If you are thinking about starting to learn AutoCAD, you are in the right article. This article will explain to you about the definition, function, advantages and limitations of AutoCAD.
Okay, let’s start from the first one.
A. What is AutoCAD ?
AutoCAD is a CAD (Computer Aided Design) application that created and developed by the multinational company, Autodesk.inc.
The function of AutoCAD is to help engineers to create a product design faster and more precision.
With AutoCAD, engineers no longer need to create drawings manually on physical paper using pencils and rulers. AutoCAD provides all the tools to create design drawings.
However, AutoCAD is just an application that provides tools. For example, if we need a line, AutoCAD provides the LINE command to create it. And if we are going to create a circle, AutoCAD provides the CIRCLE command to create it.
For line weight, line type, and several other settings, we still have to determine them manually.
As we know, there are many rules in engineering drawings. Different line type will have different meanings. So, to be able to create engineering design drawings using AutoCAD, we still need to learn the rules of engineering drawings.
B. Advantages of AutoCAD
As a popular design application, AutoCAD certainly has many advantages. Here are some of the advantages of AutoCAD:
1. AutoCAD can be used to create 2D and 3D designs.
The first advantage of AutoCAD is that it can be used to create 2D and 3D designs.
For 2D designs, AutoCAD is no longer in doubt. AutoCAD probably does the best among other design applications.
For 3D designs, AutoCAD features can be said to be limited but it is not a problem for simple 3D product designs.
If we create a design in 3D, we can project it into a 2D image for various views easily using the “View > Base” feature.
2. AutoCAD is used in almost all fields related to engineering drawings.
The second advantage is that AutoCAD is commonly used in almost all fields related to technical drawings.
In the manufacturing sector, AutoCAD can be used to create designs for production machine components, vehicle engine components, etc. Then, in the civil engineering sector, AutoCAD is generally used to create building designs.
In addition, AutoCAD is also widely used to create other designs such as interior designs, etc.
3. The rendering result is very good
One of the advantages of AutoCAD that I really like is that it can be used to render 3D designs with very good results.
You can see an example of the rendering results in the image below:
The image above is an example of a 3D block bearing rendering result from AutoCAD. It almost looks like a real block bearing, right?
To render like that, the method is quite easy, because AutoCAD provides many colors and material motifs for rendering purposes, such as wood, stone, metal, etc.
4. Good precision
The next advantage is that AutoCAD can be used to create very precise designs.
We can use AutoCAD to create designs with dimensional precision up to 8 digits behind the decimal point.
This capability is sufficient to create designs with high precision. Even for automotive engine components, the precision is only 3 digits behind the decimal point.
5. Very wide workspace
AutoCAD has a very wide workspace. If we zoom in the AutoCAD workspace it seems like it will never end. With that workspace we can certainly create designs ranging from small to very large without any problems.
We can design small automotive components, office buildings and even city layout designs in the AutoCAD workspace.
6. Many companies have used AutoCAD
The next advantage of AutoCAD is that many companies have used it.. Sometimes AutoCAD is even a mandatory requirement for job applicants for certain fields.
So if we are able to use AutoCAD, it will be a big plus.
C. Limitations of AutoCAD
After telling you some advantages of AutoCAD, now I will tell you some of its limitations.
Yes, this isn’t a flaw. It’s an intentional feature limitation. More advanced features like simulation can be found in another Autodesk application, Inventor.
Some of these limitations are :
1. Unable to create design simulation
AutoCAD is a CAD application, not a CAM application, so we cannot use AutoCAD to make a design simulation.
If we want to create a design simulation, Autodesk has provided another application, namely Inventor.
2. Not have a Design Tree
Some engineering design applications have a design tree that displays the history of the features we use.
From the design tree we can edit past features without having to press the undo button.
If we edit a past feature, the features after it will also change. If it is not possible then an error will occur.
This design tree is very helpful for us in creating a design. But unfortunately AutoCAD does not have it yet.
3. No Smart Dimension
AutoCAD does not have a Smart Dimension feature, so the dimension feature in AutoCAD is not smart. 😀
In some other design applications that have smart dimensions, when we change a dimension value, the object’s actual dimensions also change automatically. This is not the case in AutoCAD.
Meanwhile in the AutoCAD, if we edit the numbers on a dimension line, only the numbers will change, while the object remains the same.
For example, if we want to extend a line, we cannot edit the dimension value only. We need to run the extend command or pull the endpoint of the line using the cursor.
Leave a Reply