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My husband and I recently purchased a great piece of land with a not so great milled log home on it. We have been searching for a CAD program for iMac or Windows 2000 to launch us on some design ideas for renos and an addition. Any suggestions or recommendations would be appreciated!
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What exactly are you looking for? Something to draw your plans with or something to help with visualization?
Depending on what your trying to acheive, I would suggest different things. If you want to draw your own plans, I would suggest you get AutoCAD LT, and don't be intimidated, AutoCAD is not that hard to learn and this version will have everything that you need, most architechtural firms use this. If your looking for something to help with visualization there are several programs out there that let you do some generic layouts and add windows and doors and such to give a feeling of what your designing. As far as that type of software goes I haven't used any extensively, but I've heard that they can be pretty helpful, and you can pick them up pretty cheap at a place like Office Depot, or Walmart. (3D architect is one title I remember)
*Angela, If you are looking for visualization and easy 3d, purchase Home Architect. Very,very simple to use and costs about $50.00 canadian. ( I think that's about $ 1.50 american ) It shows 3d and you can add furniture, plants, etc. The down side is it doesn't produce good working drawings. I have many clients who use this program for the preliminary work and get me to produce the working drawings. I give a cheaper rate because most of the basic work is done.You could purchase Auto cad or CadLT, but the learning curve is greater. Unless you have some structural Knowledge, you are still going to have to get a proffesional to do your working drawings. Good luck, I hope this helps
*Been considering 3D Home Architect myself for concepts. If you do a search on the web you can find it for $20 US.
*I have tried 3 programs and find that Sierra Home Architect is a useful tool. Punch is not as easy to use and the walk around needs to be re worked.
*AutoCAD LT is a fine program but that $500 or so it costs will buy an architect's scale and a whole lot of paper .......
*I use 3D Home Architect to do basement floor plans. It makes a fairly nice presntation tool, and is easy to learn and use. Now if I just had any design sense...Dave
*Architect or architec delux? been looking for it on the web and have come across both references, but not enough info to know the difference. Also asked this on another forum. Mixed opinions from great to crap.
*Home Architect deluxe 3.0 is the only one I have used. As I mentioned in my previous post, It is useless for structural drawings. It is great for visualization and basic layouts. ie. if you want to know if you couch,lazyboy and big screen T.V. are going to fit in the family room. It also gives you a basic idea of kitchen layout. The one option I like is you can change the size of cabinets and furniture to suit your needs. The box says you can produce full detial plans to build your home. Believe me, this is not the case. Use a proffesional architect or draftsman for your final drawings. I learned how to use the program in about 3 days. Very user friendly.Unless you are planning to do alot of drafting, I would say don't bother with Auto Cad. I use Auto Cad 2000, But I'm trying to make a living with it. BIG learning curve.Best of luck!!
*If you want to get into CAD, Auto LT is a good program; it's big brother (AutoCAD 2000) being used by many if not most architectural and engineering firms. My earlier coment is based on seeing people get frustrated when they don't get immediate results ......there is a learning curve, steeper for some CAD programs than others. AutoCAD requires some commitment.
*3D Home Architect is great for floor plans and visualizing your layout. For CAD work, check out Visual CADD. It cost about $50 and is available online. They have a website you can download it I think, or at least order it. It is very easy to learn, easy to use and will save your drawings in DXF format to transfer to AutoCad if you want.Check out http://www.imsisoft.com
*I agree with the comment regarding how alot of trace and a scale can be bought for less$$. Think of CAD as a tool but unless you are very skilled with it it is not a design tool. Sketch and scribble your ideas and you be be much more creative at the beginning and not be cought up in the detail and precision that the computer forces upon you early on.
*Some things 3D Architect won't do: curved walls, spiral stairs (you can plop one in from the furniture library and resize is all), and other-than 8' ceilings. Roof tools not bad for this price. Lots of window and door options. You can choose different wall thicknesses. The materials list is pretty good, but the plan won't give you anything unusual like SIPS options. Good estimator for square footages, cubic yards. The 3D Suite gives you interior design and appliance options and landscaping programs as well. I think it's a great little tool for your purpose; an object-oriented program is easier to learn. Of course, you need to be sure you have enough computer to handle the 3D rendering quickly.
*I would like to talk to anyone who has purchased and used the Professional Home Design by Punch software. What has been your experience with the software and is it easy to use?Is it worth $89.00?Can I carat a drawing in little time by muting in the dimensions and automatically creating the framing, than the sheathing and floor plans?Is there a trial down load that I can play with?I also do a lot of wood working. Will this allow me to design and layout cabinets and book cases?
