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Robert House
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What's the best software to use when designing 2D floor plans for structures?
berkeman said:Is the intention to generate drawings that can be used for construction? You might talk to your local building department to see if they know what most of the architects and structural engineers that they work with use...
berkeman said:It sounds like you will want to be making dimensioned engineering drawings, more than just a simple floorplan, right? What mechanical CAD packages have you worked with so far? Have you used AutoCAD, for example?
sysprog said:There are many software packages that can be used for such a purpose. Inkscape is free and produces SVG output, which can be resized without loss of resolution. Here's a step-by-step outline of how to use inkscape for a floor plan: https://wiki.inkscape.org/wiki/index.php/Drawing_a_Floor_Plan
Most likely there will be standards that have to be met for Life Support Systems design, documentation and construction, no? At the very least I would imagine OSHA would be involved at some point, not to mention your insurance company...Robert House said:Also, what about schematics for life support systems?
Inscape has copious online help, and a strong user base and support community. Also, the html version of this Inkscape guide book is available online for personal use: http://tavmjong.free.fr/INKSCAPE/MANUAL/html/index.htmlRobert House said:I'll download and explore Inkscape. Do you know of any other software packages I can use?
Yes. Inkscape is a full-featured SVG package. You can create and edit SVG files with any text editor, but other than for very simple SVG files, it's much easier to create them in inkscape.Also, what about schematics for life support systems? Could Inkscape be used to create those as well?
berkeman said:Most likely there will be standards that have to be met for Life Support Systems design, documentation and construction, no? At the very least I would imagine OSHA would be involved at some point, not to mention your insurance company...
sysprog said:Inscape has copious online help, and a strong user base and support community. Also, the html version of this Inkscape guide book is available online for personal use: http://tavmjong.free.fr/INKSCAPE/MANUAL/html/index.html
You might want to look at GeoGebra -- it can make it much easier to get the relative measurments right -- then you can bring the image into inkscape for adding detail. Here's a couple of sample floor plans: https://www.geogebra.org/m/RRx353uQ https://www.geogebra.org/m/tJzX6tmq
You can get Autocad-Architecture free for 3 years if you're a student or educator: https://www.autodesk.com/education/free-software/autocad-architecture
If you search on 'open source drafting' you'll find, among many other options, https://librecad.org/
Sketchup Make 2017 is a version that's free for personal use -- 30-day trial, then agree to the terms, and you can keep using it free -- It has a few more capabilities than Sketchup Free has -- for example, there's a plugin for 'Make' that supports SVG. It's available for download here: https://help.sketchup.com/en/downloading-older-versions
Yes. Inkscape is a full-featured SVG package. You can create and edit SVG files with any text editor, but other than for very simple SVG files, it's much easier to create them in inkscape.
The 'student or educator' eligibility remark that I made was regarding the AutoCAD-Architect software -- I didn't see anything in the vendor statements that said college-only.Robert House said:That open source LibreCAD might be what I need.Thank you for these sources. I will explore them as well.
I don't think I can get it for free. I'm not a student at a college or educator.
The key features to look for in software for designing 2D floor plans include a user-friendly interface, the ability to accurately measure and scale dimensions, the option to add and customize furniture and fixtures, the ability to add annotations and notes, and the option to export the design in various file formats.
While having prior experience in design can be helpful, it is not necessary to use software for 2D floor plans. Many programs have built-in templates and tutorials to guide users through the design process, making it accessible for beginners.
Yes, most software for 2D floor plans allows users to import existing floor plans in various file formats such as PDF, DWG, or JPG. This can be useful for making modifications to an existing design or using it as a reference for a new project.
It depends on the specific software and the complexity of the floor plan design. Some programs may require more processing power and memory, while others can run on basic computers. It is best to check the system requirements before purchasing or downloading a software.
Yes, there are several free software options available for designing 2D floor plans. Some popular ones include SketchUp, Floorplanner, and SmartDraw. However, these free options may have limited features compared to paid software, so it is important to research and compare before choosing one.