Welcome to LinuxCNC.org

I must not get out enough.

DraftSight is a free*, professional-grade 2D CAD product centered upon an open business
model. Available for download at DraftSight.com, DraftSight provides users with a better way to
create, edit and view DWG files.

*Standalone License. Activation required.

Anyway, it reads and writes .dwg and its from the Solidworks folks, Dassault Systèmes

32-bit only so: dpkg -i --force-architecture --force-depends /tmp/DraftSight.deb

the windows version requires an active internet connection, or it won't play, (put on tinfoil hat now), so they can monitor usage!

im geussing the 'nix version is similar.

something 'bout it being a trial version, and after so many days, it don't work without the net.

so they can monitor usage!

Let 'em! Let 'em monitor lots and lots of Linux users and maybe they'll expand their Linux line.

It should be an obligatory download and activation for everybody wanting to advance CAD/CAM on Linux.

I've been using it on ubuntu10.04 32 bit and 64 bit machines and my macbook and I love it. I've been using it along with Heekscnc with great results.

M4MazakUser wrote:
Well, not exactly. I talked to tech support and got the following information.

You are required to give a valid email address and have the machine connected to the web for registration only. After that it will attempt to call home when the program loads. If a connection is not found it will twiddle its thumbs for another thirty seconds and then load properly.

The wait time is a PITA so I generally leave it running in the background instead of closing when I'm done.

One thing to be aware of is that you only get one activation per email address. If the computer kicks the bucket you must provide a different email for the next install. Upgrades don't require a new address.

We are in the process of installing Draftsight on five machines at work. Dassault allows you to have as many installs as you have email addresses, even for commercial purposes. It's bait to get you to spend your money on Solid Works instead of Autocad.

Doug

i feel ok using draftsight as a CAD on linux ubuntu. and after activating with the e-mail there's no need anymore for internet connection, it just starts.

i wanted to ask you, which free and linux-working 3D CAM can you use with draftsight? i mean with dwg or dxf files. note that i only need to draw a spline in 3D and make a gcode out of the drawing. Like an airplane flight.

thanks, Davide.

dab77 wrote:
It seems to me that any CAD/CAM is overkill for that application, why not just write the G-code by hand?
(Actually, I think I might know the answer, as I am not sure that EMC2 can do splines in 3D).
However, have you seen: linuxcnc.org/docs/html/gcode_main.html#r1_7
That was added by some chaps at the University of Palermo a year or two ago, perhaps you can persuade them to make it work in 3D?

yes, i know, but, if also it was possible, i think i'll become mad before trying to hand-write 100 3d splines!!!
i looked in the emc page suggestions, but what i've founded seemed to me too overkilled for me.
what i really need is some thing that loads my path made of splines (with Draftsight, or blender..) and convert into a simple series of gcode points.
i've used till now a script for 3dsmax, but over the fact that is overkilled, as you say, i don't like to go from linux to windows, than put the ngc file with a usbpen into emc2... would like to remain into ubuntu domain.

Have you thought of using variables and loops in subroutines?

John

BigJohnT wrote:
I don't know what he is doing now, but last time it was 3D-volleyball trajectories.

Actually, though, that might suit a specialised CAM, done in Excel for example.
Given a list of XYZ coordinates for the ball to touch, you could use Newton's laws of motion to solve the ballistics and create the G-code...