Mark J Posted May 22, 2018 Report Share Posted May 22, 2018 Reading through the post: Sketchup 2018, it's good to see that Sketchup Make 2017 is still available. But it also seems that there are a lot of alternative design programs. For those who don't have a huge investment in Sketchup maybe it's time to consider a succesor or at least an alternative. What would that be? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chestnut Posted May 22, 2018 Report Share Posted May 22, 2018 The old versions of sketcup will always be available, i don't really see any reason to move to something new. The parts warehouse if it gets put behind a paywall is only a part of the program something that really isn't even needed. The basic nature of the program is pretty solid and outside of new features probably doesn't need to ever change. If the upgrade is for upgrades sake I'd reconsider and just stick with it. I still much prefer the predecessor strait 3d Autocad. I think it's faster and a lot more flexible but it has a learning curve. Fusion 360 is a good option. Also https://www.easyrender.com/rendering-software/7-best-3d-modeling-programs-like-sketchup Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark J Posted May 22, 2018 Author Report Share Posted May 22, 2018 Yeah, I'm not a big one for upgrades. I'm still running Office 2000. Has the English language evolved so much that I need a new word processor. Thanks for the run down on the software, Nut. I'm gonna peruse that web article later. I was thinking of looking into Fusion 360. Is it easier to use than Sketchup? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Lang Posted May 22, 2018 Report Share Posted May 22, 2018 For me the best thing about SketchUp is its versatility. I can quickly explore a concept, see it from any angle and show what the concept will look like to someone who doesn't understand technical drawings. I think of this as a cleaner version of a "napkin sketch". That doesn't take long and unlike a hand drawn sketch, the model can be changed, copied and modified so that I (or my client) can compare different versions side by side, again from any point of view. I can then take that concept sketch and use parts of it to generate an accurate, detailed model without much fuss. From a completed model I can generate any type of 2 dimensional output in the form of measured drawings or artistic renderings. The model contains complete information about each and every part, and I can retrieve that information to generate an accurate cutlist with a few clicks of the mouse. There are methods and other software programs that do some of these things, but SketchUp is the most complete solution to design/engineering/problem-solving/presentation/project management. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodenskye Posted May 22, 2018 Report Share Posted May 22, 2018 I have been trying to learn Fusion360 and if I ever get fully comfortable, sketchup will be replaced. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted May 23, 2018 Report Share Posted May 23, 2018 For those of us that prefer *nix operating systems, FreeCAD is a very powerful up-and-comer. Still under rapid development, though. New features and/or changes happen pretty often. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark J Posted May 23, 2018 Author Report Share Posted May 23, 2018 I want to try linix in the near future. I may hit you up for some advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted May 23, 2018 Report Share Posted May 23, 2018 7 hours ago, Mark J said: I want to try linix in the near future. I may hit you up for some advice. My preferred desktop distribution is Ubuntu Linux, with the KDE Desktop environment. It isn't the fastest out there, but has good support for all sorts of video and audio hardware, and is pretty easy to use. I suggest downloading a "live" installer image from here that lets you boot from dvd or usb to try it out befor installing on your hard disk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chestnut Posted May 23, 2018 Report Share Posted May 23, 2018 14 hours ago, Mark J said: Yeah, I'm not a big one for upgrades. I'm still running Office 2000. Has the English language evolved so much that I need a new word processor. Thanks for the run down on the software, Nut. I'm gonna peruse that web article later. I was thinking of looking into Fusion 360. Is it easier to use than Sketchup? No it's not but you can do more with it. If sketchup is a pencil and paper Fusion 360 is a drafting table. If you have any CAD experience it will translate through to Fusion 360. Also autodesk has free tutorials on Fusion 360 that are quite helpful. 11 hours ago, wtnhighlander said: For those of us that prefer *nix operating systems, FreeCAD is a very powerful up-and-comer. Still under rapid development, though. New features and/or changes happen pretty often. I've dabbled with that, i have a friend that is HUGE in linux. He made me try FreeCAD and it's dang good. Not too far from the Autodesk product that rules the drafting world. 9 hours ago, Mark J said: I want to try linix in the near future. I may hit you up for some advice. Do what Ross said my only addition is too look into the LTS (Long Term Support) version This way you won't get forced to upgrade in 18 months. Also Ubuntu Mate is good for older computers that can't quite hack modern bloated operating systems. The thing that i love about linux now is they've solved for the most part the driver and software issue. You can just install stuff like you can on windows and they support 99.9% of devices. Honestly their driver support is better than windows. Linux still has it's quirks that sometime get me pretty fired up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cygnus A Posted July 18, 2018 Report Share Posted July 18, 2018 As a heavy CAD user, I despise Sketchup. if you are good with CAD you are better off using Fusion 360, Solidworks, Inventor, or something similar. