[Menai-LUG] QCad - part the third

I've found another couple of very interesting apps, but I don't really have=
=20
time to examine them in detail before I go to LAC tomorrow.  It might be th=
at=20
those who are more au fait with CAD than me (eg David Powell, Phil Thane)=20
would find them more in line with what they expect/need than QCad.  I shoul=
d=20
say that neither of them is FLOSS, but they run fine on Linux (openSUSE 10.=
0=20
at any rate).  Both of them do 3D as well as 2D.

The first is GraphiteOne (http://www.graphiteone-cad.com/en/index.htm), whi=
ch=20
seems to use Python.  The interface is a bit odd-looking (it reminds me a b=
it=20
of Blender), but functional.  There is no help/tutorial that I can see on t=
he=20
site, but there is a pretty extensive manual in the install (click on the=20
brown HELP button to get to this).

The commercial version costs =E2=82=AC300 (2D) or =E2=82=AC600 (3D), but th=
e free version,=20
which "provides the same functionality as the commercial version ... is=20
limited to personal, educational or research use only. You may use this=20
version as long as it is not used for commercial or any revenue generating=
=20
purposes."

The second is Medusa4=20
(http://www.cad-schroer.com/index.php?land=3Dcom&ziel=3DProducts-MEDUSA&scr=
=3D1.1). =20
This is an enormous download of 130Mb, and untars to something like 300Mb. =
 I=20
don't usually like Java apps, but this is very heavy-duty software - the=20
website has schematics of what seems to be an oil-tanker.  The interface is=
=20
very attractive, and there are acres of manuals, either on the Web=20
(http://www.cad-schroer.com/index2.php?land=3Dcom&ziel=3DSupport-OnlineDocu=
&thema=3Dall/DokuM4PL.php&scr=3D1.1)
or in the download (/opt/medusa4/meddoc/doc/english).

The price of the commercial version isn't mentioned, that I can see, so I=20
assume it must be quite pricey.  But the personal version is a free downloa=
d:=20
"The only restriction is that no-one should gain commercial benefit from=20
using it; this includes commercial training and development. If your use is=
=20
educational, then please email us , because we have an even better deal for=
=20
you - also free, but with more support."  The main differences are that=20
printouts are marked NOT FOR COMMERCIAL USE, and personal sheets can't be=20
imported into the professional version (though presumably you could save th=
em=20
in an intermediate format like dxf and import them).

Activating the personal version is a bit of a palaver - you need to registe=
r=20
online, and give the MAC address of the network adapter in the PC you will=
=20
run the app on (it is therefore tied to one computer - no free software=20
this!).  Then you reply to the email you get sent, and after that you get=20
another email with the license file attached, which you save to your HD. =20
When you run (as root) the install file (medusa4_pers_linux) you get after=
=20
you untar the download, you give the path to the license, and it gets copie=
d=20
to the install (in /opt).  Note that I had to relax the permissions on the=
=20
resultant csglmd.lic before I could use it as a normal user.  The actual=20
thing you launch is hidden away as /opt/medusa4/master_project/startmedusa.

Both apps have a good range of export formats, GraphiteOne more so than=20
Medusa4.

While wandering around various CAD sites, I also came across a LiveCD calle=
d=20
CAE Linux=20
(http://www.caelinux.com/CMS/index.php?option=3Dcom_content&task=3Dview&id=
=3D26&Itemid=3D47)=20
which is mainly aimed at finite element simulation (if I knew what that was=
,=20
I would explain it!) and computational fluid dynamics, but also contains a=
=20
good few CAD packages (QCad, gCad3D, GraphiteOne, BRL-CAD).  That might be=
=20
quite useful if you want a quick way of demoing these things without faffin=
g=20
about too much.

So get designing, you lot - I want complete schematics for a starship by ne=
xt=20
week!

=2D-=20
Pob hwyl / Best wishes

Kevin Donnelly

www.kyfieithu.co.uk - KDE yn Gymraeg
www.klebran.org.uk - Gwirydd gramadeg rhydd i'r Gymraeg
www.eurfa.org.uk - Geiriadur rhydd i'r Gymraeg
www.rhedadur.org.uk - Rhedeg berfau Cymraeg