[dooki]

Hey Nate, I thought I posted a thread on Viacad but I guess it didn't go through.

I tried the demo and now own it. Bought it off amazon for $59. Last I saw the current price was $89.

I am a Industrial designer who was raised with Ashlar Vellum and Rhino. VCAD ain't no Rhino but it's a great tool to have in your set. I find Rhino easier to create surface but VCAD can:

- flip 2D/3D with a click.
- Create an ortho drawing sheet with one click.
- Smart snaps an adding dimensions. It's always nice to be able to create dims.
- Some parametric features, radius an edge and change the radius at the later time. Same for length of an extrusion.
- For mechanical stuff this creates boss's, shells, set draft.
- Like Amapi, you can create a profile in 2D mode, lathe in 3D mode, go back in 2D mode and tweak the profile, and then the 3D model with update.
- Yes, you have all the tools (lathe, rule, Gordon, Booleans, punch hole, counter sink. Various pen tools. )
- This app is better with mechanical and less for organic. Rhino can do both of course.
- Knowing that you are familiar with CAD I would say VCAD is a great tool for $90, Even better if you can find it amazon for $59!

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There are 2 bad things that I've noticed.
1. When I move to move a spline in 3D space along the Y axis the spline does not constrain to the one axis. IT moves around.
2. Customer support sucks. I've emailed Punch CAD twice and they do not respond.

Anyway, IMHO.

-Dooki