Drawn up!

A long time ago I used to boot up, swap out the floppy, insert the system disk and boot into a program called Autocad, version 1.1. The second floppy (no expense spared) was used for data. Using it we drew up a fully kitted out test bench (mechanical). Laid out a schematic for a TI processor and IO logic (TMS 320-10 IIRC). Sketched the software design for the Test operating system and generally got used to working with a color CAD system. Watching it evolve over about 4 generations, the guy I used to be jelous of was the salesman. He came in with our upgrades, had us all with dropping jaws after ten minutes and then walked away. I never heard 'can't do that'. It was generally, I want to do so and so, how please? Then we learned. Such a rare find in software. Now it's priced itself through the roof and then some. I assume it's still good software. No idea.

I'm trying to build a set of 6 drawers for a canteen of cutlery and I'm having a job managing just sketching it. Just too many variables. So I wondered round and found qcad. It saves in Autocad compatible format and has quiet a few favourable reviews. Perhaps I was expecting too much. I found it viable, but awkward. Switching between mouse and keyboard commands is a 'sometimes'. Repeat the last command, using keyboard, seems not to work. It's such a long time, I doubt if I'm remembering what I did correctly, but I'm taking forever to get one view completed. Tim Bray is comparing languages in a recent thread. I've always recognised a turning point; when the mind can focus on the problem, rather than the language (tool) being used. That's my definition of being at home with a language. With Qcad I'm currently 80% focussed on the tool and clearly not concentrating on the problem. I'm taking my sketch pad to the sofa, see if I can think clearly on paper and drag it to the screen, kicking and screaming. I'm currently working out whether to do front|back, horizontal partitions then sides, or horizontal partitions then fix into sides, mount front and rear (as I did last time I made a full sized set of drawers.

Tried a few M&T joints on the bandsaw today. Clean, easy and accurate, well, except for the welds. They're kicking me out a good mil, which isn't helping. 4tpi and the cut is looking clean. I've a 6tpi blade on order so I'm expecting a babies bottom effect. I'll let you know once I figure out what to cut.