Why does AutoCAD still exist?

[Anonymous]

I am very tired of AutoCAD as a student. AutoCAD by far is the most time consuming, annoying, stress inducing software I have ever tried to learn. The commands are backwards, you have to click in certain patters like a robot, such as if you want to copy something you would have to enter a ridiculous amount of keys and clicks to finally do something, then God forbid if you are in a command and you mess up, then you have to go through 10 different processes again. It is not user friendly to say the least.

I own Inventor, 3DS Max, Maya, Mudbox, and Revit, I would rather stare at the Sun with the most high powered telescope you could get me, it really is that bad. I honestly don't know why we have to learn this program, it was obsolete 10 years ago, there are many different 3D programs out there that you can do the same thing in, It kills me that companies still use it. If I want to build a model in AuoCAD, I would probably have to do it 4 times over compared to Inventor, why? 

The only applications I could see this being useful in would be electrical schematics and house plans, but even then there are programs that do that more quickly and easily.

Other 3D programs of what AutoCAD does in less than half the time and no stress, I can't be the only one that feels this way... I don't understand why this software is just flung at students, why companies would still use it, and why it isn't easier to use, it's way too time consuming to learn when you know there is no reason to learn it...

[AutoMarcus]

never

however we were taught this to draw mechanical parts with squares, rectangles and circles.

I caught up with another Engineer i went to Uni with 20 years ago, we were laughing over beers how we've thrown the CAD techniques taught to us at uni out the window.

It was as if the Lecturers learnt CAD from a book or someone else's notes rather than based on experience.

my point is i think the Original Poster may have been taught bad technique and /or he didn't bother to learn better CAD techniques.

[FHull]

Have to agree.

What do you want? A circle.

Where do you want it? Here

What size? R10

3 Steps.

I don't see how any other CAD program can define a circle with less.

[RobDraw]

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@AutoMarcus wrote:

we were laughing over beers how we've thrown the CAD techniques taught to us at uni out the window.

It was as if the Lecturers learnt CAD from a book or someone else's notes rather than based on experience.

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I've been supporting other users almost as long as I've been using AutoCAD and have had to adapt to many ways of doing things so that I can help other people. Laughing at other peoples' workflows is very immature and maybe a bit elitist. Just because you don't see or haven't found value in the way other people do things, doesn't mean it's not useful. The line input thing that you specifically mentioned has been a useful tool for me and others throughout the years. The wonderful thing about AutoCAD is that there are often many ways accomplish the same things. If you've thrown techniques out the window, you could be doing yourself a disservice. Until you've actually walked in their shoes, don't laugh at the way people do things. Maybe, some day, you will realize that sometimes it doesn't matter how something is done as long as it gets done.

[thellums]

I don't think making an issue of how a student is being taught to use a software package should be a thing as they are being taught. Is it your way? Probably not. Is it the best way? Mayb not. One thing I always do when I mentor a younger CAD is how to do it one way but tell them that there is other ways to do the same thing.

I tell them the one rule that is always true is that you can tell twenty people to draw a ten foot circle and you will see about ten different methods of getting it done. I let them know that how I do things is different than what they and others do. I do it my way because it is more comfortable for me to get things done. I would rather see them put a ten foot circle on a vertex of two lines than seeing a twelve-ish foot circle close to the vertex.

[AutoMarcus]

if you were to teach someone to draw a rectangle, would you use coordinates or just draw a rectangle?

I agree there are many ways to skin a cat in AutoCAD

however drawing mechanical shapes we were taught the laborious way of coordinates and distance at an angle.

[BeKirra]

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@FHull wrote:

Have to agree.

What do you want? A circle.

Where do you want it? Here

What size? R10

3 Steps.

I don't see how any other CAD program can define a circle with less.

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👍Correct.

And if only 2d drawing is required and there are not a lot of components, AutoCAD is the one of best CAD software to use. In this case it probably wastes time using 3d CAD software (i.e. Inventor) as users have to create 2d models called sketches then generate them to 3d models and finally bring 3d back to 2d drawing showing on IDW. Furthermore users create dimension set twice, one in sketches and another in IDW.

[BeKirra]

...and AutoCAD is a powerful and most customizable software (it has probably been mentioned in this thread).

Its commands are simple, straightforward. For example, you simply type "line" when you want to draw a line.

AutoCAD has provided you command shortcuts (e.g. "L" for "Line" - however you can create your own).

In addition, users can create their own commands by using AutoLisp, Net, etc.

There are also hundreds of system variables to suit your needs.

