modified 1999-04-09.
This is just something I threw together, on the state of some of the free CAD systems, that I thought you might find useful. Comments?
Contents:
Related pages:
Other people interested in programming a CAD application:
(probably should be split up between "information about designing a CAD" and "information about companies that sell CAD systems")
From: "Chad D. Zimmerman"To: opendesigner-list@jimpick.com Subject: Re: Add me to Database of OpenDesigners Date: Wed, 12 Nov 1997 22:26:06 -0700 (MST) Ok, almost have a cgi done so project members can put a bio up. Just 1 little problem with it though.. won't write the data to the file :} Must be because I am tired and have been writing the script partly asleep.. Look at http://dabcc-www.nmsu.edu/~chad/OpenDesigner/add_users.pl Probably something simple... but I am too tired and am missing it. First one to figure my goof gets a lolly. Chad -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Chad D. Zimmerman chad@dabcc-www.nmsu.edu Southwest Technology Development Institute New Mexico State University --- HP: http://dabcc-www.nmsu.edu/~chad/ DBP: http://dabcc-www.nmsu.edu/~chad/Debian/ SWAO: http://desertwinds.multipleimage.com/ -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
appears to be available for $500 in a "full service distribution" and for free via FTP with "no support".
http://www.xraylith.wisc.edu/~khan/ includes link to "free CAD tools", mostly electronics related.
SoftSource http://www.softsource.com/ Netscape plug-ins, one for dynamically viewing AutoCAD drawings (DWG files) ... and the other for files in SVF (Simple Vector Format), which, in addition to dynamic viewing, features HTML hyperlink navigation. "download a working demo version"
Overview CAE-Systems (PC based) http://www-kte.tu-ilmenau.de/CAD/cae.html mailto:CADAdmin (at) E-Technik.TU-Ilmenau.DE
freeCAD resource: AutoCad DXF format. http://www.mcwi.com/
http://dragon.acadiau.ca/~025668b/develop/homepage.html OpenGL and DirectX info for GNU/Win32
MindsEye http://mindseye.luna.net/ "GPL ... a complete modeling/animation package for the LINUX operating system. ... Object oriented modeling ... you can inherit from a sphere" [FIXME: tell FreeCAD]
sci.electronics.cad
Mentor Graphics Corporation http://www.mentorg.com/ Wilsonville, OR. HDL; PCB/MCM layout tools.
From: Jerry Isdale/Sysop, 72662,410 To: Fred Hebbel, 72120,1342 Topic: OO VR Msg #18347, reply to #18338 Section: VR Code Workgroup [4] Forum: Cyber Date: Wed, 1994 Feb 16, 08:08:07
Fred,
I've been using OO type stuff for years, but rarely in a full OO language. I learned smalltalk back in 83 on a Xerox box, then xfered some of the concepts into design of C libraries. It wasnt the same, but it sure made for better C libraries!
The class-instance form of OO design is pretty good for designing the code objects, but it forces a lot of oddities on the world designer when you start creating virtual objects. for instance A car has wheels, but the wheels shouldnt inherit most of the functions of a Class:Car (Class:Vehicle). Mostly they are interested in the geometric arrangement with the car and its physical properties (speed, moment, etc). Basically, there are two different OO structures - one defining the objects and functions in the program, another for the objects in the world. It is a semantic problem that the term 'object' gets heavily overloaded here with very different meanings. Both are highly applicable to graphic programming but in different ways. It is hard to keep them seperate and dangerous to confuse them. Sometimes I like to call the virtual world inhabitants 'entities' instead of objects. That also implies they have more complex responsive behaviors, perhaps using a production system (rules). I think it is important for OO people to be exposed to other methods of OO than the class-instance stuff. There are a number of variations, many of which are much more applicable to certain problems. Sorta like knowing a couple different languages, so you know if you have a big string processing program to write, you dont use FORTRAN <g>.
I'll have to go dig out the Brown articles in Siggraph (91 An Object Orriented Framework for Integration of Interactive Animation Techniques). They had a good description and reasoning behind why Delegation was used for the virtual entities. Also ref'd some papers in the OOPSLA conference proceedings from a few years earlier. Hmm, its several paragraphs long. too much to type in this AM. Can you locate it?
