Schematic Diagrams

Thaumaturge

Thaumaturge

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To complete a yacht operating/maintenance handbook I want to be able to draw, on a PC, schematic diagrams of each of the systems without having to spend vast sums on CAD type software.

Because I want to produce really simple, easy to follow drawings with recognisable (engineering standard) symbols to represent valves, pumps, fuses, lamps, filters etc. etc..... can anyone please recommend a decent freeware/shareware utility capable of meeting this requirement?

Many thanks in anticipation of a 'forum gem' on this one.

Vince
 
I use Corel Draw for exactly this purpose. I draw my own symbols as needed and save them for future use although they might already be supplied somewhere in the symbols section.
An early version would do the job, probably available on Ebay for peanuts.
In fact I think I have a copy of Version 4 on disk that you could have for the price of postage.
 
Simple diagrams can be done in word.
Whatever package you use, save copies as jpg's or pdf's so you can access them on any pc without the CAD package.
Scanned pencil drawings can be a lot quicker sometimes.
HTH
 
Unfortunatly there are very few small programmes designed to do engeneering drawing. If you can find a copy of QuickCAD it is streets ahead of anything else. It was a 'stripped out' version of autocad available for £50 but has not been on the market for several years. The next best I found is AllyCAD which does a freeware version and I have seen a very few others. None of them carry much in the way of symbol libraries, you need the expensive versions for that. An alternative is to use a digital camera to photograph areas and then add lables. For none techies this can be clearer than engeneering schematics which rely on you knowing the symbols.
 
I use Powerpoint (or the Open Office equivalent) for lots of drawing stuff. Open Office (which is free) also includes a drawing program which allows you to dimension things and to have layers. It works just like Powerpoint with extra features.

I recently downloaded a free cad program called Medusa. As far as I can see this is a full professional CAD product with a few limitations in the free version - but it seems to be too much trouble to learn.
 
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