2D CAD software recommendations?

What do you guys like? Open-source/free preferred as I am a tightwad and don't like to buy software unless it's going to give me some return on investment.

I want to be able to produce detailed front panel hole layouts etc, so I can pass them on to friends with milling machines and bribe them with beer money to machine them out for me :slight_smile: At least, until I can afford my own machine to learn on... and I don't fancy the arse-ache of dremelling out d-type connector holes or similar.

Used this many years ago. Was ok.

http://qcadbin-win.sourceforge.net/

I've never used it but Draftsight is free: http://www.3ds.com/products/draftsight/overview/

I hear it's similar to Autocad and free unless you want tech support.

Mike

Hey I use Microspot MacDraft :slight_smile: MacDraft Professional | Powerful 2D CAD, drafting, technical illustration and more for Mac | Microspot Ltd.

I`ve just downloaded this
http://www.frontpanelexpress.com/download/front-panel-designer/index.html
as it seems just what I was looking for, and its FREE! :smiley:

http://www.frontpanelexpress.com/support/overview/index.html

TurboCad 15 for FREE!! (for Uk users, else you need to use a proxy)

http://www.paulthecad.co.uk/shop/regtcd15.php

Note: It me a few tries to get the code for this, when it works you will see a page like this

If you are associated with a college or university, look for CorelCAD or CorelDraw. I am using a very old version of CorelDraw. Reminds me the heydays of windows XP but works just fine for laser cutting panel designs I do.