CAD Recommendations

[Havok]

After playing MAME since it started, I have finally decided to build a cabinet - there really is no substitute for the real thing! However, I really want to plan, plan plan! Does anyone out there recommend a good CAD program for a non-CAD guy?

I really like the Defender cabinet style, and want to model after that, with rotating controls and support for 4 player games. However, I want to make sure everything fits properly, and I like the idea of completely designing the control panel especially in CAD, then printing it out as a template to cut and drill.

Any suggestions?

[Ted_Striker]

well if you have to learn CAD... might as well learn it once and go AutoCAD.  yeah it isn't that newbie user friendly but the payoff is greater.  AutoCAD is probably industry standard.  So pretty much any design you do in it is pretty darn portable.  Plus if you need to give your drawings to a professional (for say a cnc machine or whatever... hell dream big) you have it done.  I just think if you are going to spend time learning a program, you might as well learn the best.

I bet if you search around the examples you can find Defender cab dimensions.  That would give you a good start.  I don't remember any specific cabinets to look up... anyone toss him a link?

And as far as the rotatable cp's... check out that modular one somebody just did on the main page... sheer genious.  I personally think it is nicer than the rotating ones.  just IMHO.

[rchadd]

is you want to use something simple and user friendly try Visio.

[RoboG2]

One of the more user- friendly CAD programs I use all the time is PTC Pro/ Desktop.  It is easy to learn after a couple hours of playing aroung and reading the tutorials and it is very capable.

[ericball]

Instead of trying to find a (free) CAD package which could do 3D renders, I ended up using POV-Ray to create a 3D model of my cab.  I've used it before (long, long time ago), so I was able to code the scene description file fairly quickly.

[spriggy]

A great, easy, 2d CAD program...

Try DeltaCAD.