Computer good for CAD and boat design

[Clinton B Chase]

Howdy,

I am switching to CAD and 3d boat design for my work and I'd love to have some hints on how to start looking for a PC labtop. What should I be thinking about. I work at home. Need to be able to talk to my apple wireless thingy. I tend to like to have everything open at once, email, skype, design stuff, you name it.

My budget? If I can spend no more than $500 that would be good. But, I am not sure if this is realistic. Currently I have a MAC and we need to add a computer for my work. Since design software (looking to add Delftship) is all PC based, I am thinking of going back to PC for my personal machine.

Thx,
Clint

[Don Z.]

Why not keep the Mac and run windows on it for design?

[JimConlin]

Clint, I'm about to dive into CAD, too. (Y'all, please wish us well. ) I've thought that for CAD work with my dim eyes, I want a large monitor, which favors the desk machines. I've figured that the bigger I go in speed, etc., the more years I'll get from the machine and as moving from one machine to another is a PITA, the extra cost of the fast machine now will be repaid on the back end.
I don't know what the answer is, but I plan to march bravely into my local Micro Center (The Wal-Mart of PC's) and stop just this side of silly.
I spend more hours with that tool than any other, so for me, skimping would be a mistake.
Anybody want to buy a P-C #7335 sander? It's experienced.

[frank pedersen]

Clint:

I think you can run Delftship on a Mac using an inexpensive translation program called Crossover. You can get a test-drive of Crossover free, I believe, so it might be worth a try just to contain costs. But you need a better authority than I am on these matters.

Frank

[oldsub86]

i7 and lots of memory. My son is running a new HP laptop with the i7 chip and I think 4 gigs of RAM. He is finishing his Masters degree in Architecture and runs the new version of autocad - Revit or some such name.

Randy

[peter radclyffe]

steve at lewis boats knows about this

[Bill R]

Does it need to be a laptop?

I am running the latest TurboCad on my desktop at home. Desktop is a dual core HP with 4Gb of memory, cost me just a hair over $500. (just the tower)

Also, will a PC product be able to talk to your appletalk network?

[mmd]

I will be updating my design hardware in the very near future, too. As can be told by my signature, I have a bit invested in this effort. Even with the lower prices for computers that you folks enjoy in the 'States, I think that under $500 is, well, optimistic. I suggest buying a laptop with the biggest screen that you can afford, bump up the RAM to as much as the motherboard will take, get the fastest processor you can afford, and the best hot-rod video driver you can put in the machine. Hard drive capacity and all those e-communication toys are superfluous. I will be using my laptop in conjunction with a docking station so that when I am in my home office I can use my big flat-screen monitor, mouse and keyboard instead of the laptop interfaces, but that is just a personal preference. What you need is video and processing horsepower - everything else is just an extra. I am budgeting $2,000 - $2,500 for my purchase.

[S/V Laura Ellen]

Howdy,

... some hints on how to start looking for a PC labtop. What should I be thinking about. I work at home. Need to be able to ...

I would think twice about the need to have a labtop.

http://aylard.ca/sites/default/files/imagecache/600/labtop_0.jpg
I would seriously think about doubling the budget. Consider getting a second monitor. Having two screens is very handy.

[Canoez]

Clint, I use CAD on a daily basis and the version of CAD that I use is more than likely overkill for what you want to do.

I find that there are a few things I like when working with CAD, but tastes vary.

Dual Monitors: I've got a 23" that the actual design work happens on and another 19" monitor for spreadsheets, design information, etc on the other monitor so I don't have to keep switching back and forth. Monitors have come down in price significantly, but the monitors alone could break your budget. If you're planning on a laptop, the laptop's display could be your "second" monitor - if so, get a laptop that's at least a 15" display and larger if you can.

Mouse: (or other pointing device of your choice that's NOT the trackpad.) Makes drawing much easier. Wireless is a big asset.

RAM: The more the merrier. 4 MB seems to be minimum. 8 MB (or more!) is desirable, particularly when dealing with complex 3D shapes.

Graphics Card : Pay close attention to the type of graphics card that the computer has. While Delft Ship isn't big on what it uses for a graphics card, other CAD systems are. - You may discover that you want another inexpensive CAD software package to draw parts, pieces for castings, oars, etc., or to create detail drawings from Delft Ship output. Make sure that what you might get is compatible.

[switters]

as another CAD monkey I agree with the Canoez.

I have had to draft on a laptop while traveling, and it is a total night mare.

CAD likes toll bars which take up drafting space, hence the two monitors.

[David Cockey]

You don't have to spend several thousand dollars or more depending on the software.

I've been running Rhino on an almost four year old desktop which cost around $600 new without a moniter. I now have a 22" moniter which is very nice. The computer has 2GB of RAM, a decent speed AMD dual core processor, and good graphics on the motherboard. The only time I notice it being slow is detailed renderings with reflections, etc. I probably wouldn't want to use it for photo quality renderings of complex scenes.

I've also run Rhino on a slightly newer laptop which has 3GB of memory and about the same speed processor, which also cost around $600 new. Rhino runs fine but I do prefer a larger screen than the laptop.

I'm also using a 3dConnexion Spacenavigator (left hand) and regular mouse (right hand). That combination works very well.

I've looked into a new computer, primarily for photo processing, and it looks like for around $1200 I should be able to get a desktop with 8GB of memory, a four core processor and fast graphics. It does look like graphics can be tricky though. I looked at some AutoCad related software and it was very particular about graphics hardware. Rhino doesn't seem to be as picky.

