Is Autocad for me? Help please...

Discussion in 'AutoCAD' started by Chris Berry, Feb 1, 2004.

  1. Chris Berry

    Chris Berry Guest

    Hi all,
    Hope you don't mind me posting - basically I'm not even a newbie4 on the
    subject but I'd really like to know if Autocad is something I should be
    investing time and money in - and if so where to start...
    I've been brought up on M$oft software and withougt any formal training on
    it have got through every OS since Dos 3 all the way through to their db
    software in a very much self taught manner... so I'd probably be the kind of
    guy that needs a reference book more than a tutorial.. I just wonder where
    you're going to point me - books/sites (can't wait)..

    Anyway as far as my needs in terms of design, I have quite a few...

    Drawing acurate templates (2d) for guitar design (I'll take the 3rd
    dimension by hand for curves on electric guitars and basses... might venture
    into the 3d world just for show but the plots will only be used in 2d for
    templating.

    Drawing simple speaker cabinet designs (3d - mainly flat boards)

    I could also go into the electronics side of things but as far as I'm aware,
    this software can't switch between schematics, layouts and handle more
    complex IC's and thermionic valves. I may be wrong but I don't know much
    about it...

    Silkscreen control panels for electronics gear.

    And a few more.

    I'd probably want to start with the simpler things such as the basic
    templates and speaker designs so if you could help me out and point me to
    some good resources as to how this program works, I can try the software on
    a friends PC (Full 2002 license) before shelling out for a package for
    myself. What I want to avoid is pirating the software or even the opposite -
    buying something that's too complex to be useful to me.

    Thanks.

    cb
     
    Chris Berry, Feb 1, 2004
    #1
  2. I can't tell you if acad will be the best for what you want, but if you do
    settle on acad, why not save yourself a whack of cash and pick up
    IntelliCAD. Virtually the same product, for vastly different dollars.
    BTW any cad package *can* do electronic schematics nicely.
     
    Michael Bulatovich, Feb 1, 2004
    #2
  3. Chris Berry

    Chris Berry Guest

    Thanks for the info - are there add ins for the specific components? And
    beyond the schematics can they also print out PCB layouts?
    Thanks.
    cb
     
    Chris Berry, Feb 1, 2004
    #3
  4. What's an "add in", or a "PCB"? CAD is just a drafting board tucked into a
    calculator. You still have to draw stuff, unless you want a program that
    does only a limited number of things, in which case automation can speed
    things up by reducing your options....
    Over time, or for a chunk of change, you will develop a library of
    components that you will reuse and this will also make you more productive.
    These are individual drawing files primarily for insertion into other larger
    drawings. There are a bunch on my site for my kind of work-go take a look.
    Is that what you mean by "add-ins"?
     
    Michael Bulatovich, Feb 2, 2004
    #4
  5. Chris Berry

    Chris Berry Guest


    Add in - pre-defined drawing library qualifies as one for me. Just a bunch
    of stuff to reuse in electroniv drawings and schematics.
    a PCB is a printed circuit board which is often very very different to a
    schematic.

    The ability to turn one into the other isn't trivial at all as component
    location and topology are key factors and can make or break a circuit so a
    good PCB cad program would allow you to factor these things in and move
    things about as you please.
    Yup. a bit more specialised though...
     
    Chris Berry, Feb 2, 2004
    #5
  6. Chris Berry

    Smiley Guest

    I will suggest you consider something other than AutoCAD for your
    templates. TurboCAD and VectorWorks are MUCH cheaper and quite
    capable. IntelliCAD has already been mentioned, but it really is an
    AutoCAD clone, with a similar learning curve.

    I suspect you will loath the manuals that come with these programs
    as much as I do. It seem that no programs nowdays come with real
    manuals. Just a simple "Getting Started" guide is the most you can
    expect, even from a $5,000 program. They will have extensive on-line
    help... but still not at the same level of quality you used to get in
    manuals done 20 years ago.

    I know there are many programs out there to do PCB's and schematics,
    and I recommend that you use one of them for your electronics design.
    There are also service companies which will accept the files from
    these electronic circuit programs and produce your PCB for you.

    Sorry, I don't have any specific electronics programs to recommend
    for you but any of the hobbiest electronics sites will list some of
    the low-cost and even free ones.

    Joe Dunfee
     
    Smiley, Feb 2, 2004
    #6
  7. Chris Berry

    Chris Berry Guest

    Thanks for the replies...
    Nice ones.
    cb
     
    Chris Berry, Feb 5, 2004
    #7
  8. Chris Berry

    Sporkman Guest

    Intellicad natively works with .dwg format files IIRC, which should mean
    that if you purchase a "library" intended for AutoCAD it should be
    usable in Intellicad, as long as the file format is not of a "future"
    version not supported by Intellicad. Turbocad also at least imports
    ..dwg format files, and probably the other one mentioned as well.

    Mark 'Sporky' Stapleton
    Charlotte, NC
    http://www.h2omarkdesign.com
     
    Sporkman, Feb 25, 2004
    #8
  9. Hi Chris,

    Personally, I think you might be very happy with AutoCAD LT for the
    level of design that you seem to want to do.

    I would go this route for the following reasons:

    -Paying jobs are avaialble for autocad knowledge, so you would be
    developing a saleable skill (not so with many other lower end
    programs).
    -Autocad & LT will not disappear any time soon.
    -LT offers a great bang for the buck (about $600 per seat or so) and
    absent some of the (in my opinion needless) 3d functions and the
    ability to do autolisp & accomodate third pary applications, is
    functionally equivilent to the "real" thing.

    You might also qualify for an educational version (presuming the use
    is non-business), so check that out as well.

    In any case, enjoy!

    Regards,

    SMA
     
    Sean-Michael Adams, Feb 25, 2004
    #9
Ask a Question

Want to reply to this thread or ask your own question?

You'll need to choose a username for the site, which only take a couple of moments (here). After that, you can post your question and our members will help you out.