best CAD program for beginers?

[tuf045]

Whats the best CAD program for beginers? or is it called desgin software?

[Slunnie]

I'm not sure about the costs, though we find Vectorworks to be excellent. We can have Yr7 doing basic 3D work within about 2 periods and it will do some pretty good drawings etc. Its not a basic program, but it is very user friendly.

[tuf045]

I'm not sure about the costs, though we find Vectorworks to be excellent. We can have Yr7 doing basic 3D work within about 2 periods and it will do some pretty good drawings etc. Its not a basic program, but it is very user friendly.

wondering do they have versions? if so what version?

[Highway-Star]

I found Autocad at highschool was quite easy (very easy if only doing 2D). At uni we use a 3D one called Solid-Edge; not easy to pick up, needs plenty of time spent to do some simple things, however it is very powerful, and alows for various output types. I designed a bullbar for my Sierra when i got bored over the last holidays using SE, then proceeded to make a slightly corrected 'prototype' out of 2mm ply.

[MAVRK-4]

I've had good results with AutoCAD in the past but wouldn't say it's as easy to use.

About to try TurboCAD as I've heard plenty good things about it and looking for a cheaper alternative to AutoCAD

[dogeatdog01]

I use Solidworks 3D at work. Quite easy to use. Would recommend to a beginner

[-Scott-]

I think AutoCAD is very intuitive for 2D work, less so for 3D work.

Parametric solid modellers like Solid Works/Solid Edge/ProEngineer are much more powerful, but are less intuitive - I'd hate to have to teach myself. Having said that, the on-line tutorials in the latest versions seem quite advanced, which may help.

Solid Edge recently released a 2D package, which they were giving away - don't know if they still do.

[fool_injected]

I use turbocad, simple for 2d stuff
You can get a free version from somewhere too

[Slunnie]

I'm not sure about the costs, though we find Vectorworks to be excellent. We can have Yr7 doing basic 3D work within about 2 periods and it will do some pretty good drawings etc. Its not a basic program, but it is very user friendly.

wondering do they have versions? if so what version?

I think we have V11 or similar, usually keeping it up to date. Its also the educational version, so it may be cheaper.

[guerd87]

depends if you want 2d or 3d

as for 2d i havnt found anyhting easier then AutoCAD 06, simple software, read some tutorails etc etc and youll be fine

as for 3d, prob best to get a program called "ProDesktop" or even the common Sketchup program, prodesktop is definatly better by far though

John

[Slayer]

depends if you want 2d or 3d

as for 2d i havnt found anyhting easier then AutoCAD 06, simple software, read some tutorails etc etc and youll be fine

as for 3d, prob best to get a program called "ProDesktop" or even the common Sketchup program, prodesktop is definatly better by far though

John

Just getting into solid edge and autocad at uni, but before that i was quite good with ptc prodesktop!... more of an educational/personal use type of program than one thats used within the industry. It is however, very user friendly and will give you a good grasp on the concepts of cad softwere in general!
come to think of it i think i have version 8 around here some place on CD... along with a licence.. for the right price, i could probly do some burning...

[benjamin78au]

i would also have a gander at sketchup it is a simple to use 3d application . I would still learn cad but for basic designs sketch up is easy

[juls]

I use autocad for 2d diagrams i get laser cut.
Ive tried designing 3d in autocad but it takes me forever and is hard to use.

Bascially tought myself so Im sure it might be easier to do if u get taught properly but Im guessing this isnt the case otherwise you wouldnt be asking, youd be doing a course.

[lay80n]

If you want to do 3D modeling, ProEngineer is good. Takes a bit to get used to, but if you can get access to the tutorial programs you will be on your way.

Layto....

[Hekta]

The tech drawing classes at my school have AutoCAD, RealCAD, TurboCAD, Better Homes and Gardens CAD and Google SketchUp.

I don't know why they have so many, or whether they're any good. Google SketchUp is a free download though

[RO8M]

can't believe it hasn't been said: AutoDesk Inventor, all the way!!! Take maybe 20 of 30 hours to get a freal good hang of it, but then, the sky's the limit. Bit exxy tho... unless you can find a quiet copy...

see also http://www.mcadforums.com/forums/

[Roctoy]

depends on what you intend doing with it, buildings or car stuff.

car stuff - Solidworks or bendtech

buildings - AutoCAD

beware of turboCAD it is easy to learn but the complete oposite to AutoCAD, so if you were ever going to step up to "the real thing" you'd have to start from scratch at learning acad.

I would get a cheap copy of AutoCAD Lt or even dare i say it, download an "educational copy" off the net & do the tutorials.

Chris

[DIRTY ROCK STAR]

Mate my 2c,

I think why not use Autocad? its the industry standard for CAD.
its not too bad to learn.

My personal favourite though is Microstation.
It looks and drives like windows paint just on fawk off steroids.


and i would look at doing the tutorials.
or, enroll in a brief TAFE course.
i did a short tafe course in autocad ages ago and it was pretty handy as
an intro.

[macca81]

come to think of it i think i have version 8 around here some place on CD... along with a licence.. for the right price, i could probly do some burning...

what sort of price...???

[DIRTY ROCK STAR]

macca81, dude i reckon you should remove your post mate and PM the bloke.
not really teh sort of thing people will want to be seeing these days.
just a friendly pointer i had a similar thign remved once.

[KiwiBacon]

I use Solidworks 3D at work. Quite easy to use. Would recommend to a beginner

Same here.

The fun with solidworks is that it never ends. I've been using it on and off for 8 years, almost full time for 3 years and I'm still learning.
Amen for the home license that comes with the office license.

There's a freeware CAD program called Alibre (or something like that) which is supposedly a basic knockoff of solidworks.

2D sucks.

[Slayer]

come to think of it i think i have version 8 around here some place on CD... along with a licence.. for the right price, i could probly do some burning...

what sort of price...???

i duno, whats it worth, i dont wanna go to jail lol.. i paid nothing for it, got it through school.. Pm me..

[Wooders]

Thinking of getting AutoCAD (since as someone said about it;s pretty much industry standard) - but where's the best (ie cheapest) place to get it???

[YankeeDave]

audocad WAS the industry standard. For automotive anyway. People are now waking up to 3D packages. AutoCad is still great for design, and it's simple to use/learn. But if you're going to start off i'd get somethign like solid edge or solid works.

getting a copy is another story. good luck

[RO8M]

I'd agree with Yankee Dave... As long as the drawings you're creating are readable by your shop, then whatever you use should be fine, and industry standard is meaningless. Unless of course you intend to share information with other design houses (for want of a better term), in which case is is simpler when you can send them something, they change a couple of things, send it back, etc. You can still share solid models by exporting, or 2d-out as dxf etc.

If your shop only reads printed (hard copy) then no worries; if your shop wants soft copies, then get a pdf writer (can find free ones no worries at all) and hey presto. They can't add to your drawings, and can't measure stuff that you don't want measured. (Means you gotta dimension what they'll need tho...)

I have no experience in any other package than Acad for 2D and a little 3d, and primarily use Inventor for 3D. Now because i use Inventor ALL day, every day, i reckon it's tops and easy, easy to learn also, but at the same time you're looking at 12hundred or so for the nearly released 2008. PM for other options...

[rojak]

AutoCAD or MicroStation although there is much more info such as tutorials available on the net for AutoCAD.

The interface is very similar on many of these packages.

[KiwiBacon]

If you get solidworks 2007 then it comes FREE with a program called DWG-Editor.

DWG Editor does everything autocad does.