*Greetings from Ireland!I'm a timber-framer(stick)with a query about a CAD software package. Which package will allow me to design and will also include an estimate of materials needed? I already use Auto Cad and Turbo Cad but want the added dimension of including a materials list and structural details, without a whole lot of fuss. Willing to spend approx $1000 and would appreciate web site addresses for same.
*For the amateur (and maybe some pros, depending on what you need), I've been fooling a little with a program from IMSI (makers of Turbocad) called Floorplan 3d v5; came bundled with the new version of Turbocad (v7). Pretty cool little program; does floorplans, and then creates a 3d model from that, simple roofs, you can add cabinets,furniture, plumbing, electrical stuff, render the model, and do a VRML walkthrough...only program in it's price range that you can do that with, apparently). if you need more detail, TC7 has a 'bridge' where you can import the Floorplan drawing, set it up on standard architectural sheets, and then take it into TC, where you have a full CAD program to make any changes you want. I just took a very quick look at the support forum, but the comparison program most people use is Chief Architect (rather than Home Architect), and Floorplan is $49 instead of $800. TC 7 is only a couple of hundred.Anyway, worth a look. http://www.imsisoft.com
*I've used TurboCad all the way back to version one point something. I have all the plans for my house in version 5 pro, and am hoping to hell that I get through this project without losing everything. I bought the upgrade to version 6 pro, but it turned out to be even buggier than 5. It wouldn't even install without screwing up everything else on the computer. They have a version 7 out now, it might be better, but I have way too many hours into those files to take a chance on it. The thing about CAD is that if you do it at all, you'll end up doing much much more of it than you ever expected. So, the wise thing to do is get a real stable program that's well supported. If I had it to do over, I'd go with the AutoCad LT.-- J.S.
*"I would like to talk to anyone who has purchased and used the Professional Home Design by Punch software. What has been your experience with the software and is it easy to use? Is it worth $89.00? Can I carat a drawing in little time by muting in the dimensions and automatically creating the framing, than the sheathing and floor plans? Is there a trial down load that I can play with? I also do a lot of wood working. Will this allow me to design and layout cabinets and book cases?" Hello David, I purchased this thinking the framing portion would do me some good, but its way to basic, no sheathing ,no floors or ceilings, just walls. The program walk about was choppy and weak looking. As far as design its a basic no frills look. Might help with locating your cabinets and book cases but as far as detailed designing, no. I found Seirra Home Architect a lot better. Good Luck , if you need more info like a print out on some of the screens let me know. Ron Rosa
*Auto cad is as buggy as anything else out there.
*Adrian,
View Image © 1999-2001"The first step towards vice is to shroud innocent actions in mystery, and whoever likes to conceal something sooner or later has reason to conceal it." Aristotle
*Though I haven't bought it, I played with it, and have a demo disk of Solid Builder. Seems like a neat program. It draws 2d with minimal of learning curve. Displays in 3d and does 3d walkthroughs. Will auto build roofs. Can be setup for the way you build. Gives a materials list with pricing if you add the pricing for your area. It also will print a cut list of joists, decking, plates, studs, cripples, headers, rafters and roof sheathing for the framer. Although I can't imagine pre-cutting hip and valley sheathing before the roof is on. They say it will convert files from auto-cad.This software used to be around $1200.00, I don't know now.
*b WBA At Your ServiceVectorworks is the latest version of Minicad from http://www.nemetschek.com
*Has anyone used 123 Architect for the Mac?http://www.wizworks.com/macsoft/123_hd/123_hd.htmlTo be honest, for $29, it seems as if it maybe doesn't do a whole lot.There seems to be a gap between the sub $80 products and the over $1200 products...
*try that again.. here's an elevation of a plan done in Chief Architect (vs. 6.0)..Chief is the big brother of 3d Home Architect....about $900 for vs. 7.0...
*Hey Mike,
View Image © 1999-2001"The first step towards vice is to shroud innocent actions in mystery, and whoever likes to conceal something sooner or later has reason to conceal it." Aristotle
*joe.. i exported it as a .WMF then i picked it up in ThumbsPlus.. and converted it to .BMP & .JPGbut it became real faint so i had to adjust the brightness & contrast for better clarity....i just figgered that most here could view .jpg.. but the .WMF is really superior..the normal export for Chief is .DXF.. for Acad compatiblity...thanks for letting me use your house..
*I'd second Joe's comments about AutoCAD. I currently use R14 and 2000 and have used R12 for DOS and R13. R13 did have some problems, especially in the first release. imho, 2000 is the best release yet. I find it stable. I do think it runs better on NT 4.0.
