AustenW

Can anyone on here use autocad or similar 3D design software?

What do people recomend?

Where can I get a copy from?

Cheers

Austen

stevetinks

i've used both solidworks, autodesk inventor and catia. found inventor the easiest to use of the 3, but all are rather user friendly, and you can import autocad drawings into most 3d packages these days.

as for getting hold, i've only been able to get hold of student copies from uni, and they only have 2 year licenses. probably a few dodgy copies going about

Jimbo.

yh autodesk inventor is very simple to use and is a good starting place to learn from. I use this along with Catia and 3D Max

percybigun

i use autocad, archicad, and MicroGDS. i would say autocad is the easiest to pick up. but archicad is by far the better software for 3d, modelling, rendering, and drawing register co-ordination.

Danny B

How much is a good cad program? We dont really use that kinda thing as we work real world! but we starting to get more jobs with CAD drawings to follow, Been about 10years since I worked with autocad!!!

vroomtshh

Autocad is the easiest to use and get hold of. Its around Ł475 for a proper copy but plenty of dodgy copies around.

I use Tekla 3D modelling. Its around Ł12k plus Ł2k a year maintenance and is impossible to copy

foreigneRS

google sketch up is a free program, but don't know how it compares to proper CAD packages

percybigun

when i priced it up last year AutoCAD LT was Ł750 (inc vat) but thats just the basic 2D program with no 3D facility.

the full version is about Ł4000 including VAT.

vroomtshh

Autocad Lt has 3d built into it, but its so difficult and gives poor results, I dont know anyone who uses.

If your looking for a copy, I have a dodgy copy here, that I could copy and send you.

PF Ben

iTrader: (1)

We got some design engineers in the house then?!

ben

les3002

i like solidworks seems easy enough to use, did manage to get a dodgy copy aswell.

GARETH T

i have heard of dodgy copys of solid works are on torrent sites

vroomtshh

What you have to watch with most CAd packages, is that they need you to input a serial number. The torrent sites dont generally have the serial number, so you need to find a key gen program to create you a serial number that will work.

They go all out to stop you getting pirate copies. There are plenty of ways round it if you know what you're doing, but I know a lot of people spend hours downloading only for it to be useless

Rod-Tarry

Still use Autocad 2002 on my home computer all I require now im retired.
Still good for 2D & such an easy package to use.

WD Pro

I will take 11 please, we are getting quoted way more than that for upgrades

For 2D home use AutoCAD LT

For 3D we use solid works but I guess a proper copy is a bit dear for home

BlackRs

Have sent you PM

DanS

AutoCAD is pretty much the bench mark, still the best IMO.

If you buy a genuine copy and subscribe most dealers will give you upgrades there after for free. We bought 2006 at work and have received 2007 + 2008 for nothing!

I'm a Civil Design Engineer

BigChuck

I mostly used solid works, found it pretty user friendly.

vroomtshh

Me too, but mainly working on structural projects

jpblue

depends on what you want to do. for 3d illustrations you cant beat sketch up. its free, dead easy and quite clever. If you want the facility to create production drawings or machine input data then one of the more complex packages will be required, If you just want to create 2d drawings you cant beat Autocad however if you want a 3D design tool for complex shapes you need to step up another notch of programme, microstation. I use Autocad 2008, Microstation V8, sketchup and a pencil in my everyday work. Use the easiest tool for the job, not the most complex.
Cheers,
Justin P

nilrem

solidworks all the way IMO! used autocad and ddnt really get on with it too much, and the 3d stuff aint too good... never used inventor too much, but its meant to be good.

i used solidworks to create centrifuge decanters, it allowed you to modify and regen the assembly, it would then show you any interferences, plus the "cosmos" application can show you the flow fo water and air for any restrictions.

foreigneRS

i was once told that there's no such thing as a civil engineer - so i chinned the bastard

vroomtshh

Thats such an old joke. Almost as bad as the one about the engineer who was such an extrovert, that when you peak to him, he looks at YOUR shoes

Mark V8

iTrader: (2)

If you're drawing in 2D AutoCad is very good, but for 3D stuff we use Solidworks.
The info we get at work now all seems to come as 3D models in the form of IGES files so we end up using Solidworks to produce 2D drawings with all the sections required then export it as a DWG file as Autocad is much nicer to use in 2D.

Mark

Kevin B

Use AutoCAD 2006 at home and 2007 at work but do mainly 2D stuff - very easy to get to grips with if you have used a CAD package of one sort or another...

Certainly better and far more user friendly than Architectural Desktop (I think) that I used to create a 3D model for college, that was a pain in the @rse package