Autocad for 3D 1

[civeng80]

Ive been playing around over the last few days with autocad in 3D (autocad 2008) and have come to the conclusion that its not very efficient for 3D work. The reason I say this is because for example rendering is so tedious and there are so many different variables that autocad seeks.

Also the end result it seems to me is rather toyish.

Am I missing something ? I would lve to hear comments by 3D users who disagree and why?

Also Im toying with google sketchup for 3d work (my work is architectural mainly light commercial).

Ive been looking at Chief architect and archicad about 3D work are there any comments on this software by users?

Maybe Im just becoming a little frustrated.

 

[brandoncdg]

Does anyone else think that you can't just mess around in Autodesk software to figure out the software? Everything I know how to do fast is by learning from someone else who learned from someone who knew more. Once you get to that point you can figure out little bits and pieces here and there. But just playing around with any of this software just seems like a waste of time.

CDG, Los Angeles Civil Engineering specializing in Hillside Grading

http://www.CivilDevelopmentGroup.com

 

[trainguy]

For both design and FEA software, I've found that taking an actual course , or being mentored by someone who did, is about 40 times more productive than "figuring it out". These days though, many webinars are available, which are really useful as well.

tg

 

[francesca]

I'm entirely self-taught on all Autodesk products. I'm a certified professional in Civil 3D 2009 and I've just completed my second stint teaching "the AutoCAD class" at a Top 50 engineering school. I find Autodesk products very, very intuitive. I'm proficient in AutoCAD Map 3D and have not struggled doing simple things in Revit and Navisworks on first opening.

 

[trainguy]

Francesca,

Are you familiar with Inventor and Vault?

If yes, how close are you to Canada?

tg

 

[hemis]

Am I the only person using 3D that runs out of memory. I have a dual core, 4-gig of memory and a dedicated nVidia graphics card. I tried to build a house using solid geometry and my computer started to stall. If I have layer properties open, then the cursor would snap rather than flow, or if I drag a window, the window would leave traces. All sure signs of memory conflicts. The Task Manager's performance-monitor shows the memory usage during 3D editing to be huge and often peaks but from the discussions above, it would seem that I must be doing something wrong.

Has anyone a big 3D project that can be seen to be working? I have seen loads of little components but what about something useful like a football stadium.

 

[brandoncdg]

francesca: What do you use Civil 3D for? Can you do a single family residential grading plan and part of street on a hillside using the software?

CDG, Los Angeles Civil Engineering specializing in Hillside Grading

http://cdg-ca.com

 

[francesca]

hemis: The 2009 and 2010 products were really designed for a 64-bit operating system. You can try the "3GB switch" with WinXP, but when I tried it it was very unstable. I also had a rather urgent call to my husband (a sys admin) when my work computer wouldn't boot after I undid the 3G switch wrong.

Brandon, Civil 3D was originally built for subdivision design. It has sophisticated grading design tools. Take the 3-day course from your local Autodesk Training Center and you'll get walked through the process.

tg: no experience with Inventor, but I threw one of my students a bone one week in lab and the next week he'd downloaded it from the Autodesk student site, watched a couple videos, and drawn up a 3D water slide (his hydraulics project). I've steered well clear of Vault because even the Autodesk people say it's a PITA and to use Data Shortcuts instead if you can. I guess Vault is good for a BIM/change management set-up but I've been glad not to use it. And with regard to Canada, I'm now about to move from TN to Indiana which is as far north as this South African child of the sun is prepared to move in search of the mighty buck. But if by Canada you mean Ontario, then there's a good chance we work for the same company.

 

[brandoncdg]

I have taken classes and even went through all the tutorials. I can understand the software is made for large subdivisions, but out here in California, almost every new subdivision is pure hillside. I still only know a small handful of people that know how to use the software in this situation and they are outside of the States.

CDG, Los Angeles Civil Engineering specializing in Hillside Grading

http://cdg-ca.com

 

[francesca]

I can't see any impediment that Civil 3D would have to hillsides. The corridor modeling tool lets you vary your daylight slopes and your baselines so you could have a corridor that was broken down into segments with different daylighting slopes, or different typical sections entirely.

Check out Dana Probert's blog:

http://bimontherocks.typepad.com/

 

[cfee]

ishvaaag is absolutely correct !

AutoCAD's 3D is a great mid-level tool! In fact, there's nothing I can model with any other tool that I can't do with AutoCAD (including some HUGE assemblies), and usually far easier. Its no nurbs free-form surface tool, altho 2010 has some surface tools and ACAD-3d as far back as r-12-DOS/AME had the ability to manipulate surface points and "smooth" the results. Not really the same thing, but there HAVE been improvements, and ACAD-3D is a fine mid-level tool. As for rendering, ACAD-3D has some AMAZING render tools, materials, and lighting. I was doing chrome parts laying on red-oak tables standing on green marble surfaces with gradient skies with clouds and time-of day/long-lat sun settings back in ACAD-14 3D and things have gotten better. NOW there's push-pull (2009 I think), AND basic constraints available in 2010, altho I haven't played with them much. I abandoned quick-keys long ago, as my ability to merge the output of one command as the input to another matured, so stick with the available icon menu options, and take the time to learn them ! They work very well, and will serve you well for a long time. You'll grow from there, and develop your own style. One trick I taught my students adopting 3D was that EVERY 2-D command also works in 3D, AND if they'll learn work planes and UCS's and the right-hand rule, they already know 75% of their 3D! Now all they needed was a good book and some practice time on the weekends, and some serious commitment to mastering their craft !

Good Luck and let us know how it goes !