Use of AutoCAD vs other Cad software in Industry

How prevalent is the use of AutoCAD vs other CAD software such as Inventory, Solidworks and the like?

Thanks in advance!

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Matt

Matt,

I have been using AutoCAD since 1995. I have worked at three different places and at each place it was the most commonly used software. I worked at a small job shop, a big corporation and now at a build shop.

I have heard that other companies don't use AutoCAD so much anymore but I have not experienced that. GM, Ford and Chrysler all still accept AutoCAD drawings from suppliers.

Good to know, thank you!

Any suggestions regarding getting the most out of the software when it comes to learning how to use it? Learning the differences between how things are done in the classroom vs methods used in industry?

AutoCAD is the most popular CAD program in the world.

How prevalent is the use of AutoCAD vs other CAD software such as Inventory, Solidworks and the like?

 

Thanks in advance!

 

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Matt

AutoCAD is, to plainly say,the Root of it all. basically to better understand those other softwares you've mentioned, you must have at least gone thru AutoCAD first for you to be able to grasp its use.

Experience is the best way to learn the difference in classroom methods and actual work. classroom will only teach the basics, actual work will evolve

I don't know about the difference between the classroom and the workplace. I have only used it at the workplace. My experience has shown though that people fresh out of college usually have no problem using the software. Their problems generally lie in understanding basic dimensioning and projection.

The best practices on the drawing board are still the best practices in CAD. So you could pick up a 50 year old book and know everything you need to know about drawing.

most people learn and master autocad...and pick other programs along the way....Autocad is the industry standard

And Microstation is just pants.

AutoCAD is indeed #1 in the world.

I do know a few machine shop that use Bobcad but, have never tried the program.

Bobcad, hear tell, is excellent for machine shop CNC work.

I believe the reason AutoCAD surpassed other earlier and more powerful programs is due primarily to cost. Although many of us still complain today about how expense AutoCAD is, "back in the day" some of the major CAD programs could cost well over $100,000. AutoCAD was significantly cheaper and it was designed to run on a desktop PC not a mainframe. And thus, CAD history was made.

AutoCAD is clearly the standard in most industries. I've been working in design since we used mechanical pencils and a piece of sandpaper to sharpen the leads. The electric eraser was a real luxury at one time... And in those many years now I've seen that AutoCAD is what most people gravitate to. There are other alternatives, like Intelli-CAD and TurboCAD to mention a few that costs only a few $100. There are even a few Open Source programs that are free. But when you really want to be taken seriously in the business world, you will probably turn to AutoCAD as this is what the mainstream uses. To exchange drawings with a client who is paying you a million bucks to run a project for them, it's unlikely you will want to be using anything other than what they are familiar with.

Thank you for the wonderful responses.

I suppose I was a bit curious as to why I continually see "experience with Solidworks/Inventor" over "experience with AutoCAD" in job ads on monster/craigslist/etc.

Thank you for the wonderful responses.

 

I suppose I was a bit curious as to why I continually see "experience with Solidworks/Inventor" over "experience with AutoCAD" in job ads on monster/craigslist/etc.

Well, AutoCAD and SolidWorks are for 2 completely different tasks in my mind. Vanilla AutoCAD cannot do what SolidWorks can do. Sure you can still design machine parts in AutoCAD like SolidWorks but SW is tailored for that task. Inventor is the AutoDesk answer to SolidWorks.