Found some 3D freeware

Stumbled across this . I am going to try and use it to learn how to make 3d drawings, if possible. Might be a good start.
www.3dvinci.net/PDFs/GettingStartedInTinkercad.pdf

I've heard of tinkercad, but never used it. I've only used the big expensive ones like solidworks, autocad, rhino, etc.

Check out sketchup, you can grab (or place) any 3d building in google earth to get started. There are already quite a few (and by that I'd guess millions) of interesting 3d buildings in google earth, if you weren't aware. It's extremely simple to learn CAD, without mucking about with CAD. And it doesn't require google earth, but that is the worlds largest architectural building model library that I'm aware of. I've used it with laser-cut and 3d printed models too, it works just fine.

www.sketchup.com/intl/en/index.html

Wow!! That is a huge step forward for 3D printing!!

John

My problem is trying to center 2 items together, re-sizing anything round, and figuring out how to step up and down the sizes..19.5..oops..10.5..oops..19.5...
It does not help using the old computer where you move the mouse and it takes about 2 seconds to react.
Still I am plugging away at it and I hope II can make something someday.

Have you tried GMAX ? It's a free software program almost like 3D Max. You can make 3D models on it and it has alot more.

Kelley wrote: My problem is trying to center 2 items together, re-sizing anything round, and figuring out how to step up and down the sizes..19.5..oops..10.5..oops..19.5...
It does not help using the old computer where you move the mouse and it takes about 2 seconds to react.
Still I am plugging away at it and I hope II can make something someday.

Google SketchUp can help in this regard because you can simply type the dimension you desire while moving the mouse--it doesn't care how far you move the mouse, it follows the typed command and makes the desired numerical adjustment with perfect accuracy.

Kelley wrote: It does not help using the old computer where you move the mouse and it takes about 2 seconds to react.

Kelly, mouse lag isn’t due to the age of the computer; it’s due to the amount of available memory. Over the years, we always add a few new programs here and there that run in the background (and some that only keep watch in the background)… our favorite programs get larger and larger with each update, plus Windows itself gets bigger with each update. This all takes a toll on memory usage. If you could boost the memory (VERY cheap compared to a newer computer), I’d venture to say your mouse would catch up with your hand!

This, of course is assuming your computer is running properly. Sometimes simply reinstalling Windows and then only the programs you actually still use will do the trick.

Joe