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What is cheapest autocad license that can be bought legally?

  • 20-08-2012 11:12am
    #1
    godtabh
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 23,243 Mod ✭✭✭✭


    What is cheapest autocad license that can be bought legally?

    I need for relatively basic CAD work.


Comments

  • #2
    CatFromHue
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 18,266 Mod ✭✭✭✭CatFromHue


    2D or 3D

    Draftsight is a free 2D program similar to 2D AutoCAD: http://www.3ds.com/products/draftsight/overview/

    Creo Elements/Direct Modeling Express 4.0 is a free 3D program: http://www.ptc.com/products/creo-elements-direct/modeling-express/


  • #3
    godtabh
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 23,243 Mod ✭✭✭✭godtabh


    Its 2d.

    Are these compatible with autocad?


  • #4
    CatFromHue
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 18,266 Mod ✭✭✭✭CatFromHue


    As far as I know it is. They both produce .dwgs.

    From the Open source ecology page: http://opensourceecology.org/wiki/CAD_tools#DraftSight

    DraftSight
    • Free, but not open source
    • Good AutoCAD compatibility
    • Focused on 2D drafting, very little 3D support

    Do a search on here for Draftisght and see what other users think of it.


  • #5
    Supertech
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 597 ✭✭✭Supertech


    Draftisght will open and save dwg and dxf files, so essentially the two programes are compatible. Just ensure when you are saving the Draftsight file that you save it back as the Autocad release version that you intend trying to re-open it with.


  • #6
    Capt'n Midnight
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 93,596 Mod ✭✭✭✭Capt'n Midnight


    is it possible to buy second hand licenses ?


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  • #7
    Turbulent Bill
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,638 ✭✭✭Turbulent Bill


    Capt'n Midnight wrote: »
    is it possible to buy second hand licenses ?

    I don't think they're supposed to be transferrable, but there may be a grey market in licences. Never checked it out myself.


  • #8
    gerryR
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 190 ✭✭gerryR


    Autocad LT is probably the cheapest option, should be fine for most 2D work. Was around Eur1300 the last time I priced it.


  • #9
    mathepac
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 4,991 ✭✭✭mathepac


    AutoCad Ws is free - is it of any use?


  • #10
    random.stranger
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 442 ✭✭random.stranger


    I've found Draftsight to be very good. User interface might take a bit of getting used to, although it is very similar to autocad if you are using typed commands.

    I'd find it very hard to justify paying €1300 for LT*
    *Its been about 6 years since I used autocad, maybe things
    have changed drastically since then, but I doubt it.


  • #11
    VeeEmmy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 278 ✭✭VeeEmmy


    random.stranger wrote: »
    ... Its been about 6 years since I used autocad, maybe things
    have changed drastically since then, but I doubt it.

    Autocad has changed drastically since 2006.


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