Subject: Send me your CAD reviews and I'll add them to the FAQ

From: Jim McGill <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 23 Jul 1996 16:49:50 -0700

I've finally decided that I really have outgrown engineering pads and
need to buy a home CAD system. I know I've seen comments about various
products here in the past, but I couldn't find them collected in any
accessable way in the archives. I tried searching the web, but most CAD
there seems to be commercial systems and aimed at architecture. So
here's my proposal. Any of you out there that use a home CAD system
(sorry, CATIA doesn't qualify) send me your comments on the one(s) you
know and I'll consolidate your comments into a cohesive document and
send it on to the archives at U. Wyoming to be added to the FAQ. Please
include the complete system name, maker of the system, version you use,
platform, and approximate cost. If you have found things that the system
does really well or unexpected limitations, please include them.  Since
this will be used by many people for quite a while in the future, try to
be as thoughtful and complete as you can. Think about what you'd want to
know before investing hard earned $'s (or Pounds or Leva) in software
and  also remember that many readers may not have perfect command of
slang so try to be clear in your comments.

Thanks much gang

Jim McGill

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From: [email-masked] (Randolph Lee)
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 1996 10:17:33 -0400

Jim,
I use a wonderful Product aimed at Enginering users called Cadd Pro

for full details (and great links to compeeting products) see

http://www.flash.net/~cadsoft/

the Mac version has bee released and there is a Mac demo there for DL the
Wintell version is in beta and is due this fall... this is a an incredable
package for the price... 90% of a high end megabuck CAD package for under
$500.
It just flys on my Power mac 8500

here is touch of the blurb from the home page above

                     CADD Pro is a revolutionary
                     computer-aided design (CAD) system for
                     the mechanical and aerospace design
                     communities. CADD Pro provides an
                     integrated collection of curve, surface,
                     and solid modeling tools. Modeling tools
                     are based on Spatial Technology's ACIS
                     geometry engine which features the
                     precision necessary for manufacturing
                     and prototyping parts. Download our
                     PowerMac demo version and tutorial to
                     create a precise mechancial part out of
                     solids in no time!

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From: David Einhorn <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 26 Jul 1996 09:26:05 -0400

There are CAD reviews in this month's issue of Fine Woodworking, 
available at large newsstands.  It seemed nicely written, though
oriented towards those designing homes.

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From: [email-masked] (darylb)
Date: 24 Jul 1996 21:33:45 GMT

In article <[email-masked]>,

> It just flys on my Power mac 8500
snip blurb...

When you say it "flys" on a power mac is that doing 3D solids?
and if so does it do assemblies?
and if so how big/complex are your assemblies?
Does it require a floating point emulator?
What do you consider a high end megabuck package?

I'm having trouble linking to the web page!

Daryl

-- 
Clouds are high flying fogs.

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From: [email-masked] (Randolph Lee)
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 1996 19:33:24 -0400

> I'm having trouble linking to the web page!

Don't know what the problem with the web page at

might be; I link to it just fine with both netscape 2 and 3b5 gold and
cyberdog 1.0... it does use frames so you need a frames aware browser but
I don't know anyone surfing the web without one...on the mac side of the
wall anyway...

I mean that it is as fast as I need it to be on a Mac 8500/132 with 48 meg
of ram and 2 gig hard disk running system 7.5.3 and quickdraw 3D doing
solids... I give CADDPro 32 meg as its application size and I don't use
VM... I do all my design work now in the solid...   speed is allwas a
personal thing...

My models are of things like model steam engines and shop tooling I redraw
the parts of the Quorn to better understand them before I cut metal...it
has a drawing wizzard function tha outputs a 3 or 4 view drawing from the
solid that can then be dimensioned for use in the shop... it will directly
drive several SAT file compatable solid litho machines for direct solid
drawing to plastic part for prototype work (details from the Web site as I
am not involved in this)

Yes it needs floating point (but that is a part of all power PCs and I
think all Pentiums No?) as to assemblies... if you mean will it do auto
detection of part interference? not in the current version. if yo mean can
you mage the different parts and slide them arround into place to see what
something will look like... then yes I do this and assign a diferent color
to the parts to see what is going on... I have made thing with 30 -40
parts this way but it is realy not my way of working so I can not
personaly speek to it's limits in this area... the programers own the
company and are very prompt at ans. questions though...

I call anything over a grand a megabuck package... some high end stuff I
have seen goes for over 10 or 20 grand a seat.

I like it and use it... the demo version will do everything but save... if
you have acces to good preforming power mac with quick draw3D down load it
and give it try... I think thay are looking for some CAD savy beta testers
for the Wintel (dos/Win95/WinNT) version it would not hurt to toss you hat
in the ring if you use a dos machine

 I have no connection with Cadsoft other than as a customer and that I
have helped with some (unpayed) beta testing...

~R

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From: [email-masked] (Ron Ginger)
Date: Thu, 25 Jul 1996 20:29:32 LOCAL

I have tried several CAD systems- first Generic CAD which Iliked well enough 
but never got really good at it. Then AutoDESK (owner of AutoCAD) bout Generic 
out, and quite promptly put it out of business.

I fell for their 'upgrade' to AutoCAD-LT. I found it akward to use, and rather 
simplistic.

Then I found CADKEY. Ive got V7 for Windows and run it under Win95. I think 
its GREAT. easy to use. very powerfull, full 3D modeling ability. You 
design in 3D, then it renders the ortho views for you to dimension or detail.

Ive been using it a lot lately (to design a house addition) and have become 
very fast with it.

Cadkey has a nice education program. For students they sell it for under $200. 
This is not a 'cripple' version, its the full package, but the license is 
clear that its not for commercial use. You might be able to get it at a local 
college bookstore.

Cadkey was just bought out by a new company (Bay State technologies)  a couple 
weeks ago, so it remains to be seen how support and upgrades are handled. I 
hope they dont screw up a good thing like AutoDesk did.

Ron Ginger
my signature is http://www.ultranet.com/~ginger