*Mike,
View Image © 1999-2001"The first step towards vice is to shroud innocent actions in mystery, and whoever likes to conceal something sooner or later has reason to conceal it." Aristotle
*Mike,
View Image © 1999-2001"The first step towards vice is to shroud innocent actions in mystery, and whoever likes to conceal something sooner or later has reason to conceal it." Aristotle
*Joe, do you use lisp routines much?
*J,
View Image © 1999-2001"The first step towards vice is to shroud innocent actions in mystery, and whoever likes to conceal something sooner or later has reason to conceal it." Aristotle
*joe.. i'm running win2K on this machine and like a lot of other programs... WHIP is not supported yet by win2K..naturally i didn't have the plug-in i needed to view that..i'll see what i can do at the office..this DWF is the new format for acad sharing ?the old compatiblefor interchange was DXF..hard to keep up..here on BT , i try to post pics in .jpg because most seem to have less problemviewing..do you think .gif can be viewed by people on this board ?
*Just starting to get into it .....taking a class. Still trying to master the syntax ... a missing ( or " causes a lot of grief. The more I use AutoCAD, the more I realize how little I really know about it and how little I've tapped into its capabilities.
*Mike,
View Image © 1999-2001"The first step towards vice is to shroud innocent actions in mystery, and whoever likes to conceal something sooner or later has reason to conceal it." Aristotle
*J,
View Image © 1999-2001"The first step towards vice is to shroud innocent actions in mystery, and whoever likes to conceal something sooner or later has reason to conceal it." Aristotle
*Joe; I'm not an expert, but this is what I based my statement on (BTW, Tc7 is night and day different from v5, which was junk, and which I have also junked....7 isn't perfect, but it's a huge improvement).My experience with AC is limited to R14; that's what I have, and that is what they taught to my students when I was teaching. Two of my students were graduates of an architectural technology/drafting program (two years), and if it hadn't been for them, the teacher would have been swamped with problems....not the normal problems of newbie cad students, but bugs and glitches. Also, check out the AC forums.....huge threads on bug reports and workarounds, and a staedy stream of patches (like every other cad program)....a lot of folks there seem to like 2000 and 2000i less than R14. And then there is the cost, and Autodesk politics. I have just accepted that bugs come with the territory in any of the cad programs within the price range of most people on this board; I have no experience with the 20-30K programs.That said, I need to learn more about AC, and will probably take a course or two. But there are lots of alternatives now, especially for the single seat or two or three seat user, and a lot of architects are dropping AC.Anyway, just an opinion.
*Adrian,
View Image © 1999-2001"The first step towards vice is to shroud innocent actions in mystery, and whoever likes to conceal something sooner or later has reason to conceal it." Aristotle
*Thanks for the info, Joe. Adrian, The problems I've had with AutoCAD have been in a network environment and also due to the operating system. Things like crashes when I'd go to plot. In one case it was an old network cable. In another I was the 81st seat on an 80 seat license ....I kept getting booted. WIN 95/98/ME are not the most stable operating systems; the kernel (core program) is not protected. I've had bizzare things happen with Win 95/98 running under Novell and NT Server.If one ap goes down, they tend to all go down and you get the infamous Microshaft blue screen of death. NT 4.0 is far more stable .....I've had no problems (fingers crossed) with NT installed at the seats.
*J,
View Image © 1999-2001"The first step towards vice is to shroud innocent actions in mystery, and whoever likes to conceal something sooner or later has reason to conceal it." Aristotle
*Believe it or not, I haven't used the editor. The instructor is a stern taskmaster ......he makes us insert line by line to troubleshoot and no notes or textbooks for tests. He's mentioned the editor but it's for a later class. I just started in Jan. .....got a ways to go. Frustrating some times .....but I figure if I'm going to get the most out of AutoCAD, it's the tool to have. 3D was more fun .....draw in 3D and import the dwg into 3D Studio Max and animate it. Got me hooked .....hope to go back for some more.
*J,
View Image © 1999-2001"The first step towards vice is to shroud innocent actions in mystery, and whoever likes to conceal something sooner or later has reason to conceal it." Aristotle
*Thanks
*Read this whole thread and found a single reference to VectorWorks. Its been on my machine for about a year now - and am still steep in the learning curve. Lately the curve has started to flatten a bit and am acually able to produce full plan sets from the bottom up including sections, elevations, details, plot plans, and 3d modeling/rendering. With the flyover tool or the walk thru tool I can walk you thru your up coming project for you to see from the inside out. Today I produced a conceptual drawing for a customer for a timber frame type covered porch for their home. Not a lot to look at but for a couple hours on a saturday afternoon and first day off the smokes I think VectorWorks warrants mention. buz
*Your pic was like thirty seconds to load and display for me and I have a cable connection!near the still too narrow stream,aj
*I got a plain old phone line and your graphic was up before I could take a deep breath. Two little frontal views of posts and cross beams with an isometric of the roofs. Was that it?