BTW I can't imagine that people would be able to handle CAD software if they haven't been educated with basic math & geometry skills, and don't complain before you have learnt properly. 😏

[Anonymous]

I studied Interieur Design in High School in the Republic of Kosova, I now study Architecture and Spatial Planning, I am also Specialising in Interieur Architecture, Colour Psycology, and Trends, and as a Complete Architectect I used AutoCad for 2 months and I completley regret that experience.

It is not for the new generation at all, becuase it is based for the computers pioners not us, it is so outdated, so time consuming, so unnessesary, but still working on 2D-(AutoCad is build mainly for this issue), it is not that bad, it needs a loot of tweaks, but there are loots of people that use it and I don't agree with taking it down.

I personally use ArchiCAD, Rhino, TwinMotion, 3DS Max, the Adobe Suite-(Mainly Photoshop, Lightroom, Animation and Premiere Pro), on that note we all have different workflow patterns, instead of taking softwares down we shoud make them interact seamlessly with each other so that we all can co-operate on our workflow to create beautiful buildings and things to progress the human civilisation.

[tholland9F5NP]

try autocad architecture after learning autocad, its basically revit within autocad.  focus on whats important to pickup in autocad like how to work parametrically and create procedural arrays for developing custom forms bim data etc., also how xrefs work on a variety of arrangements etc. so your not lost later in your career trying to pull off an advanced set of drawings. its also important to learn how such a software functions (its a crazy heirarchy of database interference with thousands of customizable settings at every level) the best part about autocad compared with other tools ive used is if you can remember the name of a command, typing the first few letters can be much faster than looking for that button. also ive never had an issue google couldnt answer because its so common...

once you get that far, you can start learning how autocad architecture does in fact setup everything automatically if you know how to utilize project browser and its features, like drawing set constructs, views, sheets, details, etc all automatically refernced and linked. it has an excellent ability to create shaded views, and renders when compared with some others. so in short its probably the most versatile kit which also allows rapid survey and concept development & phasing(renovation mode), while still allowing super customization and programming.

the best advice any of us can give you is to use a computer that is way above the recommended hardware specs. i built mine custom after being frustrated with various work stations

[basford_mark]

what are you talking about everyone makes parts from 3d models.  you model it as a parametric(it has intelligence) model then you just choose the drawings views you want.  Autocad is basically manual drafting on a computer

[RobDraw]

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@basford_mark wrote:

Autocad is basically manual drafting on a computer

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Hooey!

[thomasXUGZK]

Autocad is garbage for sure. As far as precision that is only as good as it's reliability factor... what I mean is, if you don't meticulously lock down geometry you'll get strange behavior. Constraint are not inferred like in Inventor or Solidworks.

Having used parametric modelers which are far superior I loath having to use autocad. But, I have to in order to produce P&IDs. 

I would never use autocad for anything mechanical. It is only good for floor plans and elevations.

The application is a dinosaur.. buggy, and cumbersome. Just a headache.

But, what you'll find is Autodesk/autocad disciples that will want to defend this antiquated mess.

[RobDraw]

A dinosaur that has withstood the test of time. Even your diatribe proves that the preeminent CAD software in the industry is still the right tool for the job at times.

[thomasXUGZK]

yup. AT TIMES! not generally. But, I hope you enjoy it. Some people still enjoy making fire by rubbing two sticks together... more power to 'em.

[thellums]

Autocad differentiates us from the apes. However, after seeing some people's work, I am starting to doubt that.

[RobDraw]

This thread differentiates the pros from amateurs. 

[Inventornewbie]

I agree with the original poster. The reason Autocad got so popular at first is because it wasn't software protected and any pirate could steal a copy.  However, programs like Cadkey which was a 3D CAD program from the first could blow the doors off of Autocad and probably could still do it today.  Trying to rotate a model in Autocad was completely lame in the early versions.  What the hell is 2-1/2 D!   Autocad was designed by a bunch of software people that knew nothing about how engineers design things.  It was an architectual program that they bandaided into a mechanical program. Even Cadkey was designed by engineers who made the program extremely intuitive.  To this day everytime you want to do something like import a spline in Fusion or other autodesk programs,  you have to download some stupid script file while the routine is standard in other programs.  All those dim variables were stupid as hell!

[Inventornewbie]

If Autocad was written in a way that engineers think, you wouldn't have to have all that dim variables, lisp and script crap that they make a person have to learn to make their program run like a normally well designed program. What the hell is 2-1/2D? Although, Cadkey lost favor because of a lawsuit, they were headed in a direction that would have put Autocrap out of business. Too bad student and software pirate had a pirated version of Autocad on their computer.

[thomasXUGZK]

Be careful, you'll upset the disciples. Autocrap is about right... Inventor could use a lot of improvements too.

[RobDraw]

Thanks for joining the crowd of misguided users sharing outrageous opinions based on falsehoods.