I am thinking of taking an AutoCAD course this semester, so I can import the AutoCAD files into Blender. I’m working at a new to intermediate level in Blender right now, however, so I wanted to get other people’s opinions on taking such a course.
I figure there are two reasons for taking an AutoCAD course for Blender.
First, I want the CAD files for other things, i.e. I’d like to actually physically fabricate the models I design. From what the professor tells me, AutoCAD wont do UV Mapping or Texturing really, so that’s where Blender would be of help, if I can get the files to import okay.
Second, I’ve been a bit frustrated with dimensioning in Blender, whereas AutoCAD seems like it would help me scale models a bit more accurately. I’ve been getting frustrated with “Blender Units” so I was thinking AutoCAD would help in this area, and, then, once I’ve done the models (which require exact measurement details) in AutoCAD, I could pull it into Blender to finish it all off with placement, skins, etc…
Anyway, please let me know your thoughts on this, as I must register soon if I am to take the course.
BlenderHead, I would highly recommend skipping the AutoCAD and moving right on to a 3D Solid modeling app. (Unless you have a specific reason to need to know AutoCAD, such as for a job that requires it.) I suggest this because AutoCAD is more of a jack-of-all-trades app and is not specifically designed for 3D work. While it is capable of much, if simply falls short in many areas that you may find helpful. Specific examples include parametrics and assembly mating that apps such as SolidWorks or Inventor utilize. Going straight to learning the current, modern technology will put you ahead of the game in many respects over learning old AutoCAD. Many more data translation format options exist for these apps as well.
The first thing you may say is that those apps cost too much. Well, you have a couple of options for the limited pocketbook. First, take a look at Alibre Design Xpress. While this app has some inherint limitations, it is free and a very good program for basic part and assembly modeling. A second option, if you’re a student, is to visit Autodesk’s student site, register, and download a full version of Inventor 11 (restricted to non-commercial use.) There are a bunch of other apps available there (including AutoCAD, VIZ and Alias Studio, I think) and all that’s needed to register is a valid student email address (with a .edu ending, I guess.) There are lots of online learning resources available for either of these programs, and either will get you way further down the road than AutoCAD ever could in the 3D world!
So you want to design in AutoCAD and Visualise in Blender.
mzungu is right on the money (as always on such matters). AutoCAD is a terrible tool for design, i’ve used it every working day for the last 20 years and it’s crap for such purposes.
I’d go with mzungus advice myself. Although you’d propably end up visualising in something other than blender as well, i don’t know how good blender is at importing 3D models from such apps.
Here’s a link for importing Solidworks models into blender:
These responses arent what I had expected, but they seem to me to be very good. I really like what I see. Thank you. You probably saved me a lot of money and semester of needless confusion.
Just one more question now… Heh…
Solid works seems to be able to do so much - why would I use Blender instead of SolidWorks? LOL
Many communuty colleges or vo-tech schools now offer 3D Parametric CAD courses, so if you do want official training it should be readily available in your area. I’d recommend it if you have the time & $$$.
Not sure if this question is serious or not (the “LOL” throwing me off here) but I’ll try to answer seriously from my perspective: Besides the obvious fact that they are designed & intended for entirely different user-bases: CAD vs DCC, the biggest issue for what I like to do is cost. SW or similar packages run $6k + annual subscriptions - way out of the average hobbyist’s range (certainly mine). But as I’ve already said, their strengths are just simply very different. Its kind of an “apples-to-oranges” comparison, really.
In my little world of feeble & simplistic design efforts, blender’s animation and rendering capabilities are far more flexible than those of PhotoWorks & Animator (the components for rendering and animating that come with SW) and so I’ll typically use blender for that. However, I usually do more mechanically-oriented modelling, for which SW blows blender out of the water every time IMHO (anti-flame disclaimer: which is only to be expected, since this is not what blender was designed to do - not that it can’t do a lot in this regard, its just not set up to make it easy/straight-forward.) This makes translating model/mesh data necessary.
On a side note, tho I’ve not had opportunity to mess with it, SolidWorks’ surface modelling capabilities have improved greatly in recent versions (its NURBs-based, I’m guessing - tho the particular technology implemented remains entirely veiled to the user.) A lot of ID-type “organic” shapes can be achieved with it.
For rendering SW does have metnal ray, but that is about it. Blender gives you more much control and flexibility for rendering, animations, scenes, etc.
