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AutoCad alternative

  • 05-02-2009 01:11PM
    #1
    rosullivan
    Closed Accounts Posts: 70 ✭✭


    Is there a cheaper alternative to AutoCad that an engineer's office could use? Basically, the big licence fees from AutoCad and the regular compulsory updates (which often require new hardware to run them) are becoming a big cost problem.


Comments

  • #2
    Quazzie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 30,249 ✭✭✭✭Quazzie


    Most engineers offices use AutocAD or Strucad as an alternative. I think Strucad is more expensive though, plus I'm not 100% sure on the limitations of strucad or how exactly it is run as I'm only on the recieving end of strucad files


  • #3
    CatFromHue
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 18,505 Mod ✭✭✭✭CatFromHue


    there is a program called AutoCAD LT, which i think is cheaper but doesn't have all the functions of AutoCAD.
    You could look into its price and functionality.


  • #4
    smashey
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,676 ✭✭✭✭smashey


    Have a look at Drawing Express. I think it's cheaper than AutoCad but it's quite good. I used it a few years back.


  • #5
    aquascrotum
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 466 ✭✭aquascrotum


    ProgeCAD isn't bad - free for home use, think you've to pay for commercial use.

    Will open any .dwg/.dwf file (plus others, those are just the ones I'm in contact with), has the majority of features and is basically an Autodesk copycat, in the style of OpenOffice is of MS Office.


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