How viable is AutoCAD LT?

[pekhaqun13]

Hi all,

I just started an internship at a manufacturing plant and I’m trying to create a 2D sketch of one of the machines. I’m used to solidworks from school, and what I would normally do is go through is create a rough sketch and then go through and start creating relations (parallel, Colinear,etc) and dimensions to really flesh the sketch out.

From my understanding I can’t do this using LT? I use the dimensioning tool to try to fix my lines and it seems to have no effect. It’s also my understanding that I can’t add relations or ‘Geometric constraints’.

I’m really struggling to make a basic drawing right now — I miss my solidworks.

I can probably get the full autocad software, I just want to confirm before I go asking for something I don’t need.

[handjonathan]

Hi @pekhaqun13 

Thanks a lot for posting your question to the forums! 

AutoCAD LT does have parametric drawing and constraints but is limited in some areas. More info here - https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad-lt/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2021/ENU/Au...

[pendean]

@pekhaqun13 If you have Solidworks Experience, and wish to at least replicate the feature set more closely, you'll want to use Inventor software if subscribing to SolidWorks is out of the question https://www.autodesk.com/products/inventor/free-trial

If you need parametric drawing/constraints (aka "... I use the dimensioning tool to try to fix my lines...") and really want to stick with the AutoCAD software for some reason, you'll want to use AutoCAD MECHANICAL for sure (free with a subscription to AutoCAD) over just plain AutoCAD. Grab it as a trial and find out more for yourself with your own files and experiences https://www.autodesk.com/products/autocad/included-toolsets/autocad-mechanical

HTH

[pekhaqun13]

Hi all,

I just started an internship at a manufacturing plant and I’m trying to create a 2D sketch of one of the machines. I’m used to solidworks from school, and what I would normVidMate  ally do is go through is create a rough sketch and then go through and start creating relations (parallel, Colinear,etc) and dimensions to really flesh the sketch out.

From my understanding I can’t do this using LT? I use the dimensioning tool to try to fix my lines and it seems to have no effect. It’s also my understanding that I can’t add relations or ‘Geometric constraints’.

I’m really struggling to make a basic drawing right now — I miss my solidworks.

I can probably get the full autocad software, I just want to confirm before I go asking for something I don’t need.