mechanical drawing

[pops323]

.
i am writing to see if you can help me? i have been told you maybe the one ask.
i am looking for the simplest software that will allow me to do mechanical drawing .
i only want to draw basic shapes and sizes with dimensions, if you can help me please bear in mind ime 72 and only have the basic understanding of pcs, thats not to imply ime senile just yet. i can do my drawings with pen and paper but if i make a mistake i have to start again and the project ime trying to do will require about 20-30 pages,of drawings with dimensions . thanks joe

[Anonymous]

http://www.autodesk.com/autosketch - very basic / very low cost
http://www.autodesk.com/autocadlt - light version of 2D AutoCAD / low cost
http://www.autodesk.com/autocad - full version of AutoCAD / high cost
http://www.autodesk.com/autocadmechanical - 2D mechanical version of AutoCAD
/ high cost
http://www.autodesk.com/inventor - 3D parametric modeler / high cost
--
Daniel J. Altamura, Registered Architect
Altamura Architectural Consulting
and SoftWorx, Autodesk Authorized Developer
http://partnerproducts.autodesk.com/popups/company.asp?rdid=2139
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"pops323" wrote in message news:6115806@discussion.autodesk.com...
. i am writing to see if you can help me? i have been told you maybe the one
ask. i am looking for the simplest software that will allow me to do
mechanical drawing . i only want to draw basic shapes and sizes with
dimensions, if you can help me please bear in mind ime 72 and only have the
basic understanding of pcs, thats not to imply ime senile just yet. i can do
my drawings with pen and paper but if i make a mistake i have to start again
and the project ime trying to do will require about 20-30 pages,of drawings
with dimensions . thanks joe

[pops323]

hi thanks for getting back to me, but as i said i am not very pc literate,but can do
mechaanical drawing free hand with pen and paper, did try the links you gave me
unfortunately they just seemed to take around in circles. onc again thanks for reply,

[Anonymous]

>>>...
i am looking for the simplest software that will allow me to do mechanical
drawing ...<<<

No such product exists: this is beyond drawing with pen and paper, you will
spend a lot of time learning the CAD program to just draw. Think back to a day
you knew nothing about proper drafting, and how long it took you to master
mechanical drawing.

Now imagine you are at the beginning point again, and need to spit out
20-30 pages of drawings with dimensions. Would you be ready to start today? Oh,
and spend anywhere from $200 to $5000 up front to get started just learning to
draw?

Consider hiring a CAD drafter to do your bidding
for now is my suggestion.

--
Dean Saadallah

href="http://LTisACAD.blogspot.com">http://LTisACAD.blogspot.com
--

[Anonymous]

Read through this article pops...
http://management.cadalyst.com/cadman/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=283110

Then read through this...
http://www.eland.org.uk/pages/Misc/cadnotes.html
and this...
http://www.mimf.com/archives/cad_reviews.htm

Autodesk software is over-priced and not worth buying for a customer such as
yourself. Still, you are going to have to put the time in to learn and there
aren't any shortcuts to learning other than time reading and using the
product.

I think you should first learn to download something free and get a bit of
experience. All CAD programs look and feel different but all CAD programs
also have much in common as there are only so many ways to draw a line. Once
you "get it" you "get it." Get it? 🙂

I also like Dean's thoughtful suggestion to hire some help for now as the
suggestion was about you and not about trying to sell Autodesk crap; they
have enough money they don't need to scam a 72 year old fella trying to keep
the electric bill paid --but-- the guy I hired would be to help teach me how
to use the PC and how to use CAD. Now here's how...

Since you obviously know how to use the PC to use the newsgroups you can use
the PC to go to craigslist.com and place a free announcement seeking some
help to get yourself training. Look for a student in a mechanical drafting
program who are always looking for a few extra bucks. There are also classes
you might consider taking at the local tech college. Expect about a year to
acquire some competency. One more thing.... you need to get a decent
printer/plotter and you can go to news://autodesk.autocad.print-plot to ask
questions about which vendor is currently selling a reliable model for what
you need.






"pops323" wrote in message news:6115990@discussion.autodesk.com...
hi thanks for getting back to me, but as i said i am not very pc
literate,but can do mechaanical drawing free hand with pen and paper, did
try the links you gave me unfortunately they just seemed to take around in
circles. onc again thanks for reply,

[Anonymous]

If all you need to do is parts and simple drawings, you can
download Inventor LT totally free from

href="http://labs.autodesk.com/technologies/inventor_lt/">http://labs.autodesk.com/technologies/inv...

I might be able to work with you a little bit on learing
Inventor. I've had a couple guys, 73 & 75 who took my class that did very
well. If you can do board drawings, then you are half way there. Ther class is
held online. All you need is broadband Internet and a
headst/microphone.

Feel free to contact me anytime... (260) 399-6615 or
djeffreyATteknigroupDOTcom.
--
Dennis Jeffrey, Autodesk Inventor
Certified Expert
Autodesk Manufacturing Implementation Certified
Expert.
Instructor/Author/Sr. App Engr.
AIP 2008 SP2, AIP 2009-SP1
PcCillin AV
HP zv5000  AMD64 2GB - Geforce Go 440, Driver: .8185
XP
Pro SP3, Windows XP Silver Theme

href="http://teknigroup.com">http://teknigroup.com

[GrantsPirate]

Please clarify what you mean by "Mechanical" drawings. To some of us that means machine drawings, to others it means HVAC, to name a few.

Visio might be the best choice for you. Simple drag and drop symbols, lost premade and ready to use.

[Anonymous]

I suggest you hire it done.

LOTS of people working "on the side" from their
normal drafting jobs would be able to take it on.

Plenty of hired guns (pens) out there
man.

It would take WAY too long to learn the program to
do it well enough to NOT get omitions and errors throughout it.

Good luck to you sir.

David

style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">

<pops323> wrote in message
href="news:6115806@discussion.autodesk.com">news:6115806@discussion.autodesk.com...

.
i am writing to see if you can help me? i have been told you maybe the one
ask. i am looking for the simplest software that will allow me to do
mechanical drawing . i only want to draw basic shapes and sizes with
dimensions, if you can help me please bear in mind ime 72 and only have the
basic understanding of pcs, thats not to imply ime senile just yet. i can do
my drawings with pen and paper but if i make a mistake i have to start again
and the project ime trying to do will require about 20-30 pages,of drawings
with dimensions . thanks joe