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Specifically, I'm looking for something that will handle 2D diagrams, sprockets, and dimensioning.

I could probably use Inkscape, but I'd like a "proper" tool.

Googling has returned a variety of options, but I'm unsure as to how to evaluate them. Ideally, I'd like something free/open-source, but inexpensive (under $100) would be fine, too.

Several years ago, there was a freely-available CAD program for Windows that I used which handled basic dimensioning and diagrams. Unfortunately, I can't recall its name (I used it in the Win95-98 era). I presume a similar tool would be available for the Mac as well.

By "proper" I mean a tool which is supposed to be an engineering/technical drawing tool, rather than just a vector graphics tool (like Inkscape or Adobe Illustrator) which I could force into doing what I'm looking for.

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4 Answers

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Specifically, I'm looking for something that will handle 2D diagrams, sprockets, and dimensioning.

I could probably use Inkscape, but I'd like a "proper" tool.

Googling has returned a variety of options, but I'm unsure as to how to evaluate them. Ideally, I'd like something free/open-source, but inexpensive (under $100) would be fine, too.

Do not take this the wrong way, for I'm not trying to stirr a flame, but your demands are somewhat contradictory. Although what you need is a basic set of features, you would like a ' "proper" tool '.

At under a $100 one very rarely finds anything in the CAD world, let alone ' "proper" tools'. Also, words like "open source" and "CAD" are generally never used in the same sentence :-)

IMHO, if you could explain your demands a little better one might be able to suggest something. But from this above, I'd agree with the recommendation, of Google SketchUp.

On updated question: I see. How about FelixCAD then ? Would it do ?

Updated answer: Well, I found pure-mac.com/cad.html - see Archicad ... educational versions seems to be free for download.

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that looks great, but everything I see about it says it's for Windows – warren Mar 19 '10 at 13:51
@warren - ups. sorry. Missed that part in the question (was concentrating on the "free" bit) ... will try to find something else. – ldigas Mar 19 '10 at 17:09
that's ok, I do that all the time myself =) – warren Mar 19 '10 at 17:35
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@warren - Well, I found pure-mac.com/cad.html - see Archicad ... educational versions seems to be free for download. – ldigas Mar 21 '10 at 3:04
I'll start there, thanks :) – warren Mar 22 '10 at 2:04
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Have you considered Google Sketchup?

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This was going to be my suggestion as well. It's really geared towards 3D work but with some patience would probably be fine for 2D only drawing. – Ian C. Mar 19 '10 at 13:35
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I tried using QCad which is open source - however the only free version of it is the community version which needs compiling.

Alternatively you could purchase the full version for around $35.

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Have you tried the wikipedia article on Comparison of CAD editors for AEC? There are a couple of GNU GPL and BSD-licensed packages in there.

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did look there, yes - but I'm not familiar-enough with CAD in general to do a comparison on my own :-| – warren Mar 4 '10 at 21:08
There are only two non-proprietary programs listed in the wikipedia article: QCad and FreeCAD. Since you want to work on 2D drawings QCad seems to be what you are looking for - check it out! – akid Mar 31 '10 at 22:08
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