familiar with Autocad will recognise the layout, command-line commands and functionality. It will save drawing as .dwg (all versions), .dxf and many other drawing formats. It doesn't have LISP but has it's own simple scripting tool that looks good (have had not too much time to experiment with this).
Share the drawings using:
The website claims that it's...The Nr.1 Alternative To AutoCAD LT. You decide.
Siemens produce a free 2d Drafting tool found here->
Blueprint Now (looks like it's retired now)This is a very simple on-line drawing tool. Takes some time to get use to it.
Useful tool for making Bill of Materials. Probably could also be used in project mangement for making neat Work Breakdown Structures (WBS) or Product Definitions.
- http://labs.solidworks.com/Products/Product.aspx?name=treehouse
- This is quite an amazing 3D Drawing tool. Has a different approach to other CAD and engineering type applications.
Useful Plug-ins for Sketchup
- Renditioner Express v2 is a free plug for sketchup http://imsidesign.com/Products/Renditioner/RenditionerExpressv2/tabid/1904/Default.aspx
CoCreate - Creo Elements/Direct Modeling Express 4.0
- Targeting the 'Maker" community directly - an area where simple 3D modelling is required using 3D printing or laser cutting parts fitted together, but can certainly be used for all types of quick 3d prototyping. Autodesk have partnered with Ponoco,Tech Shop and 3D Systems to produce the Physical items -> http://www.123dapp.com/
Other 3D CAD worth investigating (I haven't done this yet)
FreeCAD is a CAD/CAE parametric modeling application and runs on Windows, Linux, etc.
3Dtin3Dtin.com You design blocky objects from your web browser! You'll need to sign-up to save/export.
tinkerCAD tinkerCAD.com looks a bit like autoesk 123D and sketchup , but has it's own unusual approach for creating objects. You'll need to read to understand what to do. Seems to be designed for the maker industry with 3D printing in mind. Easy, powerful and quick! Not open source. Not released yet!OpenSCAD - OpenSCAD - The Programmers Solid 3D CAD Modeller
Openscad.org
Very nice if you're a programmer.
Blenderis actually a mesh modeller, not a solid CAD tool. Blender is a free and open-source 3D computer graphics software product used for creating animated films, visual effects, interactive 3D applications or video games. The current stable release version is 2.61, and was released on December 14, 2011.[1] Blender's features include 3D modeling, UV unwrapping, texturing, rigging and skinning, fluid and smoke simulation, particle simulation,animating, rendering, video editing andcompositing.Many tutorials to learn it.
Linkage Motion Simulation ToolsFreeCAD by Aik-Siong Koh, PhDNot the same as the 3D CAD program called FreeCAD,. but with a focus on motion simulation
Website gtrebaol Gildas TrébaolGood simulation of four-bar linkages With SVG and Flash embedded graphics
Geometers Sketchpad (Key Curriculum Press)
With Ch Mechanism Toolkit installed in a Web server, Web-based mechanism design and analysis can be performed on-line. It is very simple and easy to use for solving practical engineering problems as well as for teaching and learning design and analysis of mechanisms. Using Ch Mechanism Toolkit with QuickAnimation, you can also develop Web-based solutions for design and analysis of many other mechanisms.
- http://www.edu-ctr.pref.kanagawa.jp/LinkWeb/index_e.htm
A webbased java applciation where certain simulations are configurable.
- http://synthetica.eng.uci.edu/~mccarthy/Linkages.html
Use Sketchy Physics plugin for simulating
Tutorials about SketchyPhysics in Sketchup
AutoDesk 123D
This can also simulate linkages (see links above in section 3D packages)
One of the key uses for a SolidWorks model exported to Collada is in a Microsoft Robotics Studio environment. This tool allows robotic simulation developers and robotic hardware makers to use code to control actual model geometry before any component is manufactured. Conversely, SolidWorks designers are able to export their motion studies into a format which in turn software developers can build upon to create simulations.
Let's face, we're most creative when we are "bouncing" around our ideas when sitting in room with other people (ideally in the pub) and getting everyone else to add other ideas step-by-step.
Most of these have the same functionality as Freemind. Most can download/export to to Freemind so you can continue working on them off-line. Freemind
mind42.com
With this tool you can even create a mind map on-line, discuss the ideas using Skype with your buddy and update on-line. You share the mind-maps by inviting other people to collaborate with you on your mindmaps.
XMindSimilar to solution and draws nicer graphics. Can read freemind mindmaps too.
Think Buzan iMindMap
A nice on-line application for generating MindMaps - also in 3D. ThinkBuzan has a free version which is limited in use, but still usable. Some people have managed to use this software as a Knowledge management solution for relating all their documents in a company, which is much more logical and natural way to find documents compared to a file explorer. .
Flash Development
Graphics & Picture Editing
Screen Cam Recorders |
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