Best and simple Windows drawing program

CaptainRixOGR Forum Member

Designing control panel layouts, and need to know what the simplest and best Windows 10 programs might be, paint seems quite tedious, only need to draw vertical horizontal and 45° lines, and a few simple shapes which can be repeated, copy and paste ... As variously recommended planning to print on thicker high resolution photographic paper, then double laminate, then use leather punches to set the holes, then use holes to mark baseboard probably lexan, then carefully drill holes in lexan, then you spray adhesive to set the double laminated drawing on the exterior of the lexan ... Holes are for mini spdt toggles, a few push buttons, and one double pole three throw rotary switch for a Ross 3-way yard switch, most turnouts are tortoise, many dz1000, handful of ienshadow dual coil switch machines, best regards and respectfully, Richard

8/31/2311:29 AM

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Original Post

G3750OGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBER

So, a few questions:

Are you interested in 2D or 3D drawings?
Will the package be used to create 3D printing diagrams, i.e. must it produce .STL or AutoCAD files?

While you ponder these questions, I will tell you that I have been using Microsoft Visio for better than 20 years. It has served me well in drawing floor plans, structures, and wiring diagrams. I tend to make drawings of anything that I am going to scratch-build. I then use the drawing to identify and size parts. Visio is not free, but I find it very useful and worth the price. It has a number of libraries with predefined shapes.

Here are a few examples of my drawings done with Visio.

The first is a top view of my transformer cart.

The second is a cross-section of the benchwork, subroadbed, scenery, and roadbed for a part of the 2-track mainline.

Finally, here's a look at a bench work table top.

I like Visio. It's not hard to learn and has a number of great features and flexibility. There is (was?) a free-ware version called Dia, but it lacks predefined shapes which makes it tedious to use. I feel that Visio is worth the price.

George