Sunday, January 29, 2012
If you are using AutoCAD and do not create 3D content then why are you using AutoCAD?
Is this a fair question to ask? AutoCAD LT® can do almost everything "regular" AutoCAD® can except for 3D modeling/rendering features and LISP routines, essentially. Are you waisting your company's resources by not purchasing AutoCAD LT®? I don't know, ok I do, but, still. What do you think? If you aren't creating 3D content, why? If you aren't using LISP routines then I ask the same question, why?
Why do you limit yourself? Why do you pay for tools that you refuse to use? If you are creating items that only have two dimensions why are you using a three dimensional creation tool? Many sheet metal fabricators use AutoCAD LT®. They get it.
I'm not trying to be mean here I am honestly curious. If you purchased a house with three floors would you only use two of them? At least store stuff in the third floor right? Have you ever said to yourself or others, "I've never seen a real need to walk up the stairs to the third floor so I don't use it." You're paying to heat/cool it and to protect it from the elements.
Make an argument for purchasing full on AutoCAD® but for using it like it's AutoCAD LT®.
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I can't think of a good reason to use AutoCAD over LT if you only draw in 2D. Even if you need lisp, there are toolkits available that will add lisp functionality to LT for a very reasonable cost.
ReplyDeleteHaving said all that, if you only do 2D drawing and don't need lisp support, then I have no idea why you would buy LT.... Draftsight is an excellent alternative to LT and is free.
Draftsight is a great recommendation especially since it has essentially cloned AutoCAD's command aliases. AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT users can use Draftsight right out of the box (even though it's a download) without any real issue. However, AutoCAD LT still has more to it (like Sheet Sets in the 2012 release) than Draftsight does. But if you aren't using Sheet Sets (then you need to be smacked, yes that's my professional opinion) then Draftsight is a great tool.
ReplyDeleteLT outsells plain AutoCAD I believe almost 2 to 1. So for the most part, your question has been answered.
ReplyDeleteAnyone else still hanging on probably use add-ons not available for LT: more common than you think and developers are not offered access to LT's code for them to port to it. Same reason Draftsight falls flat even at its 'free' cost.
Think beyond 3D: verticals fill that spot for most of us.
Look Brian i am very diapointed about 2D Design... 2D Design is good for arrangments and easy going projects, when space is rare designs need to be done in 3D... vanilla autocad is a good tool an awesome tool for 3D and i dont further understand why cad-drafters are only based in 2D design.. sometimes it scares me how unproductive 2D drawings are i think if i have 3D geometry i have the 2D as well... am i right or wrong?... and if you ask... yes you are right if a company is only 2D design based why buy or use full autoCAD on 2D geometry?
ReplyDeleteI started my CAD journey with LT2000 and used it until I needed to do more involved design work which was achieved with Civil 3D. LT is a great program but I'm sure that the majority of full AutoCAD users (excluding verticals) never use the 3D modelling facilities. Full AutoCAD is used because of the drawing management (Sheets sets) and CAD standards etc (even though the former is now in LT). If LT could use Lisp etc natively then that would make it a fantastic 2D product
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