Two-dimension design tool for floor plans

[tom850i]

18 years ago, I designed my shop using a (free, I think) software tool that only worked in two dimensions.  I need to design another shop and cannot find a two-dimension design tool.  I don't like the complex three-dimension tools such as Sketchup.  Does anybody know about such a tool?

Here is an example of the drawing I did in 2004.

shop 2.pdf

[JohnG]

There are several free cad programs. FreeCad is one of them. Autodesk AutoCad is the industry standard, but isn’t cheap.

Sketchup and Fusion360 (both have free versions) can be used for 2d drawings, 3d is not required.

[wtnhighlander]

Grizzly still offers an online 2D tool for simple shop layout, I believe.

Correction: The DID have a tool here. Looks like it is out of service for now.

[tom850i]

On 2/27/2022 at 5:27 PM, JohnG said:

There are several free cad programs. FreeCad is one of them. Autodesk AutoCad is the industry standard, but isn’t cheap.

Sketchup and Fusion360 (both have free versions) can be used for 2d drawings, 3d is not required.

I've used Sketchup a few times.  How do you make it 2d only?

[JohnG]

You simply only use the line/rectangle/circle/text tools and don’t push/pull any surfaces. Set the view angle perpendicular to the drawing plane.

[Mark J]

+1.   Just draw in the XY plane.  It does leave open the option of making a 3D rendering of the shop space should you want to later.  If you're looking for some instruction on Sketchup, Bob Lang wrote an excellent ebook.

There's more discussion of drawing programs in the Digital Design sub-forum.

BUT, if you want to keep the task low tech you could just get some graph paper and scissors.  Draw the outline of your shop space, and cut out little rectangles to represent your tools and benches.  Place and move your equipment as needed.  Tip, if you cut the rectangles out of Post-It Notes they're easier to keep in place.  

[gee-dub]

LibreOffice (MS Office Replacement) has a Visio-like component called "Draw".  If you have Visio experience it is a breeze.  If you don't the learning curve is very short for simple things like you describe.  I used LibreOffice when I was working for my 'ux' machines to move seamlessly between the Windows and the Mac/ux worlds.  When I retired leaving Office behind was no big deal.  I don't know that you can install the Draw package stand alone like Visio used to be but, the whole LibreOffice applications is not really impactive to a semi-modern PC.

 

[Mark J]

I use LibreOffice, too.  Haven't explored Draw, though.

 

[G Ragatz]

I used a product call RoomSketcher to develop a layout for a basement finishing project. Thought it was pretty easy to use and reasonably flexible.

https://www.roomsketcher.com/

 

[tom850i]

On 2/28/2022 at 9:04 AM, Mark J said:

+1.   Just draw in the XY plane.  It does leave open the option of making a 3D rendering of the shop space should you want to later.  If you're looking for some instruction on Sketchup, Bob Lang wrote an excellent ebook.

There's more discussion of drawing programs in the Digital Design sub-forum.

BUT, if you want to keep the task low tech you could just get some graph paper and scissors.  Draw the outline of your shop space, and cut out little rectangles to represent your tools and benches.  Place and move your equipment as needed.  Tip, if you cut the rectangles out of Post-It Notes they're easier to keep in place.  

I've used Sketchup and find it quite difficult to make a 2d drawing.  

[Wimayo]

Has anyone here ever used pencil, paper, with T-square and triangle?

[pkinneb]

On 3/1/2022 at 8:59 AM, Wimayo said:

Has anyone here ever used pencil, paper, with T-square and triangle?

Absolutely but when it comes to shop layout a computer design makes it much simpler/ quicker to make changes and alternative layouts.

[Tpt life]

1 hour ago, Wimayo said:

Has anyone here ever used pencil, paper, with T-square and triangle?

All the time. Simple grid paper makes this a super fast process with easy to reference tool footprints something that can easily be seen all at once. 

[legenddc]

Wood Magazine has a printable one with tools you can cut out. https://www.woodmagazine.com/woodworking-plans/shop-organization/shop-layout-grid-and-tool-templates?banner=signedin

Very jealous of all the space you have or had.

[Ronn W]

 

On 3/1/2022 at 8:59 AM, Wimayo said:

Has anyone here ever used pencil, paper, with T-square and triangle?

I always enjoyed drafting by hand.  Drafting is to Cadd and chisels are to dovetail jigs.

[Chet]

On 3/1/2022 at 12:25 PM, Ronn W said:

 

I always enjoyed drafting by hand.  Drafting is to Cadd and chisels are to dovetail jigs.

Same here.

[tom850i]

On 3/1/2022 at 8:59 AM, Wimayo said:

Has anyone here ever used pencil, paper, with T-square and triangle?

I do that all 95% of the time.  My new shop has not yet been designed or sized, so CAD would help with design experimentation.  I have some options for total sizing and would like to play with ideas.  

[Wimayo]

On 3/1/2022 at 9:14 AM, pkinneb said:

Absolutely but when it comes to shop layout a computer design makes it much simpler/ quicker to make changes and alternative layouts.

That is absolutely true if you are well versed in the CAD commands for the program you are using. If you are a bit fuzzy on these commands, you can waste a lot of time and patients trying to make the system do what you want. Sometimes it is quicker and easier to just push around some paper cut-outs representing furniture and equipment within a hand drawn floor plan. Just say'n...... Not knocking CAD.