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Newbie to Drafting 1

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mohinderlamba

mohinderlamba

Automotive
Jun 26, 2006
15
0
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I was wondering if there is a inexpensive software tool that I can use for drafting. Autocad is too expensive. Others even more. We manufacture and sell automotive parts and need drafting off and on.
The organization just purchased Autodesk QuickCAD 8 and I tried using it but it does not seem "User friendly" maybe it is my ignorance. Is there another tool or maybe a resource which will make me more productive using this tool.
 
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I suggest doing some research and see what your suppliers, customers and vendors are using. Try to use what the majority of them use or find one you like that can import/export files all can use.
IMO, for most CAD, you get what you pay for. For automotive design, if mechanical, I suggest SolidWorks, CATIA or ProE. The basic SolidWorks will cost you a little more than ACAD.
For your business to grow and stay competitive, don't go "cheap".

Chris
Systems Analyst, I.S.
SolidWorks 06 4.1/PDMWorks 06
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 06-21-06)
 
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Chris:
While I appreciate your comments and agree with them I would like to say the following. Our use of drafting is more for documentation purposes. We have approx 3000 products but only approx 10 classes for example we have bushings that have a ID, OD and Length and Material and Hardness. There are 1000+ types of bushings with the same requirements but different dimensions. Anothe class is PINS. Length and Diameter are the only requirements A few pins might have Keyway slots and/or grease fitings.
As you can see our needs are quite simple. Most of the time we can draw the product and label the dimensions and it is sufficient. Sufficient but not professional. That is why I need a simple drafting program.
But if you still feel that I should be going the SolidWorks route then I will respect your decision as you obviously have more experience than me. I just want to make sure you know where I am coming from.
 
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I know where you are coming from, been there. :)
I don't know your process, that's why I suggest researching as mentioned above. There are cheaper CAD software. Here are just a few.
I suggest picking some and have them show you demo's.


and more on the web

Good luck.

Chris
Systems Analyst, I.S.
SolidWorks 06 4.1/PDMWorks 06
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 06-21-06)
 
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I agree with Chris to try not to "go cheap". Find out what your customers use and or what formats they can accept or give you.

However if you really need to go cheap, some of the better ones are Alibre, Rhino & IronCad.

If you want really cheap, "Alibre Express" is free and Google is now offering a free version of "SketchUp". [smile]


[cheers]
Helpful SW websites FAQ559-520
How to get answers to your SW questions FAQ559-1091
 
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With the limited types of parts you make, you probably don't need a high $ package at this time, but only something to document the variations (an electronic drawing board and spreadsheets). However, if you want to expand the scope of your business in the future, I would recommend that you find a package that deals well with part families.
One decided benefit to using CAD is taking advantage of the documentation of your product, such as part history, new releases and revisions.
 
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I think the consistent answer has been to NOT GO CHEAP.
Now that I am thinking along these lines I am concerned that "later" when i do need a professional CAD package the time spent now would have been wasted so it NOT really that cheap.
Ok, Cheap is out.
So Is QuickCAD 8 from AutoDesk one of the "Cheap" ones?
 
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One mid range 3D CAD not listed above is Solid Edge.

It's not as common in most parts of the US as Solid Works, which may be a consideration, but from what I understand is just as capable.

It's tempting to say full blown 3D CAD may be a bit over the top for what you are doing but like ewh says it may open new doors, if not so much for your company then for you.

3D cad may also better support some of your documentation needs (if you need anything more than conventional 2D drawings) as you can produce iso views easily and even rendered images with little effort. Also if it's an issue you could supply models to your customers etc.

The very brief 2D drafting course I did at university was on autosketch:


It's pretty cheap, less than $150.00 by the looks of it tho' I don't recall it being that fantastic.
 
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Not meaning to be boring but:

What ever you choose think about things like your configuration control, file naming convention, how you're going to store you files, drawing/modelling standards etc up front before you've got a bag of jumbled data.

This is even more important if you go 3D due to the links between the 3D model and the drawings.

Of course not being familiar with CAD you won't probably know most of the questions to ask but I suspect a few of the posters here may have suggestions.

My first suggestion would be to be consistent. Consistently wrong in the same way is easier to fix than wrong in all sorts of different ways.

Trust me, I'm wishing my current place had been consistently wrong right now![nosmiley]

 
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If all you are documenting is variations in size, features and materials, you probably don't need to go with any solid modeling software. However, with the entry price of Alibre being what it is (what is it?), there's no reason not to try try it.

Without any CAD package, this could be done. This could be accomplished with a simple digital photo of the parent part and an excel table for ID, OD, Flange, etc.

If you are doing more than just documenting, like sending drawings out to customers, then a simple 2D package should work well (yes, 2D still has a use), like TurboCAD.

[green]"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."[/green]
Steven K. Roberts, Technomad
Have you read faq731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?
 
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mo,
Well my young apprentice, first look at the type of market you are in and make the investment in the software. It will cause you less problems down the road. Check with other companies kind of on the QT. See what they are using for software. If the company you work for does mainstream standard parts you could start developing your own ANSI (Block or Cell) Library. Could'nt hurt. One last thing and I think it is important. Do not skimp on you equipment it is better to do it now than have to pay through the nose to have someone come fix it.
Good Luck,
MAy the Force be with you,
Regards,
Namdac
 
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I am surprised that people are recommending you go out and buy a 3D package based on the information you have given.

Where you see the company going in the future may be something different but for what you do now a 3D package would just be a waste of money IMO. Try out a few of the free demos available, a cheap (or free) 2D package will more than meet your needs.
 
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I have to agree that for what the company is doing now, a 2d package is probably sufficient. However, good points were made about looking to the future. If the company is happy where it is and plans no expansion of product line or services, then 3D may be overkill.
 
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You might do a cost study against labor intensive 2D drawings and a simple spread sheet of parametric designs

Given that your parts were similar in design.


Cheers
 
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I'm surprised that some people would still consider 2D packages! A 3D package can be used for 2D, and some cost about the same. Not many 2D packages can produce 3D. So why not go for 3D & gain experience?

[cheers]
Helpful SW websites FAQ559-520
How to get answers to your SW questions FAQ559-1091
 
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