found a free CAD program! [CAD Discussion]

Pretty sure I have read a few people that wanted some sort of CAD, and I have found one that is just like autoCAD.

http://www.doublecad.com/

if this thing cant go 3d I will be upset.

It better be user error.

f this. I just found out I can get a free 12 month version of all AutoDesk software as long as I am a student. haha

now the question, which program would I be best served getting used to (future ME student)? Mechanical? SketchBook?

Revit Architecture
Revit Structure
Autodesk Robot Structural Analysis Professional
Revit MEP
Autodesk Navisworks Manage
Autodesk Ecotect
Green Building Studio (web based service)
AutoCAD (vanilla)
AutoCAD Architecture
AutoCAD Civil 3D
AutoCAD Electrical
AutoCAD Inventor Professional
AutoCAD Map 3D
AutoCAD Mechanical
AutoCAD MEP
AutoCAD Raster Design
Autodesk 3ds Max (30-day trial only)
Autodesk Alias Automotive
Autodesk Impression
Autodesk Maya (30-day trial only)
Autodesk MotionBuilder
Autodesk Mudbox (30-day trial only)
Autodesk Showcase
Autodesk SketchBook Pro
Autodesk VIZ

Uhm, none…

AutoCAD is used primiarly for HVAC/Building layouts now a days.

If you want to learn something that will be useful in a normal ME enviornment go download Solidworks or Pro/E off of a Torrent.

I really need to start using torrents…
SW is good once you know how to use it…
And I only use about 0.01% of the functionality.

A lot of engineering guys here are strictly 2D autocad users.

word to torrents, ill look into SW in a bit after I relearn cad…

I just bought some books off of half.com about autoCad and photoshop, time to learn over break…

ya know, its weird how I can stay up till 4am doing CAD and/or photoshop with out being tired. hopefully this means I am finally heading in the right direction with my education.

Actually Autodesk Inventor is just as much a standard in the ME environment as Solidworks or Pro/E.

In the markets I’ve been in (Aerospace and Medical; I can’t speak for others) everythings SW, Pro, or Catia. AutoCAD is mainly used for Legacy products that were designed in it before 3D was mainstream.

I’ve never seen/heard of Inventor in industry (Except for Newmans company!!!).

I’ll chime in and say maybe ~%80 of the industry still uses 2D cad for a couple reasons. 1) Old guys don’t want to learn / change. 2) It isn’t worth changing the system to go all 3D.

It is great to know both though. I know Inventor, Pro/E, and CAD well, I can dabble in Solid Works but to use it daily I’d need a week or so.

Our largest customer Joy Mining Machinery uses Inventor to design their assemblies.
http://www.joy.com/

And our second largest customer Bucyrus International uses Pro/E and Inventor.
http://www.bucyrus.com/

And our third largest customer Komatsu uses Unigraphics
http://www.komatsu.com/

what he said ^

3D in autocad isn’t exactly the most popular thing in the world

unigraphics and solidworks are two programs i remember being popular for 3D

When you have dreams in autocad…

Revit makes me hottttttt

Hey, like I said… “I don’t know about other industries”.

travisn - I remember those days in college where I could just jam out to music and do CAD and not even know what time it was or how long I’d been doing it… to this day that’s how I end up doing it whenever I do design work (which is very rare anymore).

Time certainly does fly when you are trying to figure out how to mate things in 3D…

so what you are saying is that autoCAD is out?

I have gathered on a quick google search that autocad is mainly for 2d drawings and revit/sw is for 3d modeling? and revit is for architectural while sw is for product design?

I know 3d modeling is possible with CAD because I made a 3d model of a 240sx back in highschool (extrude was my friend)… too bad I dont have that file anymore. lol

Should I download structure or inventor or figure out how to torrent Solid works?

I would really rather not torrent a program if there is not that much of a difference between the characteristics of the program that I’ll be able to teach myself in the next year or so. I mean if one is totally preferred over the other and will definitely be taught/used in my near future then Ill go with it, but if they are marginally different I dont see the point. All I am trying to do is draw things in 3d; be it a shifter for my s10 or a random household object. Nothing crazy.

:grouphug:

I think you can come to the conclusion that the companies out there use many different cad programs. So its hard to pick one unless you know the company you will work for. I’d say find out what software the school you plan to attend uses and learn that.

It depends on the company.
Where I used to work, One guy was interested in learning SW.

Everything else was basic part and assembly drawings in 2D with AutoCAD.

Where I am now, the drawing package of choice in R&D is whatever you want to use.
We have guys that use, Inventor, SW, Autocad, Autosketch, Viseo and who knows what else.

That being said, you have to at least know how to do the basics in 2D.
In the beginning, I was convinced 2D was easier than 3D, but now I can make 305 2D drawings from one 3D model.

good idea… anyone know what RIT pushes onto its students?

How does the company justify purchasing licenses for all those products? Do you have any continuity issues because of different programs being used?