So, we have the tubemitre.exe for notching tubes but I'm looking for a program I can draw the parts out on and print off, stick on the steel and
cut out. Looking at this cause there a either 2x this bit or 4x that bit and I would like to draw once, check then cut, all the same..
Any advise?
Steve
I use Quark Xpress or Adobe Illustrator.
Quark is best to be avoided at all costs. In fact I haven't met a quark user in 10 years!
Illustrator is ace, although Corel may be easy to get to grips with, if it's for occasional use and for drawing basic shapes
quote:
Originally posted by Irony
Quark is best to be avoided at all costs. In fact I haven't met a quark user in 10 years!
If I was making 2D templates I would use draft sight. Its free.
quote:
Originally posted by Barlidge
quote:
Originally posted by Irony
Quark is best to be avoided at all costs. In fact I haven't met a quark user in 10 years!
Any reason you say that or personal preference? For quick simple bits it works fine for me, anything else I use Illustrator. I learned both Quark and Illustrator many years ago when I worked for a College so the interfaces are familiar.
some of the fancy cad packages like Tekla that we use can do wrap-round templates as an option in the parts drawings
(never used that bit myself but I've seen it done)
but most of these CAD packages aren't cheap
+ 1 for draftsight its very good I draw what I need and take it to my local laser cutter on a thumbdrive and he cuts them for me.
I print on paper as well
end result from laser cutter (note I re-drilled holes as I made a mistake on my drawings)
Laurence
At work we use a program called "Plate n' sheet" for making wrap around templates for pipework. last week we did a fishmouth in a
length of 620mm od stainless pipe to butt upto an 800mm radius curve, and the template was spot on
http://www.plate-n-sheet.com/
you can download an evaluation version to try
I use autocad but free cad software should suit your needs equally well.