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AUTOCAD yes or not?

Morghy

Morghy

Joined
Feb 1, 2024
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238
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Santimbù (Bergamo - Italia)
I'm considering purchasing the Autocad license. However, I wonder whether or not it is technically superior to other programs. I don't make it a question of costs, but of completeness.
 
AC is supposedly the master of CAD programs, but I think the program you choose depends on what you want to do with it. I have been using Turbo Cad for years as it fit my budget and thankfully has done everything I have needed. All the plans for the Euryalus books were done with Turbocad as one example. There are others as well and I hope other members will give info on their own experience.
Allan
 
I think it depends on what your planning on doing. If your doing serious CAD work I guess AC is the top of the heap. If your needs are a little more relaxed, then there are many inexpensive and free programs that will probably do everything you need.
 
you did not provide enough information to make a comment on

there are a lot of free CAD software that would work
 
Personally, I would first try AutoCad's Fusion 360 on a free licence. I have no idea what package is the best. I suspect there isn't a simple answer, all of them will be strong in some areas and weak in others, and some of it will also come down to personal preference. A friend who designs for a living uses several different products, depending on what he's making.
 
I’ve been using AutoCAD for about 35 years. It is certainly the professional’s choice but at about $2,000/yr for a single seat license it’s a little expensive for hobby use (IMO) Money aside, the learning curve To get proficient with AC is very steep. It is not very intuitive as there about dozen different ways to draw a simple line. Since you are questioning the “completeness” of AutoCAD vs other software, let me say that I believe every other CAD software used by professionals (and I’ve used many over the years) cannot come close to the completeness of theAutoCAD suite. There are modules available for every industry be it mechanical, electrical, civil engineering, surveyors, BIM, etc. However, I don’t believe there is a wooden ship modeling module. :rolleyes:

As others have said you may be happier with something simpler to start like Fusion 360.
 
One important factor not mentioned in any of the above is the difference between AutoCAD and AutoCAD lt. The 'lite' version licence is a few hundred pounds a year, and is a very powerful tool. The full version is much more expensive, with the main difference being that the full one will work in 3D, the lite is only 2D.

I do architectural work with the lite version, and it is a very capable and versatile draughting tool; if you plan to work in 2D.

Ratty
 
Autocad is a 2d software, it has some 3d capabilities but they are exttemely limited. It is outdated and of no use if you which to do some 3d printing. You would be better of with a 3d modeling program such as Inventor, Fusion, Solidworks...
I personnaly have been using Inventor professionally for at least 15 years. It is very powerful. I haven't used Fusion but hear good things about it and is free. It all depends on your needs but if you are to start using a cad software, might as well go the 3d route from the start.
 
+1 for Fusion 360 rather than AutoCad. They are both made by the same company, Autodesk. Fusion 360 is much more 3D-friendly. And it comes with a free license for hobbyists for a time.

Inventor and Solidworks are also excellent for 3D modeling.

All of these programs have loads of free tutorials available in Youtube to help you get started if needed.
 
SketchUp is another one. A desktop (laptop) version is $350 / year. Because ship models involve compound curves there's a significant learning curve no matter which software you choose. SketchUp encourages people to post their models to the SketchUp "warehouse" where other users can download them.
 
OlivierF said:
I’ve been using AutoCAD for about 35 years. It is certainly the professional’s choice but at about $2,000/yr for a single seat license it’s a little expensive for hobby use (IMO) Money aside, the learning curve To get proficient with AC is very steep. It is not very intuitive as there about dozen different ways to draw a simple line. Since you are questioning the “completeness” of AutoCAD vs other software, let me say that I believe every other CAD software used by professionals (and I’ve used many over the years) cannot come close to the completeness of theAutoCAD suite. There are modules available for every industry be it mechanical, electrical, civil engineering, surveyors, BIM, etc. However, I don’t believe there is a wooden ship modeling module. :rolleyes:

As others have said you may be happier with something simpler to start like Fusion 360.
Click to expand...
Very good points. I started out on AutoCAD 1.14 w/ADE, and if you've been using the program you know what I'm referring to... a typewritten 100 page user manual and having to make decisions about when to change your view due to the refresh time required when you did so. Even the addition of a math copro chip didn't hugely improve the situation. lol But it's evolved hugely since then, and since I use CAD now for personal use and not business, I too couldn't and wouldn't be able to justify the price tag it now comes with. They used to have a lighter app called QuickCAD, which retailed for around a hundred bucks. I still have a version of that and I've been able to make it run on a Windows 10 Pro desktop. That too might be an option for the OP if he can source a used copy via eBay or the like. When I think of the big CAD players, Intergraph and their MicroStation product line also come to mind But similar to AutoDesk and their AutoCAD series, its complex and hugely expensive. If the OP is looking for something to generate basic 2D drawings with, there are lots of lesser expensive and far simpler applications available.
 
Just a thought on Autocad. I got started about 10 years ago. I signed up at my Community College for the class as a senior citizen (auditor status no credit). Paid $90 for the class and got student version of Autocad for 3 years for free. The actual course was most helpful in learning navigation and tools in Autocad. Took the second course 3 years later and got another 3 years. I use Autocad alot. Especially to design 3d .stl files for 3d printing. The student version for my purpose was more than adequate. As far as I can tell it's only difference it prints "Student Version" in the magin of printed documents. I've since timed out of those and access Autocad through a purchased version.
 
I have to admit to being a "Philistine" when it comes to drawing! I learnt drawing some 66 years ago at school.
A good old A0 size drawing board is my method, and it works well for me when I an designing all manner of items.
Ship building wise I am using ir for drawing the modifications for a Mary Rose kit to buld the orginal version with the full Forecastle and Summercastle.
I have no need of 3D for modelling, just the usual projections are sufficient for superstructurres.

I also use the ame methods ie. pencil on paper, for my other models of railway diesel locomotives in 7.25 ich gauge, 1/8th full size(see picture left).
Currently I am drawing the structures and components for a rfull size eplica of the first mainline diesel locomotive in the UK. LMS 10000 which is now under construction. It will be around 64ft/ 18 metre over the buffer/drag beams and weigh around 120 tons.
As for model ships I have built HMS Endeavour from the Jotika Kit as part of my recovery from major surgery some 20 years ago.

RIAT 014.jpg10000-2.jpg
 
Good morning. There is the possibility of a free download on the AUTODESK website. You have several tutorials online on how to do it. And it is renewable annually if you meet the requirements.
 
Dassault systems Draftsight is an autocad mirror and at $120 per year is affordable. Most 3d modelling packages are cost prohibitive. I have used a lot of them in my professional career but they are now just too expensive.
 
Virtually any 3D software can do the job.. a couple of years back my compadres in another fora attacked this exact question and we settled on two choices...

The Best being Rhino7 hands down... It's fairly easy to use, (but does have a learning curve) and is what is professionally used in the marine industry to create ships...

The Second best, Solidworks, it is easier to learn than Rhino much more stable than anything autocad...

Don't get me wrong Autocad and all it's derivatives has their uses, There is also all the Autodesk bought up software like Maya, 3DS Max, and several others...

NONE of them handle marine drawing like Rhino... You want to invest in ship hull modeling software that's the one to get you will never regret it...
 
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