[Clinton B Chase]

I'm planning on using Delftship free version to get going on 3D stuff to take my offsets and drawings and get them into files that can talk to a CNC machine. I may do a couple plans/designs per year maybe three when I am up and going. i also need to be able to take another designer's files, CAD and Delftship and look at them and modify, etc.

I went to Best Buy tonight and looked at a comp labtop by Gatewat for $500 that had 4MB Ram and 500 storage, a "Vision" video chip and a 16" screen.

Maybe I'll get on delftship's site and see what machine will run it.

[Clinton B Chase]

A former Compass Proj. volunteer and man who helped me deliver some programming just loaned (long term) his former Dell....and guess what he used it for....3 D modeling. It is a few years old but had the best video card or whatever it is at the time. So I am set! And I am lucky!

[Lewisboats]

Delftship will run on a P3 with under a gig...but I wouldn't wanna use it very much. Any dual core with a couple of gigs will be more than fine. Get the biggest screen you can though. I even run it on my 10.1 netbook with an Atom processor and 2 gigs with no problem. Get an external mouse if you go with a laptop...the pads are just too touchy. A second external monitor would be helpful, especially when comparing two versions of the same design side by side or trying to get the same feel as a different design. A big monitor can help with refining things too. I use twin 28"ers with an extended desktop so I can work with multiple things at once...and just shove them around as needed.

[Tom Robb]

I've no technical info, but my son the graphics designer claims no one uses anything but MAC for design work.

[David Cockey]

I've no technical info, but my son the graphics designer claims no one uses anything but MAC for design work.

From what I've heard about graphics and photo work, Mac's are the dominate machine.

For engineering/CAD and boat design PC's dominate. My recollection is a lot of CAD software and boat design software is only available in PC/Windows versions.

[paladin]

I paid $350 for a Lenovo 15 inch laptop, nice processor and 16 gig ram and run several electronic cad projects on it...I have a 21 inch monitor on the big machine at home, and carry a wireless mouse and a large memory module that works on the USB buss to save everything. I don't like the keyboard, but there's room in my kitbag for a wireless mouse and a separate keyboard that I keep in the car.

[Canoez]

From what I've heard about graphics and photo work, Mac's are the dominate machine.

For engineering/CAD and boat design PC's dominate. My recollection is a lot of CAD software and boat design software is only available in PC/Windows versions.

That's pretty true. There are a few higher end CAD packages that will run on a Mac, tho. Ashlar's Vellum line and Autocad's Lighter version, IIRC come to mind. Stuff like Pro-E, Solid Edge, Solidworks and the like are Windows based. Clint - for mechanical CAD for detailing work Alibre has what are supposed to be both good and inexpensive options.

[Clinton B Chase]

The recommendation I had for boat work was TurboCAD which I can get for $75 on Amazon or for $140 on the Turbo CAD site with some instructional CDs included (sounds good). I've decided to focus on learning 2D and farm most of the 3D modeling out and maybe pick that up over the long term. So, thanks for CAD rec's. Viver recommended Turbo CAD so I figure you can do some good boat work with it.

My first project is to layout the panels for the Echo Bay Dory Skiff. Not even sure where to start, but like Culler says, "experience comes when you begin"....or something like that.

[G. Schollmeier]

For 3D CAD, “rendering” is what takes all the RAM. I run Rhino 4.0 on a 7 year old desktop without any trouble. If I try to render a hull sitting on the water at high resolution, it takes forever or it just locks up. Most of my 3D work is in wireframe so this is not an issue. I also just bought a mini 10 refurbished for $279US. It runs all my CAD software and renders faster than my desktop. I use a wireless mouse and have found the portability far outweighs the limits of the small screen. My other laptop was just too heavy to lug around and was left at home.
Mac may be the leader in high end Graphics but PC’s do most of the design work.

[Clinton B Chase]

I just found out that the wonderful slightly older computer I was given with Windows 2000 Pro won't work with TurboCAD. Any thoughts? Should I find an older version of Turbo CAD. I am not doing very intense design work as a primary thing, rather reading CAD files, tweaking.

This is all new to me.

[Sven Heesterman]

I use windows for 3D design (alibre) and curse at having to do so all the time. I think you should not switch back to windows for everything. It could be that win 7 is less problematic but mac is way better for me, much less frustration.

[mmd]

"I tend to like to have everything open at once, email, skype, design stuff, you name it." - Clint Chase

Having everything open at once is a real resource-eater. That's what I do (I have MS Outlook, MS Explorer, AutoCAD Mechanical DeskTop, MS Project, MS Excel, MS Word, Adobe Reader 9, and a proprietary enterprise inventory program open as I type this), so that's why I suggested having some serious horsepower in the RAM and vid card. Open fewer, smaller programs and you will, of course, need less.

[Bill R]

Clint- I may have TurboCad 12 disks/license around as I just upgraded to 16. It is strictly 2D. I may also have printed instruction books to go with. You are welcome to them if I can find them.

[Clinton B Chase]

I bought TurboCAD15 which runs on Windows2000Pro.

I look forward to starting to play with it. And downloading Delftship.

[stevedwyer]

Clint,
I wish you well with the $500. limit!

I would second the idea of as much screen real estate as you can get. What about dual 30 inch monitors? OK, I'm obsessive, but
running any sort of CAD on a laptop, while convenient, may leave you wanting.
Also, especially if you already have a Mac, I like the idea of running PC programs on a Mac with VMWare or by installing Windows the Mac.

I am biased having "grown up" (computerwise) with Macs. Tried the TurboCad, hated it.
Ashlar Vellum's Graphite or Cobalt for 3-D is available to rent for around $100. per month (50% goes to an ultimate purchase price)
and they have a full version available for a 30 day free trial. It's the nuts for precise offsets and fairing.