[Forester01]

Good morning! Does anyone out there use software for designing projects? Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

 

[44260]

Sketchup by Google is a popular one and it is a free download, however it does have a learning curve but if you search Youtube you will find tutorials that will help out tremenduosly

 

[liquid6]

I use sketchup. That paired with the CutList plug-in gives you a great tool to build and estimate your projects.

 

[epimetheus]

Sketchup is not affiliated with Google any longer. It's by a company called Trimble now. I use it with the Cutlist extension as well.

 

[MT Stringer]

Sketchup is having a hard time with my brain! :-( I have tried several times to create something simple and just can't do it. I keep going back to graph paper. At least I can draw something I recognize. :-(

 

[ryan50hrl]

I have an engineering background, and use autocad for my designs....and I as well for whatever reason still don't like sketchup.

 

[epimetheus]

I'm an electrical engineer by day and use AutoCAD on a semi-regular basis at work. Going back and forth between it a Sketchup is not the easiest at times, but I've found Sketchup to be much easier with basic 3D design. I drew up plans for a buffet for the wife from a picture in a couple of hours last week. I'm still experimenting with the CutList settings, but it seems to be a pretty good material takeoff extension.

 

[frankp]

sketchup has a pretty harsh learning curve to start but once you've got the basics it's much easier to develop the other skills. I like using it but most times I do a 2-d design on paper in a much shorter time than I can do anything on sketchup. I have modeled my whole house in sketchup (the basic structure, not the cosmetic details) for purposes of making quick changes to see what I like better, though.

 

[IlliniBone]

Watch a couple quick YouTube vids and you should have at least the basics of SketchUp down pat in about 10 minutes.