What is CAD?
TSasha Smith
Posts: 27,350
in The Commons
I was wondering what is CAD as in AutoCAD? I found out I have a free copy of AutoCAD. It is legit as it is from Autodesk, but I was wondering what makes it different from the 3d I usually dable with?
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Computer Aided Drafting
CAD = Computer Aided Drafting. Although it can sometimes be used for 3D it is often 2D oriented as in preparing mechanical and architectural drawings.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer-aided_design
it is typically intended for use in an engineering rather than art setting. The final part might be used for building, or planning for building an actual object, or theoretical tests to see how an object might actually perform, etc.
I was wondering what makes AutoCad different from Maya or 3d Max. Is it okay to ask in this thread what makes Maya and 3d Max different? Why should one use one verses the other?
CAD is more accurate from not only a measurement perspective; it has tools specific to the requirements of Computer Aided Design (or Drafting). There are many similarities, but they serve a different purpose.
They both have very similar capabilities. 3DS Max is a long time AutoDesk product, was their flagship 3D software, and integrated with AutoCad quite well. AutoDesk bought Maya several years back from Allias Wavefront. Maya and 3DS were basically competing products, though Maya seemed to be used by more studios involved in character animation and high end GFX, while 3DS had a stronger foot hold in ArchVis and general GFX. Maya still seems to be more popular for studios and character animation (it has a very powerful and flexible scripting language).
I'm guessing you got the student license?? If so, give them both a test drive, AutoDesk has great learning resources for both. I prefer Maya to 3DS because I find Maya's UI more intuitive. On the flip side, I know people who find 3DS much more intuitive. Unfortunately, it's rather difficult to use DAZ figures in either one
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"CAD" softwares are aimed at the more professional engineers. In a sophisticated CAD application you get precise length/width/depth specifications using true engineering values, real world material attributes, weight, density, tensile strength, milling specifications, kerf width specifications on cuts, bending moments, brittleness, standard blueprint labeling techniques. A professional tool for serious engineers dealing with real world material problems. Although the AutoCAD you see on your grocery shelf is probably a really cut down version of the real CAD tools.
CAD will normally be used for 2D "Blueprint" or isometric building layouts. The AutoDesk Rev-IT product takes CAD into the third dimension.
3DStudio and Maya are in the same 3D genre as DS. 3DS modeler is primarily an Engineered design package (buildings, cars, aircraft, mechanical devices), while Maya's modeler is better suited for "organic" or smooth skinned models -- especially NURBS. 3DS has higher level simulation features than does Maya, while Maya has "easier" dynamic (as in "on the fly" user placed) scene layout. 3DS is better suited for creation of renders for visualization and the like, although it also has a quite impressive crowd-simulation component. There is a lot of overlap in the animation facilities, with Maya focusing on character animation and 3DS focusing on "scenes at large".
Kendall
Some CAD programs make it easier to output files for 3D printing or Milling.