Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Comparison of Cadd

At 07:37 AM 7/27/2001 -0700, Marcus wrote:

>Last I checked, Solidworks is not much more expensive than Autocad; and you
>have to consider that you are investing in your son's EDUCATION!!!
>
>Why hobble him with a dinosaur, when the cutting edge is available.

I agree 110%, Marcus. Autocad is nothing more than a glorified electronic
drafting board. It might be OK for simple, flat parts but for anything of
real substance it is not worth it. After using Acad for about 8 years (and
before that VersaCAD--still my favorite 2D program--and Personal Designer)
we went to Solidworks 3 years ago and have not looked back. There is no
comparison.

Designing in true solid 3D, being able to rotate the part around in
realtime, fit it to other parts, have direct output for SLA and CAM
programs (not to mention designing sheetmetal parts with accurate bend
reliefs and being able to output flat patterns) put it on a whole higher
plane of existence. And being able to do more "organic" parts--with lofted
surfaces truly fairing into flat and radisued walls--is probably the best
benefit. No more trying to estimate flat projected view of the shape we
*really* want!

And the drawing package of Solidworks has developed markedly. Automatic
view generation, importing dimensions (linked with the model both ways!)
automatically, being able to drag dimensions between views without losing
their association, projected views from any angle, full and partial
sections, pre-crosshatched... I'd rather do a part in Solidworks just to
get the drawing, than do it in Autocad from the start, even for simple
parts these days!

Best regards,

Randy

Randy Gordon-Gilmore ,----.___________ ______________ _________________
ProtoTrains // = = === == || == == == = || == == == = == =|
Rio Vista, CA, USA /-O==O------------o==o------------o==o-----------o==o-'
zephyrus@... http://www.rickadee.net/~zephyrus