Simple, basic, super easy, uncomplicated program?

Title says it all except what kind, right? That's cause I'm not really sure what kind.

I want to be able to make a template basically. If I know this bracket has 4 holes in a square shape and each hole is 42mm (just an example) apart...I want to be able to somehow input that and get that shape.. Yeah, It could probably be done by hand if I had a drafting table and one of those cool rulers that always stay perfectly set to a certain angle...but I don't. I can measure the template for accuracy compared to the original, but hand drawing it, I know I'll not be as accurate as it could be. I also don't have a good place to do it.


I don't need arcs (though circles might be nice) or odd shapes, or ability to scan something.

Just a simple open it up, snap a line 42mm across on a grid, another line 42mm down, then back across and up. Boom, square with 4 points each 42mm away. Print, and transfer to base material and drill, cut, sand, file away.

 

A member left this link previously. I looked at then. Possibly it does what you want.

BabaCAD - Free CAD Software

 

Uuuggh...the broken English instructions and immediate use of unfamiliar terms isn't to my taste at all. Thanks for the suggestion at least.

We'll see if there are other options, it's not an immediate need.

 

Hmmmm.... you could do a search for "free CNC program." There are many listed.
You just need the template.

 

I use CorelDraw . Its easy to learn to use and works great. I have to print straight from the program. Using it in PDF form shrinks the drawing. I use a drill press to do my drilling. If you want something to produce a CNC program, at work we use a drawing program that takes the drawing and does the CNC program for you. I got the CorelDraw free from work to use at home.

 

Thanks craftsman, but I forgot to mention "free" as well. I don't have a work to borrow from anymore.

Like I said, not a huge priority. Plenty of other things need done first.

 

LibreOffice, the successor to OpenOffice, the free alternative to MS_Office, has a program called, simply, Draw that might suit you. Video into here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VnXx3-OwrQ

Download software here:
https://www.libreoffice.org/

You can't download just Draw, you have to download the entire LibreOffice suite but I *think* you can unselect all the other programs and install just Draw.


I use SketchUp when I occasionally have need to create a crude doodle to post online. Intro here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pv7TrGnZ17w

Download software here:
https://www.sketchup.com/
The free version is called "Make."

"Simple" is something the guys who create these programs have little concept of because "simple" usually also means "limited" and they want the free version of their app to be the gateway drug to the full-featured paid version. LibreOffice's Draw is something of an exception in that regard because they don't sell anything. S'all free. And Draw is more aimed at users with modest needs, people who want to make stuff like greeting cards and covers for family picture albums and the like.

 

I actually got Sketchup Make last night. I was able to do pretty much what I would want in the future, but I think I need to make or find a different template. I made a 52mm x 52mm square, but it was so tiny on the screen it would jump from 40 to 60 with the slightest movement of the cursor. The template must be blueprint size. When I went to a much bigger box, it was relatively easy to get it down to a 1 or 2mm resolution(?).

I saw Libre when I was looking. I used to use OpenOffice all the time instead of paying for MS or using an old Student version. I could barely tell the difference except for the name. They looked the same and worked the same.

Not sure if draw has a scale on the screen to tell you the size of your design?

Like I said it's easy to measure what I will want, not so easy to layout.