CAD Program

[Jerry Budd]

Bill,

I don't know first hand because I've never tried it but considering 
who all is using it I can't imagine it wouldn't.  Ashlar has a much 
higher end product called Cobalt that does all of what Graphite does 
plus the high end solid modelling functions, but it's way more $$$ 
(nearly $4k).  On the other hand it compares favorably with ProE 
which is ~$20k.

All of the Ashlar products are available for a fully functional two 
week trial via download here:

http://www.ashlar.com/demo/index.shtml

You might consider downloading Graphite, importing your old CAD file 
from AutoCad and trying it.

I think the important thing to consider is this.  There are a lot of 
CAD programs available out there with a lot of capability that are 
downright CHEAP (some are shareware/free).  Most of them are quite 
difficult to use and require a significant learning curve to be able 
to do anything of value at all.  I have found it better to pay a 
little bit of $ to have a CAD tool that has almost no learning curve 
at all as I frequently go months at a time without using the 
software.  When I go back to use it after a layoff it only takes a 
few minutes (I mean single digit here) to be back up and working. 
It's that easy.

I currently use an old version of Ashlar DrawingBoard on my Mac that 
I bought 8 or 9 years ago (still runs fine on OS 10.3.8 under 
Classic).  I downloaded the trial version of Graphite for OS X last 
night and it has the same intuitive interface.  The main reason I'm 
thinking of upgrading is to pick up the ability to import/export a 
much greater variety of file formats than what DrawingBoard handles. 
Being full OS X native is a plus also.  BTW - FWIW, all of the Ashlar 
products are offered for both Windoz and Mac.

Thx, Jerry


>Jerry:
>Can you take intermediate cuts with it, and it will come up with an 
>inference of the station?  that was my main complaint with Autocad 
>Bill Glaze
>
>Jerry Budd wrote:
>
>>Ashlar Graphite, far and away the easiest CAD program out there 
>>(important for CAD neophytes like me), it's a direct descendant of 
>>Ashlar Vellum.  The learning curve with it is about a half hour 
>>long. Once you use it you won't want to touch anything else.
>>
>>It's also fully capable, Scaled Composites used it to design 
>>SpaceShipOne and White Knight.
>>
>>It is a little pricey but there are several upgrade discounts 
>>available, depending on what software you currently own, where you 
>>work, etc.
>>
>>http://www.ashlar.com/products/graphite.html
>>

-- 
___________
Jerry Budd
Budd Engineering
(661) 722-5669 Voice/Fax
(661) 435-0358 Cell Phone
mailto:jerry at buddengineering.com
http://www.buddengineering.com
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