Abstract :
AutoCAD is a commercial software
application for 2D and 3D computer-aided design
(CAD) and drafting —
available since 1982 as a desktop application and since 2010 as a mobile web- and
cloud-based app
marketed as AutoCAD 360.
Developed and
marketed by Autodesk, Inc.,
AutoCAD was first released in December 1982, running on microcomputers with internal
graphics controllers.
Prior to the introduction of AutoCAD, most commercial CAD programs ran on mainframe computers or minicomputers, with each
CAD operator (user) working at a separate graphics terminal.
AutoCAD is
used across a wide range of industries, by architects, project managers, engineers,
graphic designers, and other professionals. It is supported by 750 training centers
worldwide as of 1994.
As Autodesk's
flagship product, by March 1986 AutoCAD had become the most ubiquitous CAD program
worldwide. As of 2014, AutoCAD is in its twenty-ninth generation, and collectively
with all its variants, continues to be the most widely used CAD program throughout
most of the world.
History
AutoCAD was
derived from a program begun in 1977 and released in 1979 called Interact CAD, also
referred to in early Autodesk documents as MicroCAD, which was written prior to
Autodesk's (then Marinchip Software Partners) formation by Autodesk cofounder
Mike Riddle.
The first
version by the AutoDesk Company was demonstrated at the 1982 Comdex and released
that December. The 2016 release marked the 30th major release for the AutoCAD for
Windows. The 2014 release marked the fourth consecutive year for AutoCAD for Mac.
The AutoCAD
Advantage
Striker Systems
sheet metal fabrication products are available as a plug-in to AutoCAD or, for
non-AutoCAD users, as a stand-alone solution based on the AutoCAD OEM Engine. Either way, this combination provides a unique
CAD/CAM environment with features not found in many conventional manufacturing products.
Removal of Data
Translations
Striker Systems
provides a truly integrated CAD/CAM solution that supports the entire manufacturing
process from initial part design through the generation of NC programs with no
data translations required. And unlike many
manufacturing software products with limited design capability, Striker Systems
includes an advanced engineering system for the most demanding sheet metal design
requirements.
SolidWorks
/ Solid Edge / Inventor Compatibility
The industry
is rapidly embracing 3D solid modeling technology. Being based on Autodesk’s industry standard DWG
file format, Striker Systems offers a level of compatibility not found in other
manufacturing solutions. Many products, such
as Inventor and SolidWorks, support Striker’s standard DWG file format directly.
And Striker also offers direct OLE links
into SolidWorks, Inventor and Solid Edge for seamless sharing of data.
Industry Standard
Translators
Many Striker
Systems clients must accept drawings from a variety of sources. In the event it is necessary to import data from
(or export data to) another CAD software, Striker Systems relies on the same
industry standard DXF, IGES, and STEP translators that are found in AutoCAD.
Autodesk is the author of the DXF file format and therefore defines this standard.
And because AutoCAD is the
most popular CAD software in the world, it is a benchmark for the development
of translators by many other CAD software organizations. You are guaranteed the highest level of compatibility
in the industry.
Reduced Training
Time/Cost
Both the AutoCAD
based and stand-alone Striker Systems products provide an enhanced user interface
that will be immediately recognizable to individuals familiar with AutoCAD. They will readily adapt to the Striker environment
thereby minimizing the learning curve. And
for organizations that use AutoCAD as their engineering solution, it is not necessary
for employees to learn
multiple operating environments as they would with separate CAD and CAM solutions.
Rapid Product
Advancements
Unlike the developers
of stand-alone manufacturing products, the development team at Striker Systems is
not forced to continually maintain and advance an underlying graphics database. The Striker graphics database is an AutoCAD engine,
the world’s de facto standard CAD solution.
This allows
the Striker Development Team to concentrate on feature development and advance
software at a rapid pace.
The Disadvantages
of AutoCAD
Autodesk
AutoCAD is one of the most popular computer-aided design (CAD) programs, and it
creates accurate, professional drawings. However, the program falls short for computer
modeling and graphic design. The application has modeling tools, as well as
color and fill tools, but AutoCAD does not compare well to contemporary building
information modeling (BIM), three- dimensional modeling or illustration software.
Line
o AutoCAD produces drawings using line and
shape tools. Curves, arcs and straight lines produce the shapes, but AutoCAD cannot
edit the line and location as freely as illustration programs-- editing and overlapping
lines and lineweights is limited to a few options. In addition, AutoCAD creates
drawings from only lines, never volumetric models, such as with BIM. Nevertheless,
the application can produce precise three-dimensional geometry with limited material
effects.
Limited File
Formats
o Because AutoCAD is one of the leading CAD
programs, it limits the number of file formats it can import or export, because
Autodesk expects other programs to export to AutoCAD formats, such as DWG and DXF.
Unfortunately, this creates problems when using other programs with more powerful
tools and exporting the program to an AutoCAD format-- geometry, color and effects
are lost often.
Color, Fill
and Texture
o AutoCAD drawings and models can have color,
fill and texture, using the line and hatch tools. However, the application limits
the number of possible colors to 256 and the hatching provides only a handful
of textures, so you cannot create photo realistic images like illustration programs.
Instead, you can import image files and create material maps for AutoCAD renderings,
but AutoCAD's rendering abilities cannot compete with three-dimensional
modeling programs or illustration programs.