Jerry
Sender: cliff@ix.netcom.com Date: Tue, 21 Apr 1998 00:53:08 +0000 From: C R Johnson <iamcliff@ix.netcom.com> MIME-Version: 1.0 To: Open Designer mailing list <opendesigner-list@jimpick.com> Subject: ANNOUNCE: FREEdraft v0.3 released Resent-From: opendesigner-list@jimpick.com X-Mailing-List: <opendesigner-list@jimpick.com> archive/latest/410 X-Loop: opendesigner-list@jimpick.com Precedence: list Resent-Sender: opendesigner-list-request@jimpick.com Resent-Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998 17:54:07 -0700 Status: U Just a note you let you'all know that today - 4/20 :} - I have upped the version of my drafting program to 0.3 The major new features include: - Save and recall of models - Color and linestyle editing - Trimming, cutting, and extrapolation of segments and arcs - New construction function - Geomlib2d builds as a shared library Check out the URL in my sig for more info. have a great day. cliff -- + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + C R Johnson + + http://pw2.netcom.com/~iamcliff/FREEdraft.html + + Truth - Reason - Justice - Freedom - Linux + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + -- TO UNSUBSCRIBE FROM THIS MAILING LIST: e-mail the word "unsubscribe" to opendesigner-list-request@jimpick.com Trouble? e-mail to jim@jimpick.com
Parametric Technology Corporation http://www.ptc.com/
http://www.thinkthree.com/ commercial parametric 3D modeling tool. Claims to be "fun". ``"The Monkeywrench Conspiracy" is a 3D video game that makes it easy and entertaining to get familiar with using thinkdesign.''
I hear that Zyvex http://www.zyvex.com/ uses the commercial CAD product SolidWorks 98 http://www.solidworks.com/ .
Date: Thu, 1 Jul 1999 10:20:45 +0900 (JST) From:Subject: Re: Future of list To: opendesigner-list@jimpick.com MIME-Version: 1.0 Resent-From: opendesigner-list@jimpick.com X-Mailing-List: archive/latest/574 X-Loop: opendesigner-list@jimpick.com Precedence: list Resent-Sender: opendesigner-list-request@jimpick.com Resent-Date: Wed, 30 Jun 1999 18:20:51 -0700 Status: U Hello, Brian wrote, > Well, I kept hoping that the opendesigner project would turn out some > software, but all the good ideas seem to have faded into silence, and > there's no code to be found. =( I can't remember when the last message > passed through the list -- perhaps the project coordinators could speak > up? I did some modification for GCAD3D. The code can be found at <http://www.hi-ho.ne.jp/linux/gcad3d/glarea_jun09.tgz> There are lots of things to do. But you can use it as a start point. GCAD3D needs Mesa, GTK and gtkglarea. My version can be compiled by C++, while original version can be compiled by C. Cheers, Masa Uc^ida Masatomo,Hidaka,Saitama,Japanio <http://www1.nisiq.net/~masatomo> <http://www.hi-ho.ne.jp/linux> -- TO UNSUBSCRIBE FROM THIS MAILING LIST: e-mail the word "unsubscribe" to opendesigner-list-request@jimpick.com Trouble? e-mail to jim@jimpick.com
(unsorted)
Unfortunately for me, CAD tools for Linux come in four categories:
- Circuitboard design. Must be everybody's first project in the second year of college. There are lots of these.
- Poor excuses for MSwin paintbrush. Obviously started in a jolt cola moment but not finished in a weekend and therefore never finished.
- Think I'm already a masters degree in drafting, so I understand all their widgets and dots without docs.
- support tools for 3d modelers, mostly experienced ones.
...
If you're working on a CAD project out there, I have a hint for you: if it remains easier to do all this on ten-to-the-inch grid paper, I'm not going to be using your stuff. ... I recommend making the quickstart guides available for taste testing. ... For you free-world coders, get some first year drafting students to try and make sense of that gibberish; anytime they say "huh?" treat it as a bug just as serious as broken menu items.
Started: 1997 Dec 15.
Original Author: David Cary.
Current maintainer: David Cary.
Send comments, suggestions, bug reports to
David Cary
d.cary@ieee.org.