Autocad vs. Solidworks?

Question

I'm going to be getting into engineering and I would like to explore design programs as it is something essential to the field. What is advised of me to learn? Would it be more prudent to start off w/ cad? What do engineers use most, specifically mechanical and automotive engineers? thanks

Answer 1

i would imagin that auto cad is a more widely used program. they have many different products from auto desk. I can use auto cad and auto desk inventer. auto desk inventer is better suited twards 3D drawings.

Answer 2

Autocad Vs Solidworks

Answer 3

Let's get some things clarified first; are you are asking about CAD or CADD? CAD is merely electronic drafting and autoCAD is probably the most popular. CADD is designing, here is where autoCAD falls short. Solidworks and similar software is true 3D parametric design. I use both autoCAD 2004 and solidworks 2007 in the course of my job (machine design) and I only use AC for equipment layouts. I use SW design/model components and assemblies. SW 2D drawings convert readily to several 2D formats including .dwg & .dwf (AC); while the 3D models also convert to several different formats like .stp & .igs files. My advise to you is to do as I did learn both a 2D & 3D software. As a side note solidworks is NOT very popular in automotive design.

Answer 4

Many automotive mechanical drawings are done in Pro-E, but AutoCAD is probably the most commonly-found CAD package in U.S. industries. Most European electrical drawings that I've dealt with were done in E-Plan, which is a .dxf format that usually imports without incident into AutoCAD. If I were going to learn only one CAD package, it would be AutoCAD, but you'll learn 100 times more about it using it in real life than you will in most classes.

Answer 5

i exploit the two on a daily basis. Solidworks is speedy for 3-D layout, yet autocad is a lot extra ideal at making 2d production drawings. So I layout in Solidworks then make keep drawings with the aid of exporting geometry over to autocad. So i might say choose for the Solidworks in case you could, via fact which you could continually use their awful 2d interface to make 2d production drawings...you will only could combat with it extra it to get it to look spectacular.

Answer 6

I would go with auto cad