Old vs new AutoCAD user
Old vs new AutoCAD user
(OP)
I'm Mechanical Engineer and I've used 5-6 3d modelers s/w in my career time, recently I've been tasked to create a 2d floot plan in AutoCAD. The last time I've used this program was in 1990 with DOS. I mentioned to my manager that I have'nt used the program in 20years, but her reaction was well I'm sure it hasn't changed much, but we do need this floor plan don really quick, mine you this is from a Ph'D scientis. So my question to everyone is, how difficuly will it be to relearn this program?





RE: Old vs new AutoCAD user
RE: Old vs new AutoCAD user
Surly I'll remember the advise on floor plan layouts.....
RE: Old vs new AutoCAD user
RE: Old vs new AutoCAD user
AutoCAD is more of a work horse for 2d drafting,but its 3d isn't as powerful as Inventor, and the same cna be said about Inventor great 3d and 2d abilites, but not so great for creating 2d drawings from scratch
RE: Old vs new AutoCAD user
Now here's something of a surprise for you - ACAD 3D is VERY strong. Learning how to make your assemblies in 3D and extract your Assembly and component drawings to Paperspace viewports works VERY well, and ANY really familiar workflow creates faithful followers ! I like AutoDesk Inventor better, but I can knock out a completed Assembly with all Subassemblies, Components and ALL Extracted Drawings very handily in basic AutoCAD !
Surprise number 2 ? Well, a number of AutoCAD workalikes can be had for around $500 that do a decent job on your computer at home , are stable, and the drawings load right up into your AutoCAD at work ! I like ProGeCAD, but BricsCAD is strong too ! So your options are many and varied, and a $500 copy of ProGeCAD or BricsCAD or any other of your choosing, can help you learn your WORK AutoCAD since pretty much ALL of the commands are identical !
Ok, Good Luck and let ust know how it went ?
Charley.
RE: Old vs new AutoCAD user
B+W Engineering and Design
Los Angeles Civil Engineer and Structural Engineer
http://bwengr.com | http://bwstructuralengineer.com | http://bwcivilengineer.com
RE: Old vs new AutoCAD user
RE: Old vs new AutoCAD user
If you are using 2012 or later, use the 2D set ribbon (MS has gone to a big ribbon bar and expects everyone else to do the same). My biggest tip is the Control Right Mouse click to bring up the object snaps menu so you can draw lines from the endpoint, midpoint, etc of lines.
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I have been called "A storehouse of worthless information" many times.
RE: Old vs new AutoCAD user
RE: Old vs new AutoCAD user
If you are right-handed 9and many Acad users are left handed) remember to keep your two-character shortcuts on the left-side of the keyboard so your right hand can stay on the mouse.
RE: Old vs new AutoCAD user
David Simpson, PE
MuleShoe Engineering
"Belief" is the acceptance of an hypotheses in the absence of data.
"Prejudice" is having an opinion not supported by the preponderance of the data.
"Knowledge" is only found through the accumulation and analysis of data.
RE: Old vs new AutoCAD user
It is way more powerful than 90% of our users need and I agree the on-line help is not very good. I find the search for terms gives me way too many hits. I would rather have a manual in PDF form and search through that. I took a course to try to learn the new menus, but the instructor was an old draftsman that used the 2 letter commands.
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I have been called "A storehouse of worthless information" many times.
RE: Old vs new AutoCAD user