Non-Parametric
o AutoCAD provides tools to create three-dimensional
models, but editing the models requires many steps, unlike BIM parametric models,
which automatically adjust all of the model components while editing elements. Furthermore,
information is not attached to the models, such as with BIM parametric models--
BIM gives the designer data about the material and volumetric properties of the
building project.
AutoCAD Entity
Types and Descriptions
There are two
formats used by AutoCAD: DXF (drawing exchange format) files, which are large;
and ASCII representations of the binary DWG (drawing) files. Logically, both
files are identical and, therefore, the FME treats both file types in the same
manner. For AutoCAD DWF reading and writing support please see the chapter on
AutoCAD DWF.
AutoCAD files
consist of sections, as follows:
1. HEADER: This contains settings of variables associated
with the drawing.
2. CLASSES: This contains class definitions associated
with the drawing.
3. TABLES: This contains a variety of tables,
including:
o Layers: Each layer entry contains layer definition
information such as layer color, layer name, and layer linetype. The AutoCAD reader
validates the layer names and may modify them to remove invalid characters.
o Linetypes: Each linetype entry contains
the linetype definition information such as name and alignment. The AutoCAD writer
enables linetype definitions to be copied from an existing AutoCAD file, then referenced
by name during the data translation.
o Shape Files: Each shape file entry identifies
a shape file referenced by the drawing. Shape files are used by AutoCAD as a different
method for defining symbols or fonts. Note: These are similar to the TextStyles
in AutoCAD.
AutoCAD shape
files are not the same thing as Esri Shapefiles. AutoCAD shape files store symbol
and font definitions.
o Applications: Each application entry contains
the name of an application referenced within the AutoCAD file.
4. BLOCKS: These are used to define symbols and
other drawing file objects used repeatedly throughout a drawing. The AutoCAD writer
enables copying of block definitions from an existing AutoCAD file, which is then
referenced by name during a data translation operation.
5. ENTITIES: This is the main section of a drawing
file and contains the actual feature entities. Each entity contains standard information,
such as its color, layer, linestyle, and geometry, as well as a number of attributes
specific to its entity type. For example, all 2D entities have thickness, while
a text entity has fields for font, size, and the text string in addition to the
standard display attributes.
FME
supports both 2D and 3D AutoCAD entities. However, many applications only
support 2D DWG and DXF files. The 2DForcer transformer can be used to ensure that
only 2D data is written to an output DWG or DXF file.
6. OBJECTS: This section stores dictionaries
and other helper non-entity objects. Each entity
may also have associated attribution stored within an extended entity data section.
FME supports reading and writing of extended entity data.
Each entity
may also have associated attribution stored within XRecord objects in an extension
dictionary section. FME supports reading and writing XRecord data from entities.
All coordinates
within a drawing file are stored as 64-bit floating point values in world coordinates.
As such, there is no need to scale or otherwise alter coordinates as they are being
read from or written to a drawing file.
The AutoCAD
reader and writer use symbolic names for the different entity types stored within
a drawing file. This simplifies feature type specification. The following table
gives a brief description of each of the different AutoCAD entity types currently
supported by the reader and/or writer. The entities are described in detail in
subsequent sections.
What Is the
Difference Between CAD and AutoCAD?
Computer-aided
design (CAD) is the general term that applies to the use of computers in the design
of houses, office buildings, interiors and anything else that previously required
hands-on drafting. AutoCAD is a specific piece of software used by many architects
and designers for commercial design purposes. Read on to find out about the uses
of CAD and AutoCAD. Schools offering
CAD and AutoCAD
Overview
AutoCAD is software
that utilizes computer-aided design (CAD) principles in the modeling of buildings,
manufactured goods, urban infrastructure and even fashion design. If you are an
architect or designer, you might use AutoCAD software to create 2- and 3-dimensional
drafts of custom home designs or renovations. If you work as a civil engineer, you
can use AutoCAD software to design improvements in roadways and make cities and
towns more energy-efficient. Other industries and professions that employ CAD and
make use of AutoCAD software include manufacturing, automotive technology and engineering.
Types of CAD
Depending on
the type of work you perform, there are different forms of CAD that you could employ.
Drafts that are 2-dimensional are flat, while 3-dimensional and 2.5-dimensional
drawings show the depth and space of a design. You might use wireframe, surface
and solid modeling to calculate the dimensions of a design or simulate what the
inner structure of your design might look like.
AutoCAD Software
AutoCAD is
a trademarked product of Autodesk. When you use AutoCAD, you have the ability
to draft 2-D and 3-D designs and create photorealistic rendering. Because different
fields use AutoCAD in specific ways, there are several versions of the AutoCAD
application for a variety of work types, such as architecture, mapping and piping
design.
Learning AutoCAD
Software
Technical schools
or community colleges offer stand-alone courses in CAD that you can complete in
a few weeks. You can also find CAD courses as part of a certificate or degree program,
such as a fashion design or architecture program. You can enroll in courses and
programs that specifically teach the AutoCAD application, though some schools might
use other software, such as SolidWorks or TurboCAD, instead.
To continue researching, browse degree options below for course curriculum, prerequisites and financial aid information. Or, learn more about the subject by reading the related articles below:
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