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 BMATWT 220 - Introduction to CAD
in Construction and Architecture
 Links
The following are some www-links to sites relevant to this topic:
Magazines / Portals:
Newsletters / Newsgroups / Chat / Blogs:
Newsletters:
Groups / Chat:
Blogs:
References / Tutorials:
AutoCAD, Architecture (ADT) & Revit:
- 3D
in 2007 - Some great 3D tutorials for the 2007 version of AutoCAD
- Cad Tutor -
Online AutoCAD (and others) tutorials, forums, blocks etc.
- UNSW
CAD - More AutoCAD (and 3ds max, VIZ) tutorials
- myCADsite.com -
Even more ACAD tutorials here
- Quick
Reference - A few sheets with ACAD commands etc.
- System
Variables - All ACAD SysVars by version number (PDF)
- Command
List - All ACAD Commands by version number (PDF)
- ARCHIdigm -
Lots of AutoCAD Architecture tutorials
- UpFront
Ebooks - Excellent AutoCAD, General CADD, IntelliCAD and Vision
PDF tutorials, not too expensive
- 3D Tutorials -
Various tutorials on 3D modeling and rendering
- CadCARD -
Handy card that allows for quick CAD calculations and is a good reference
- CADclips -
Lots of free video tutorials for AutoCAD, AutoCAD Architecture and
Revit
SketchUp:
Component / Block Collections:
DWG/DXF:
- CAD details -
Large collection of manufacturer-supplied DWG-blocks
- CBEN - Block exchange
- CAD Blocks -
Manufacturer-supplied DWG blocks
- BSA
CADD - Large link list for block collections (not only DWG)
- i-drop -
Drag-and-drop technology from Autodesk
SketchUp:
- 3D
Warehouse - Largest repository of SketchUp components. You can
even upload your own models!
- Google
Components - The official collection
- Formfonts -
High quality commercial arch. components
Software (for Windows if nothing else is mentioned):
General
2D:
- AutoCAD
LT - Detailed design and plotting (Autodesk).
- AutoSketch -
Good basic, cheap DWG-based CAD (Autodesk)
- DRAFT
IT - FREE drafting software (CadLogic)
- SolidEdge
2D - FREE drafting version of their
3D mech. eng. software (UGS)
- NOTE: Many of the 3D CAD packages
below offer low-cost 2D versions as well
General
3D:
- AutoCAD -
Detailed design (2D, 3D), full-featured basic CAD package, many add-ons
available (Autodesk). You can get a FREE student
version (electrical) here.
- DesignCAD -
General CAD (Upperspace)
- IntelliCAD -
General 3D CAD. UI is similar to ACAD (ITC, CADopia)
- Microstation -
Detailed 2D, 3D design (Bentley) Download a FREE 2D
version for students here
- TurboCAD -
General 3D. Also for the Mac (IMSI)
- Vdraft -
General 3D CAD (SoftSource)
Architectural:
- Allplan -
Building design (Nemetschek)
- ArchiCAD -
Building design (Graphisoft) Download a FREE full
version for students here
- AutoCAD
Architecture - Object-oriented architectural design (Autodesk)
- AcceliCAD -
Architectural extension to AutoCAD and IntelliCAD (similar to ACAD
Architecture) (AutoDSys)
- ArrisCAD -
Architectural CAD (Sigma Design)
- BuildersCAD -
Residential (BuildersCad)
- CadLogic -
Architectural add-ons to AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT
- Cadsoft - Residential
(CadSoft)
- Cadwork - Timberframing,
Heavy-Timber (cadwork)
- Chief Architect -
Residential, builder targeted. (Chief Architect)
- DataCAD - Architectural
CAD (DataCAD)
- D-CAM -
Timberframing, Heavy-Timber (Dietrich's)
- drcauto - Architectural
add-on to AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT (drcauto)
- FrameWright
Pro - Timber-frame design for Archicad (Encina)
- Gehry
Technologies - Frank Gehry's company provides architectural solutions
based on Catia
- hsbCAD - Timberframing,
Heavy-Timber, based on AutoCAD (hsbSOFT)
- IntelliFramer -
Framing and paneling software for builders (BuildersCad)
- Revit
Architecture - Parametric building design (Autodesk). You can
get a FREE student version here.
- SketchUp - Sketch-based
3D modeling - also on Mac (Google). Download a FREE almost
complete version here.
You can download pre-made 3D objects here.
