[TheForge] Inexpensive CAD software (was: Layout tools)

[phat at cavenet.com]

Has any one had the pleasure of using solid-works? 

I just picked up a copy.
The student version was only 100 dollars. It is the full version, but it self destructs after two years.

Master cam is great, It is not really a that good for making prints,
It doesn't have the dimensioning capeabilities needeed for complex designs.
auto cad is very complicated, for my brain.

I have watched people use solid works and it is so very powerful.
I have spent more time with PCM than any other program (plasma-cam)It crashes all the time, usually about mid-point of the project. Ctrl-S,constantly.
I have found that importing and exporting files form one CAD program to another
is not that simple.

Next fall I am going to attempt a class in G-Codes. That CNC stuff is a blast!