Products > Test Equipment
Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
bd139:
--- Quote from: ch_scr on July 07, 2022, 10:08:21 am ---
--- Quote from: Cerebus on July 07, 2022, 08:59:07 am ---
--- Quote from: mnementh on July 07, 2022, 12:49:07 am ---Condolences then. I'd rather drill screws through my feet than ever use that fustercluck again. Only app I ever found less intuitive than EagleCAD. :palm:
mnem
*cringe*
--- End quote ---
Ah, so you've never used FreeCAD then? >:D
--- End quote ---
I can't see, why the hate on FreeCAD? I use it regularly for over 4 years, so somewhat biased ::)
Every CAD tool has it's hooks and it has to fit towards the way you think. Naturally, not everyone can work with every tool, people don't think the same way - and if the tool is structured contrary to your internal workflow, you'll never get along. You'll have to use a different tool, better suited to the way you think, to get good results and not hurt yourself continually. People try to get started in Freecad (or any tool really) for a month and not get anywhere, fall into that category. Of course the other thing are people coming from different tools, that expect things to work in a specific way.
But I've seen and helped people getting started in Kicad and Freecad around me, and would not say getting started in one is much harder than the other. Like FreeCAD, there are people hating on Kicad because "all the buttons are in the wrong places" - IMHO, for the same reason, see above.
Yes, FreeCAD allows you to do things in different ways, and some of them will shoot you in the foot later. Sometimes there is only one good way. Part of the learning curve is to learn to design around that. Yes, it would be better for that not to be the case, but I need it today. IMHO it's still the best bet for a free CAD tool with a wide feature set. It get's the job done and for a free CAM tool there is no alternative AFAIK. At least none that's easier to use, or even on par feature-wise. That said, to construct a mechanism or whole machine / device, I would not want to do it in FreeCAD. But for the odd 3d printed or 2.5d milled part? More than good enough!
--- End quote ---
From my perspective it's just the clunk factor. It's ok but it needs a lot of polish.
Most of the open source software out there hasn't had "the 2nd 90%" of the development effort expended.
Specmaster:
--- Quote from: Cerebus on July 07, 2022, 09:46:03 am ---
--- Quote from: Specmaster on July 07, 2022, 07:57:04 am ---Currently, sitting here waiting for the workmen to arrive. We are having the bathroom refitted and were told that they would be with us this morning at 8.00AM, now 8.54AM and still sign of them. The job is supposed to take upto 2 weeks, thinking of taking friendly bets on the completion date :palm:
--- End quote ---
Before placing any bets: Are the builders (1) Native English ("Normal for Essex"), (2) Native English, or (3) Polish?
--- End quote ---
Well they have just arrived and certainly don't sound natives and they are already crashing and banging ripping out the old kit so they may be Polish after all.
ch_scr:
--- Quote from: bd139 on July 07, 2022, 10:11:40 am ---
--- Quote from: ch_scr on July 07, 2022, 10:08:21 am ---
--- Quote from: Cerebus on July 07, 2022, 08:59:07 am ---
--- Quote from: mnementh on July 07, 2022, 12:49:07 am ---Condolences then. I'd rather drill screws through my feet than ever use that fustercluck again. Only app I ever found less intuitive than EagleCAD. :palm:
mnem
*cringe*
--- End quote ---
Ah, so you've never used FreeCAD then? >:D
--- End quote ---
I can't see, why the hate on FreeCAD? I use it regularly for over 4 years, so somewhat biased ::)
Every CAD tool has it's hooks and it has to fit towards the way you think. Naturally, not everyone can work with every tool, people don't think the same way - and if the tool is structured contrary to your internal workflow, you'll never get along. You'll have to use a different tool, better suited to the way you think, to get good results and not hurt yourself continually. People try to get started in Freecad (or any tool really) for a month and not get anywhere, fall into that category. Of course the other thing are people coming from different tools, that expect things to work in a specific way.
But I've seen and helped people getting started in Kicad and Freecad around me, and would not say getting started in one is much harder than the other. Like FreeCAD, there are people hating on Kicad because "all the buttons are in the wrong places" - IMHO, for the same reason, see above.
Yes, FreeCAD allows you to do things in different ways, and some of them will shoot you in the foot later. Sometimes there is only one good way. Part of the learning curve is to learn to design around that. Yes, it would be better for that not to be the case, but I need it today. IMHO it's still the best bet for a free CAD tool with a wide feature set. It get's the job done and for a free CAM tool there is no alternative AFAIK. At least none that's easier to use, or even on par feature-wise. That said, to construct a mechanism or whole machine / device, I would not want to do it in FreeCAD. But for the odd 3d printed or 2.5d milled part? More than good enough!
--- End quote ---
From my perspective it's just the clunk factor. It's ok but it needs a lot of polish.
Most of the open source software out there hasn't had "the 2nd 90%" of the development effort expended.
--- End quote ---
It's not too bad, but in principle I agree. I guess humans can get used to anything >:D I can't change it anyway, complaining won't help either - I'm just happy when they fix the odd bug. Some of the limitations and/or bugs come from the underlying free 3d solver engine that is also WIP, as most free software is. No way to change that either, there is a reason big company's sell their proven 3d solver engines for $$$.
Edit: on usability, there is a free tool called "Linegrinder". To get to the machine file from the gerber file needs an ungodly amount of clicks, every time you do it. That is real clunk! A command line tool can be automated at least...
Neper:
--- Quote from: Cerebus on July 07, 2022, 09:51:56 am ---Right, off for a walk along the Kent coast near Dungeness.
--- End quote ---
I envy you. Certainly an acquired taste but I love the place.
bd139:
I need to go there again now. Nice photos :-+
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