Computer-aided Design on a Shoestring

The Amstrad PC range has brought computing within reach of everyone and now CAD packages (previously possible for wealthy companies only) can be purchased relatively inexpensively. The resultant output may not be as sophisticated as that achieved using such software packages as AutoCAD, but individuals/smaller companies wishing to experiment and familiarise themselves with this type of software may now do so before making heavy financial investments in software, hardware and training - and still obtain worthwhile results. The book shows how to go about learning to use a popular low-cost CAD program, i.e. Generic CADD, Level 1, and how to take advantage of the many features that it offers. The equipment required is any PC-compatible computer, ranging from the Sinclair PC200 to the `286' type of machine, along with a dot-matrix, inkjet, or laser printer, or a pen plotter. All of the examples used to illustrate this book have been obtained using an Amstrad PC with an Epson RX-80 dot-matrix printer in order to show what can be achieved with the minimum of equipment.