Which AutoCad product has 3-D drawing function?

I need to make some patent drawings (perspective drawings). Which AutoCAD
product is good for 3-D drawings? Mechanical? Inventor 7? etc. How much does
it cost? Thanks.

 

While plain AutoCAD can do this, it really is no longer billed by
Autodesk as a 3d program, and most of their attention to 3d is on the
Inventor program. It's been a while since I looked at their pricing,
but we are in the $5,000 range.

However, there are plenty of lower cost (and simpler to use)
programs out there that may meet your needs. Check out TurboCAD,
Vectorworks, Intellicad (an AutoCAD clone), all of which are available
for under in the $500 to $1,000 range.

 

Thanks. I may look at the other programs you mentioned. For a business, it
may not be a big deal to spend 5 grand to buy the software. However, for an
individual, it is too much to spend that money. I used to use AutoCad 14, so
I want to stick to theri similarproducts.

 

Go to www.autodesk.com

AutoCAD full versions, not LT versions, come with 3 D capability.

 

That is a very big factor. Cad programs are so complex, to really
know a particular program takes months of constant use. If you don't
want to learn another program, I think your only choice is for the
full version of AutoCAD, or the clones. IntelliCAD is sold by a few
different companies, but the only one I know of that adds the ACIS
solid modeler is www.BricsCAD.com Their "pro" version is fully 3d
capable. The others will do everything but the ACIS solids.

But, be cautioned, that while the IntelliCAD program is very
popular, it is not quite as polished as the Autodesk software and bugs
are a little more common.

JOe

 

Thanks. I am well aware of the difficulty to learn another CAD program. It
gets worse to lean another one if you have already mastered the one you
current use. Unlike the programming languages, you may switch to another
programming language without experiencing a major learning curve. That is
why I stick to the AutoCAD. However, the full version of the software is so
expensive that there is no way for me to be able to buy one.

I am seriously consider switching to another piece of software like
Solidworks. I heard it is a very good software to make 3-D drawings.

 

I have tested all the 3D solid modeling software at my school and I think
that Solidworks is the best around.

 

Solidworks is definitely the leader in the sales arena right now. Inventor
is making great strides too...in fact autodesk credits much of their gorwth
this year to inventor. beware, it is not too much like autocad in terms of
interface, don't llet that make your decision for you.