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Llama Posted July 18, 2018 Report Share Posted July 18, 2018 I prefer Fusion 360 for almost anything woodworking related. I only use sketchup when I need a cut list when using sheet goods. Fusion is far more powerful and user friendly once you get the hang of it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronn W Posted September 2, 2018 Report Share Posted September 2, 2018 I'm going to stay out of this one because I am in the minority in the CAD world. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bankstick Posted September 3, 2018 Report Share Posted September 3, 2018 I started to look at a tutorial on Sketchup and gaveup. I went back to the pencil, pad, and ruler. I'm of the slide rule generation- I still have mine from college. If you don't know what a slide rule is, the search is your homework for this evening. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Serhij Posted October 24, 2018 Report Share Posted October 24, 2018 Autodesk Sketchbook wonder why no one mentioned that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CGIFurniture Posted November 22, 2018 Report Share Posted November 22, 2018 Удивительная статья! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tpt life Posted November 22, 2018 Report Share Posted November 22, 2018 4 hours ago, CGIFurniture said: Удивительная статья! Any chance I can get you to repost with an English translation or description? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fcschoenthal Posted November 22, 2018 Report Share Posted November 22, 2018 54 minutes ago, Tpt life said: Any chance I can get you to repost with an English translation or description? In Chrome, you can right click and choose translate to English. It says Amazing article! "It's never too late to have a happy childhood" Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark J Posted November 23, 2018 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2018 It doesn't appear to be appropriate for this forum in English or Rusian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WW_Dan Posted January 12, 2020 Report Share Posted January 12, 2020 Check easywoodworkingdesign.com. This is new woodworking software that is designed for a lay person with no cad experience and has a minimal learning curve. You define a board and it will draw it for you. It allows you to connect boards together with a click of an icon plus having many other useful features. You can print your assemblies and related reports and take them to the workshop. You can go from a project concept to a detailed 2-D design with the least amount of design time than any other product. This software is also a complete project management system and it is the easiest woodworking design software on the market. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C.Oneal Posted July 28, 2021 Report Share Posted July 28, 2021 Any updates here? What should I try for beginners? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark J Posted July 28, 2021 Author Report Share Posted July 28, 2021 I haven't much to add to the above discussion. The easywoodworkingdesign.com mentioned in the post above sounds interesting, but I haven't laid eyes on it. Since starting this thread I have begun using Fusion 360 in addition to Sketchup. Taking into consideration the tutorials available for both, and my complete lack of any CAD background, I find F360 more difficult to use/understand, and I have only achieved the least mastery of it. If I were designing a piece of furniture I would prefer to use Sketchup, but for designing the turned objects I make, I use F360 because it can draw true circles where circles in Sketchup are actually polygons. So I think it depends on what you're gonna do and what training and experience you can call upon. For Sketchup there is @Bob Lang 's excellent interactive ebook. I wish there was a community college course on F360. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted July 29, 2021 Report Share Posted July 29, 2021 I'll offer that Sketchup is much easier to get started with. But the power of programmable parametric CAD applications, like Fusion, Inventor, or FreeCAD, really comes to light when you build a detailed model, then want to change a dimension or its proportions. Relating the dimensions of one part to another, by simple ratios or by complex algorithms, allows such quick changes, it is amazing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjeff70 Posted July 29, 2021 Report Share Posted July 29, 2021 I ran across the book, 'Measure Twice, Cut Once' by Jim Tolpin, by accident recently. Great read, I'm about halfway through. The first printing of the book came out during SketchUp's infancy and while he does mention it, he does everything from design to Master Cut Lists mechanically. Has any of the woodworking schools gone to SketchUp instead of using traditional mechanical drawings? Some of the programs mentioned, at least AutoCad, would still require you to create Cut Lists, etc. on your own - correct? https://www.amazon.com/Measure-Twice-Cut-Once-Woodworking-ebook/dp/B0056JSKRU/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=measure+twice+cut+once&qid=1627522006&sr=8-2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted July 29, 2021 Report Share Posted July 29, 2021 Can't speak for the other products, but FreeCad has a Bill of Materials feature / plugin, that can be used as a sort of cutlist. I rarely work with sheet goods, so I don't have much experience with it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark J Posted July 29, 2021 Author Report Share Posted July 29, 2021 Just gonna mention that using Sketchup for some things doesn't mean you can't use one of the other programs for other things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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