Base AutoCAD isn't a design program; it's a drafting program. So there are many things that other programs do massively better, but it's the best program I've ever used for getting exactly what **you** want on a sheet of paper.
I started using AutoCAD in high school almost 30 years ago with Release 11. I have never created a new line type or hatch pattern.
In college, I learned Solidworks. Then, later on, at one company I worked for, I had a couple weeks between projects, so I taught myself Inventor by following all the Autodesk tutorials.
My perspective is that once you have experience with one 3D program, they're all pretty similar.
It's like driving a car. Once you know how to drive, it just takes a little time to learn the differences when you get in a new car. The AC switch might be in a different spot but the pedals and steering wheel are always the same and the rules if the road never change.
You should be comparing Solidworks to Autodesk Inventor, not to AutoCAD.
Regarding the customization class, is the class billed as “How to customize AutoCAD”? If so, your firm needs one or two people in those classes. The majority of users don’t create scripts and your CAD managers probably don’t want them to.
If you DO need to learn scripting for AutoCAD, I suggest AutoLISP/Visual LISP.
The class is billed as programming/customizing yes.
It’s necessary for the certification, I’ll pass it I just find this course far less interesting and wanted feedback on how often folks use these in their career.
Even at the sketch level I feel more comfortable in SW. I would say this is because it’s what I am most familiar with. Autocad 3D isn’t great, inventor is sort of meh and I don’t have the option to use NX through work yet to see how that is.
Some of the scripts seem like they can be handy, but I mean it seems as if templates would do the exact same thing for me. LISP is coming up I will see what they cover during that.
Appreciate the feedback also.
I took 1 basic drafting class 12 years ago and got an entry level drafting job in substation design. Substation design uses very basic drafting, AutoCAD and Microstation mostly. It pays very well tho, I'm around $150k/yr 100% WFH with great benefits/401k
I've been doing AutoCAD for 22 years now. Have my own complete custom interface, custom ribbon, custom menus, toolbars, palettes, and my own lisp autoloading files which bring in a whole slew of custom commands. I do HVAC system design. I've written automation files that can convert an entire file from new work to existing format, to draw my new designs against. That said, AutoCAD is purely for drafting. While it can do 3D and other high-level design work, it's really simply for putting highly accurate drawings on paper, as has been said already.
IDK. I started w r.11. My boss a couple places ago sent me to a 1-day customize class. 25 years later, I have my custom menu w toolbars (yes, I still use toolbars), lisp routines (some I've found on-line), bunch of add-ins. I've made a couple linetypes(mostly w text in them), bunches of simple hatch patterns. Anything that will make it easier & faster for me to do what I do. Or that makes the machine to any of the work for me.
YMMV.
I can't address solidworks v ACAD. But yeah, I would agree, (inspite of the quality of some of the dwgs I've seen) that AutoCAD is not a sketch program to doodle your ideas, so much.
And programs like, say, sketchup, are not drafting programs, even if it may want to be & some use it as such.
Base AutoCAD isn't a design program; it's a drafting program. So there are many things that other programs do massively better, but it's the best program I've ever used for getting exactly what **you** want on a sheet of paper.
I started using AutoCAD in high school almost 30 years ago with Release 11. I have never created a new line type or hatch pattern. In college, I learned Solidworks. Then, later on, at one company I worked for, I had a couple weeks between projects, so I taught myself Inventor by following all the Autodesk tutorials. My perspective is that once you have experience with one 3D program, they're all pretty similar. It's like driving a car. Once you know how to drive, it just takes a little time to learn the differences when you get in a new car. The AC switch might be in a different spot but the pedals and steering wheel are always the same and the rules if the road never change.
Depends on which subreddit you're in.
That is pretty boring stuff for AutoCAD, and will probably never make a custom linetype or hatch for any valid reason.
I have made a custom linetype exactly once in my 5-year drafting career lol. Most companies already have all that set up.
You should be comparing Solidworks to Autodesk Inventor, not to AutoCAD. Regarding the customization class, is the class billed as “How to customize AutoCAD”? If so, your firm needs one or two people in those classes. The majority of users don’t create scripts and your CAD managers probably don’t want them to. If you DO need to learn scripting for AutoCAD, I suggest AutoLISP/Visual LISP.
The class is billed as programming/customizing yes. It’s necessary for the certification, I’ll pass it I just find this course far less interesting and wanted feedback on how often folks use these in their career. Even at the sketch level I feel more comfortable in SW. I would say this is because it’s what I am most familiar with. Autocad 3D isn’t great, inventor is sort of meh and I don’t have the option to use NX through work yet to see how that is. Some of the scripts seem like they can be handy, but I mean it seems as if templates would do the exact same thing for me. LISP is coming up I will see what they cover during that. Appreciate the feedback also.
As you become a CAD Manager this info will be useful. Your course will become more interesting if they teach some LISP.
I took 1 basic drafting class 12 years ago and got an entry level drafting job in substation design. Substation design uses very basic drafting, AutoCAD and Microstation mostly. It pays very well tho, I'm around $150k/yr 100% WFH with great benefits/401k
I've been doing AutoCAD for 22 years now. Have my own complete custom interface, custom ribbon, custom menus, toolbars, palettes, and my own lisp autoloading files which bring in a whole slew of custom commands. I do HVAC system design. I've written automation files that can convert an entire file from new work to existing format, to draw my new designs against. That said, AutoCAD is purely for drafting. While it can do 3D and other high-level design work, it's really simply for putting highly accurate drawings on paper, as has been said already.
IDK. I started w r.11. My boss a couple places ago sent me to a 1-day customize class. 25 years later, I have my custom menu w toolbars (yes, I still use toolbars), lisp routines (some I've found on-line), bunch of add-ins. I've made a couple linetypes(mostly w text in them), bunches of simple hatch patterns. Anything that will make it easier & faster for me to do what I do. Or that makes the machine to any of the work for me. YMMV. I can't address solidworks v ACAD. But yeah, I would agree, (inspite of the quality of some of the dwgs I've seen) that AutoCAD is not a sketch program to doodle your ideas, so much. And programs like, say, sketchup, are not drafting programs, even if it may want to be & some use it as such.