I have a one time need to draw a half dozen complex shapes (various pools)
and then calculate as accurately as possible the number of gallons based on
the various shapes.

It's easy to rough out volumes by assuming simple circles and basic
rectangles, but these pools will have varying slopes and bottom edge curves
and steps and hot tubs with seating areas and water features that will make
any estimate based on circles, triangles, and rectangles much less
accurate.

Is there a simple to use free cad drawing program that will calculate
volumes?

On 7/4/22 12:24 AM, Peter wrote:
> I have a one time need to draw a half dozen complex shapes (various pools)
> and then calculate as accurately as possible the number of gallons based on
> the various shapes.
>
> It's easy to rough out volumes by assuming simple circles and basic
> rectangles, but these pools will have varying slopes and bottom edge curves
> and steps and hot tubs with seating areas and water features that will make
> any estimate based on circles, triangles, and rectangles much less
> accurate.
>
> Is there a simple to use free cad drawing program that will calculate
> volumes?

Have a look at these...

https://trigonometry.winsite.com/

croy wrote:

> I don't have much experience with this app, but you might want to give it a look:
>
> https://openscad.org

I was thinking of maybe suggesting blender or freecadweb or maybe madview
which are in my c:\installer\editor\3d archives along with plenty of
other free CAD programs, but I wasn't sure which ones can calculate volumes.
[https://www.blender.org/download/]
[https://www.freecadweb.org/downloads.php]
[https://geeks3d.com/madview3d/]
C:\{app,install,menu}\editor\3d\{blender,freecadweb,madview,etc.}\

I'm not sure if AutoCad is still free for students either.

If it helps, here's what I have in my archives, where the problem,
as I see it, is not only figuring out which ones calculate volumes,
but learning how to use them. Which are the simplest to use?

I don't know. Do you?

[1. (2D) DraftSight (activated by email, no longer free, paid only)]
[ <https://www.3ds.com/products-services/draftsight-cad-software/download-draftsight//>]
[2. (2D) QCAD ]
[ <https://www.ribbonsoft.com/en/>]
[3. (2D) LibreCAD]
[ <https://librecad.org/>]
[4. (2D) Draft IT]
[ <https://www.cadlogic.com/cad-software-products/draft-it>]
[5. (3D) SketchUp Make]
[ <https://www.sketchup.com/download/make?sketchup=make>]
[6. (3D) OnShape]
[ <https://www.onshape.com/products/free>]
[7. (3D) FreeCAD]
[ <https://www.freecadweb.org/wiki/index.php?title=Download>]
[8. (3D) Sweet Home 3D]
[ <http://www.sweethome3d.com/download.jsp>]
[9. (3D) TinkerCAD]
[ <https://www.tinkercad.com/>]
[10. (3D) 3D Crafter]
[ <http://amabilis.com/downloads/>]
[11. (3D) Sculptris]
[ <https://pixologic.com/sculptris/emails/operating-system.php>]
[12. (3D) OpenSCAD]
[ <http://www.openscad.org/>]
[13. (3D) Blender]
[ <https://www.blender.org/download/>]
[14. (3D) LeoCAD]
[ <https://www.leocad.org/download.html>]
[15. AutoCAD (free for students)]
[ <https://www.autodesk.co.uk/products/autocad/overview>]
[16. MeshLab]
[ <http://www.meshlab.net/>]
[17. Progesoft CAD]
[ <http://www.progesoft.com/en/products/progecad-smart/>]
[18. Wings3D]
[ <http://www.wings3d.com/>]
[19. Art of Illusion]
[ <http://www.artofillusion.org/>]
[20. 3D Slash]
[ <https://www.3dslash.net/index.php>]
[21. NanoCAD]
[ <https://nanocad.com/>]
[22. SketchUP] <== My 2017 version has a 30-day trial
[ <https://www.sketchup.com/>]
[23. MeshMixer]
[ <http://www.meshmixer.com/>]
[24. BRLCad]
[ <https://brlcad.org/>]
[25. Fusion 360 Student Version]
[ <https://www.autodesk.com/products/fusion-360/students-teachers-educators>]
[26. KiCad EDA]
[ <http://kicad-pcb.org/>]
[27. SculptGL]
[ <https://stephaneginier.com/sculptgl/>]
[28. HeeksCAD]
[ <https://sites.google.com/site/heekscad/>]
[29. DesignSpark]
[ <https://www.rs-online.com/designspark/mechanical-software>]
[30. SolveSpace]
[ <http://solvespace.com/index.pl>]

The problem is finding something SIMPLE and that can do volumes.
--
Posted out of the goodness of my heart to help someone asking on Usenet.

On Mon, 4 Jul 2022 05:24:16 +0100, Peter wrote:
> I have a one time need to draw a half dozen complex shapes (various pools)
> and then calculate as accurately as possible the number of gallons based on
> the various shapes.
>
> It's easy to rough out volumes by assuming simple circles and basic
> rectangles, but these pools will have varying slopes and bottom edge curves
> and steps and hot tubs with seating areas and water features that will make
> any estimate based on circles, triangles, and rectangles much less
> accurate.
>
> Is there a simple to use free cad drawing program that will calculate
> volumes?

The first thing inmy mind was MathCAD, which is a commercial software. IMO,
that's best fit for your requirements rather than a generic CAD software.

But since it's a commercial software, I'd suggest you look for its
alternatives which can do 3D.

https://alternativeto.net/software/mathcad/?license=free