AutoCADs time has come.

I believe it is time for AutoCAD to join its old nemisis the Drafing
Board in science heaven. Againt my desire I recently switch from 13
years of AutoCAD to working in 3D Parametrics (Soldiworks to be exact)
and its revolutionary. There is no justification to run 2D cad any
more. Even if you for some reason love Autodesk you should still just
switch to Inventor. Mabey if enough people switch it will have the
investment to catch up to SWX and Pro/E. I cant stand working in
AutoCAD the few times I have to now. When I do I use R14 so I dont
have to deal with the 200X horible plotting scheme from hell. Once
you get used to MCAD going back to autocad will be like going back to
the board, intolerable. Im telling you, contact a reseller and see if
you cant get a free evaluation of an MCAD package, its the way to go.
It will require you to rethink how you work a little, but in the end
its worth it. I found its best to see yourself as the machinist
instead of a draftsman when working in 3d parametrics, thats how I
adapted.

Well good luck all and at least try it before you diss it.

 

I am an expert user of both AutoCAD and Solidworks, and I disagree with your
comments.

Solidworks is a fine program, and I like it a lot, but it is not the ideal
solution for everything. Here are some applications that in my experience
are still better done in a 2D drafting program like AutoCAD:
- Any kind of mapping, such as site plans, grading plans and highway
design
- Architectural drafting
- Schematics
- Wiring harnesses. It's true that Pro-E has a harness generator, but
having manufactured harnesses I can tell you that in the real world there
are often many variations on a single basic design, and it is a big nuisance
to have to generate a new solid model just to document a minor variant.
- Conceptual layout design of many products. I can do this much faster
with AutoCAD than with SolidWorks. Once the basic features of the design are
determined and agreed on, then it's time to do the detailed design in
SolidWorks.

 

So if your job is the documentation of engineering designs then you must a
certain software?

Who cares what software as long as you get the point across?

Now if you are doing work for someone else, should you use the software they
use or make them change to what you use?

Welcome to my world. I am the end customer and I get drawings from all over
the world. Now all I care about, 'can I use and understand the drawings (in
my software) they gave to keep the machines running?' Most of the time yes.
Now editing the drawings for changes is another question.

As for AutoCAD, can do 3D, is all things to as many people as they can
reach. You have seen the ease of use with the others software's you have
mentioned. But there is a whole world out there that only needs a 2D
drawing to fix/alter/maintain/redesign a machine. As of this date, plant
layouts are still 2D, but they are moving into the 3D world so people can do
a walk through in the visual plant.

The other software's that make MCAD are currently being to make the product.
AutoCAD has filled that bill for years. Translating .dwg to step or .stl or
..sat or some other file format for the manufacture of the product or
prototype.

I just wish that the software you use to build your product is compatible
with mine to maintain the production in the manufacture of a final product
or service.

W. Kirk Crawford
Rochester Hills, Michigan