- SoftPlan -
Residential (SoftPlan)
- VectorWorks -
Building design (Nemetschek)
- Vertex
BD - Residential, has panelization module (ARGOS)
- VisionREZ -
Residential building and framing add-on to ADT (Ameri-CAD)
Construction
Management / Planning / Estimating:
- Buzzsaw -
Online collaboration for construction projects (Autodesk)
- Constructor -
Construction planning, scheduling (Vico Software)
- Innovaya -
Linking softwre between BIM and cost estimating
- Timberline
Office - Estimating software (Sage)
- U.S. Cost -
Material takeoffs and cost estimating
Mechanical:
- Catia -
General 3D modeling - also on Linux (Dassault Systems / IBM)
- OneSpace -
3D modeling software. FREE personal edition.
(Cocreate)
- Design XPress -
Full-featured FREE 3D modeling (Alibre)
- Inventor -
3D parametric product design (Autodesk). You can get a FREE student
version here.
- MEDUSA4 -
2D/3D CAD & drafting. FREE personal
version available (CAD Schroer)
- pro/ENGINEER -
3D CAD/CAM/CAE package (PTC)
- Solidworks -
3D mechanical design software (Dassault Systems)
- VariCAD -
2D/3D CAD - also on Linux (VariSoft)
3D
Form and Shape:
- Blender
3D - FREE open-source 3D modeling
and rendering software for several platforms.
- MoI - Tablet-PC-based
conceptual modeler (Triple Squid)
- Rhino - 3D
NURBS modeler (McNeel & Associates)
- think3 -
3D modeler for product design (think3)
- trueSpace -
3D modeler (Caligari)
CAM:
- MasterCAM -
CAM software for mill, lathe, wire etc. processes (CNC software)
Visualization,
Rendering, Animation:
- 3ds
max - Visualization and character animation (Autodesk)
- Artlantis -
External renderer for many CAD programs (Abvent)
- Cinema 4D - Visualization
and Character animation (Maxon)
- Kerkythea - FREE External
renderer for SketchUp and other software
- VIZ -
Architectural visualization (Autodesk). You can get a FREE student
version here.
GIS
Integration:
Landscape
Design :
- Land
F/X - Landcape architecture in the AutoCAD environment
Other
Free and Budget:
- Budget
AEC CAD - AEC low-price alternatives (from Cadalyst).
- Budget
CAD - Here's a review of budget CAD packages (from Cadalyst)
- CadDepot -
CAD Shareware
- Freebyte -
Several freebies of varying quality
Tools:
- AccuTrans -
Translates between 3D file formats (MicroMouse Productions)
- DWG/DXF/DWF
Viewer - FREE viewer (Informative
Graphics)
- DWF:
The following are links to the FREE DWF
writer and FREE Design Review viewer software.
A good alternative to PDF since you can also print from non-CAD software.
Design Review allows for markups.
Design
Review | DWF
Writer
- DWG
Gateway - Adds open/save across DWF file versions and PDF creation
to AutoCAD, FREE (SolidWorks)
- DWG
TrueView - FREE DWG, DXF viewer
and DWF writer (Autodesk)
- Migration
tools - Import settings, shortcuts etc. into newer version of
AutoCAD, FREE (Autodesk)
- PDF
Writer - FREE PDF writer (CutePDF)
- Spectrum - FREE viewer
for many major 3D-formats (includes DWG) (Kubotek)
You can typically at least download free trial versions (good for ~30
days) for most full programs. Student versions are sold
by the UMass
U-Store computer department and through CadCampus or
through Studica/TorComp.
Please Note: Some software is available without a time
limit while others are limited to a 1 year subscription.
Next Level Courses:
There is a follow-up
course to this one in the Spring term.
Description:
Building upon skills acquired in the “Introduction to CAD for
Construction and Architecture” course, this course presents advanced
topics in architectural CAD software. Centered on problem-based tasks,
topics such as 3-dimensional modeling, parametric building design,
building information models (BIMs), material takeoff, energy-efficient
planning, rendering and presentation, and others will be explored.
Industry standard CAD tools such as Autodesk Revit, AutoCAD and Google
SketchUp will be used to accomplish this.
If you want to venture more into architectural 3D and are not too shy
to learn other software packages (e.g. Photoshop, ArchiCAD, 3ds Max),
then you should check with the Architecture+Design
department for courses.
Please Note: Companies are mentioned in this list as sample references
only. The presented selection does not amount to an endorsement of a
particular product or service.
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