*buz.. if you want to show something , use a format that most can view....the easiest is .jpg.. i couldn't open .pct
*Mike,
View Image © 1999-2001"The first step towards vice is to shroud innocent actions in mystery, and whoever likes to conceal something sooner or later has reason to conceal it." Aristotle
*so now I'm praticing on you guys - mike - here's a jpeg and a link to quicktime (for future reference)http://www.apple.com/quicktime/
*Hi folks,I've been using Vectorworks since it was Minicad 4. I like it alot. Here's a jpg of the frame of my own house. I've got more time into measuring the house than making the drawing. I use it strictly in 3D. Why bother with 2D when for a little more effort you've got a full blown model.Steve
*And here's a measured drawing of a client's house that I'm currently working on addition plans for. The greek revival details are left a little basic in this drawing to reduce the drawing time while we are still in conceptual mode. I will flesh it out when the plans get more concrete.I've got about 15 hours into measuring this house and producing version of it with the middle section at 1 story, 1.5 story and 1.75 story. This is the 1.5 story version.The clients were thrilled to see the options to this point and happy to write a check for 500 bucks for the work to date.I'll stop hogging bandwidth now. I just thought I should show a little Vectorworks since it's not been discussed much. I use only tiny amounts of what it can do. It has a scripting language, can attatch materials take-offs (though I've yet to figure out how to use that...It's a design tool for me, not an estimating or production drawing tool) and has a optional rendering module for better taexture mapping, which I use on a very rudimentary level.Plus it's cross platform, which means a lot to us Mac users. AC abandoned the mac back at R13, though there is talk of them releasing a version for MacOSX (the new Unix based Mac OS due out in 20 days).SteveSteve
*Nice work Buzz and Steve. I've got a demo disk of Vectorworks .....still trying to figure it out. It seems pretty foreign after using AutoCAD.
*If you are looking for quick and dirty CAD programsfor show and tell and playing with design ideasyou can buy them pretty cheap at any software store.If you want to do accurate design, 2D or 3D, I stilllike AutoCad the best but I recently ran into a completely free software on the interent withtutorials and all at the following address:http://perso.wanadoo.fr/rleboite/minos.htmThis is for solid modeling and if you want to designsomething and actually build it off your drawingsthis could do the job. You would have to spendsome time learning the software though.
*Buzz, I have a very similar project of my own and I have startedtransfering some paper and pencil design concepts into AutoCad.I am planning to fit the roof with aluminum framed glass panels,sort of like a green house or a conservatory but with no walls.I am using a fluted column on one corner. The other three cornersattach to house framing. THis is over a second floor patio.I could use any information anyone has on suppliers for this typeof glass structures, prefabricated columns and constructiontechniques. I would greatly appreciate it. By the way good workon the design. I am sort of starting to feel comfortable with 3D work in AutoCad so I stick with it but it seems like Vectorworksis just as good. If it is alot cheaper than AutoCad then it looks like a winner.
*I just installed DESIGN CAD 3000 EXPRESS which I bought for less than 100 bucks at Comp USA. So far, it seems like a first rate package. I've used a lot of different CAD programs over the past 20 years, and this one is right up near the top in capability.
*DanDo I understand you are going to have a glass roof? If so, it seems to raise a few questions. How will the glass roof transition to the main roof? Will it be all glass or a massive skylight effect? Is it a straight gable as mine is drawn? If it is to be all glass you might check with some of the "solarium" manufacturers, FourSeasons is one that rings a bell off the top of my head - there are others. Our local building supply stores can supply us with just about anything including architectural posts. A sketch of general design would help in visualizing any particular techniques that could help.I have been on a quest of sorts to decide if VectorWorks measures up to AutoCad and so far the results point to ..... it does. A friend/peer/competitor in the building and design trades uses AutoCad on a PC and I use VectorWorks on a Mac - this was the point of reference for my "quest". A couple of the results I have found include a guy who was trained in AutoCad for four years is now using VectorWorks. His comment was that in mechanical design AC has it all over VW, but in the architectural/rendering world it is reverse (not to the same degree); then there are a few professional architect/designers who have made the switch for similar reasoning. Does anyone reading this have input the other direction - i.e. folks who have gone from VW to AC. Just curious here.Good luck DanBuz
*I thought posting new mesages moved the thread back to the top of the forum.Buz
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My husband and I recently purchased a great piece of land with a not so great milled log home on it. We have been searching for a CAD program for iMac or Windows 2000 to launch us on some design ideas for renos and an addition. Any suggestions or recommendations would be appreciated!