I'm watching some CAD learning videos on line and wondering if anyone has suggestions for a decent free CAD program I can use to follow along with.

The particular videos are based on AutoCAD, (from 2013 up), but I'd rather start with freebies and purchase something if I get more serious.

Solid works might be a good starter.

DraftSight was free a few years ago. Looks like they want $100/yr for basic:
https://www.draftsight.com/

I really haven't played with any of the free ones, but there is this:

https://www.lifewire.com/top-free-cad-packages-485330

Solidworks is awesome and very powerful, but it is not something you can self-learn on the fly. IMO it requires some classes and good support.

Thanks for the advice. I should clarify my goal. It's not necessarily for designing Bronco parts. I'm considering classes in CAD or GIS or both for career reasons. There is a lot of demand in the area (construction and manufacturing). I've been discussing options with a couple engineers, and friends and they think I'm well suited to quickly learn the skills. With my experience in construction I thought it could open up opportunities for me. My girlfriend is a civil engineer with the state so she sees a lot of need for GIS mapping in her industry. There is a community college with AutoCAD classes that start in August and I started watching instructional videos just to get a feel for the program. I can probably continue watching without the actual program, but having it on my PC would really give me a headstart.

I suppose I would call around to potential employers and ask what software they are using. Civil and architectural are likely using AutoCAD. That is what I have my training in, with a side of solidworks.

AutoCAD also offers a student version of the software.

Working for a landscape architecture firm I work in AutoCAD everyday designing irrigation systems, so I'm partial to it. If you're a student, you can get AutoCAD for free (or at least you could a few years ago). We're finding architectural and engineering firms starting lean on Revit for more technical builds, like some of the high-rises downtown and such. Some civil engineers (roads especially) are working in MicroStation out here. But a vast majority of the stuff I see from other firms is all .DWG (AutoCAD).

Thanks for all the info. I'll look in to the Fusion360 program. I'm somewhat familiar with Revit files (that they exist anyways). A design firm I worked with uses them to put our fireplaces into the project so that they can give customers a virtual walk through of their home.

I appreciate the insight.

Right now my issue is I'm not enrolled in any classes, so the free student versions aren't available. I'd like to have something to work with until I enroll in a class. I wish I had enrolled in the spring AutoCAD course at the community college but timing didn't seem right.

Hello,

You can get an SDK for SolidWorks without being a student, and Mastercam home learning edition for free. I am a machinist turned engineer. I have to use both on a daily basis to design parts, check drawings, and proof out tool paths. Another great option is Siemens NX as they have awesome guided tutorials from their website. Siemens NX is becoming a high demand software due to it being a virtual one does it all program.

Good luck

Thank you!

I have been playing around with the free version of Fusion 360, so far I like it. Reminds me of Autodesk Inventor which we used at work for a few years. Really liked Inventor. Unfortunately our corporation made a universal change and made everyone go to Pro E Creo. Getting used to it, but I do not like it.

I don’t do much design at home, but when I do. I think Fusion 360 will do just fine.

I wouldn't use AutoCAD unless you are sure that others are still using it. It is a line drawing "dumb" program, 2D. I believe only surveyors are still using it. I think Digger pretty much nailed the programs to use, REVIT would be the one to use / learn from Autodesk. REVIT is more powerful and can import drawings from AutoCAD but AutoCAD can't open Revit files. I think Solidworks is more typically for parts/ manufacturing/ engineered design.

If mapping is the goal, I'd suggest learning ESRI ArcGIS.

I work in commercial power plant development and land acquisition. Every county I've worked in for the last 5 years has used some form of ERSI ArcGIS/ArcMap. I have seen BLM, USFS, DOD, FAA, FCC, State Land Offices, state wildlife departments, and project developers all using ESRI software. It's not too hard to learn the basics and there's a lot of help in online forums. The data can be exported to shapefiles and Google Earth (.kml/.kmz) for others to use.

In one county, I noticed GIS staff going back and forth between AutoCAD and ArcMap. I think it was easier to draw surveyed parcels in CAD and import the shapes into ESRI where the database was maintained.

When I bought ArcMap (10.0) it was about $1200 (2011, I think). A Windows 10 update on my laptop (Feb 2019) made the old version of the ArcMap unworkable. It still works fine on my Windows 7 desktop. Depending on the amount of data involved, processor speed and RAM may be limiting.

When I've had to hire-out GIS work, the rate was about $60/hr. I think the GIS techs working for my clients make about $80k.