What is the easiest CAD program to learn?

[BaDaBooM]

I'm looking for a CAD program that you can input full measurements for objects and everything but one that I can figure out on my own. Anybody had any experience with this?

 

[Murpheeee]

AutoCAD LT

 

[Viper GTS]

AutoCAD LT = No 3D



Viper GTS <-- Would love to have AutoCAD, but wants 3D.

 

[BaDaBooM]

Yea, I need something 3d... Did I understand right that AutoCAD LT only does 2D?

 

[hpkeeper]

I found autocad 12 fairly easy to learn.

 

[Murpheeee]

<< AutoCAD LT = No 3D >>



Right....but most users do not even use 3D

LT sell at $600....regular AutoCAD is over $3000

I can live without 3D to save so much money

 

[BaDaBooM]

So from what I gather AutoCAD would be easy to learn if I need 3D? Price isn't a big deal, though if there is a cheaper one that does 3D and is easy to learn also, then I'm all ears.

 

[Murpheeee]

I would not exactly say that AutoCAD was easy to learn...especially working in 3D

If you are drawing buildings, you can get an add-in program called Architectural Desktop which lets you draw fairly easily in 3D. They have a lot of pre-drawn symbols, you just drop them in. They are already drawn in 3D.....but now we are talking BIG money

 

[Hecubus2000]

Try AutoCad R14 or 2000. Both are very easy to learn and have good tutorial walkthroughs, but 3D takes a little bit more time to learn.

 

[Mday]

for 3d, solidworks is a no brainer. expensive as hell.

the 2d mode is not bad, but it needs work.

cadkey is not bad either.

--

only 2 programs i really know how to use.

 

[Bozo Galora]

SolidWorks 2001 is the one I am the most comfortable with. I was just recently told the price had almost doubled from its original $3995
SolidEdge ver 9.0 is very similar in feel and use to SolidWorks
IronCad 4.0 can make models in one fifth the time of other modelers, and many of its features have been stolen by the big names. All your shapes already made for selection, just resize and shape on the fly.
Also around $3500. They have a very good 4 CD/2 Book tutorial series for $200/$99 student.
Inventor 4.0 ($4995 from AutoDesk, just like Autocad)is a very clean powerful modeler that now replaces Mechanical Desktop (ver 5.0 the last) and probably AutoCad too, but the latter still has momentum just by its name recognition. AutoCad is up to ver 2002. AutoCad and its endless cascading windows is a dinosaur, and the last one i would recommend for a newbie. AutoCad only has residual value for its extensive drawing mode options (prints). Even venerable MasterCam has abandoned cascading menu bars in ver 9.0.
If you want to learn something to make good money at, you need to learn ProEngineer 2001 (ProE), or Catia 6.0 which the big aerospace and auto makers use. But here you go from $20,000 - $80,000. ProE is available online CBT from PTC.
Ashlar Vellum and Bently MicroStation are good but obscure.
CAD/CAD-CAM is progressing very fast thanks to corresponding increases in computing power. A one year old program is &quot;old&quot;.