Free full-featured 3D CAD...

[Nick]

Before I can use the program I'm asked to register? What's ahead please Nick; if I register using my email address am I likely to end up with unwanted tool-bars etc or be asked to pay? I've been caught out so many times previously that I'd rather ask up front before simply accepting?

No problem with registering - you get asked if you want to receive emails and/or 3rd party communications as part of the registration process - just decline and you'll receive no junk - you are only actually registering as a member of the "DesignSpark" community, which is RS's engineering forum - completely free and has about 200,000 members - I've been a member of that for a couple of years without any issues...

FWIW, RS wouldn't risk alienating its forum members, most of whom are their customers, by issuing unwarranted email spam

CAD - Can't Anybody Draw?

I was taught to do all my engineering drawings using Rotring pens and stencils - years, I spent, doing sectional and isometric drawings of generators etc.

Now, what used to take me a week, I can do in an hour or so - it's just soooooo nice and flexible being able to paramaterise drawings, spin & rotate them at will, send the DXF output straight to a laser or profile cutter, CNC mill or 3D printer.

Many technologies are spurious; CAD is one the of good guys!