Sheet Metal & CAD - What Cad program do you use? CadMan - Sep 09, 2004 - 02:53 PM Post subject: What Cad program do you use?
Thought it might be interesting to see what type of CAD programs everbody is using or prefers, which ones they've tried, if their company requires downloading capabilities, etc, etc.
I currently have taken an Autocad class Levels 1-4 (basic up to Solid modeling) and use Eastcoast Cad (formerly Quickpen). Our company is actually thinking of going to Cadduct. It is a Autocad 3rd party software and seems 100x's better than Eastcoast.
Any opinions?....tazman - Sep 09, 2004 - 09:43 PM Post subject:
I have no opinion, but our company uses Cadduct too. Only have one advice, go visit a company that actually uses cadduct.
Cadduct is more then a drawing tool. You have to put all the code in for the production-line.
And not everything is possible. Our cadpeople can't "draw" special parts!!! We use another program for those.
If you have any questions about Cadduct/Camduct, drop me a line and I will ask our people for you.CadMan - Sep 09, 2004 - 11:26 PM Post subject:
Do you use cadduct from M.A.P. or the one from A.E.C.?pricer - Sep 10, 2004 - 01:26 AM Post subject:
I use Opus it is from M.A.P. as well. I have been using it for years with success.tnbndr - Sep 10, 2004 - 06:50 PM Post subject: CAD
I have used CadDuct from MAPS for over a year now. Did complete set-up for CAD, shop standards etc. Very powerful program and MAPS is great to work with. If you have problems or request program changes they will accomodate you. We are always tweaking but are running seamlessly from CAD to CAM. Saves a lot of listing time and errors.
Tazman, if your cadpeople can't draw special parts they are not using the program to its fullest. Parts can be "drawn" in the PM2000 program or in AutoCad and exported as a .dxf and imported into the PM2000 program. Fairly simple procedure.
Between AutoCad and CadDuct Solids almost anything can be achieved.tazman - Sep 10, 2004 - 08:25 PM Post subject:
Is true, totally all (well... almost all) can be done with the PM2000 program. But it's another program! Problem with that is that it again costs money. I am sure we don't use Cadduct to the fullest. But Cadduct isn't THAT great. I am often thinking that with PM2000 all will be done faster. Now the CADpeople draw in Cadduct, and the "impossible" parts in PM2000. PM2000 is on a different system, so they have to switch computersystems.
BUT!!! PM2000 has a luxury problem. It has too many parts in it. Some parts are too expensive to produce. (Time consuming)
For example: The production refuse to make a bend like a corkscrew. I still want to let one be produced, in a sneaky way. And see if they get angry at me.
Over here the people form Cadduct have to come over from the UK. What I heard is that those guys cost a fortune.
So... it's up to the CADpeople to tweak CADduct.CadMan - Sep 10, 2004 - 08:51 PM Post subject:
Yeah you all are using the "other" Cadduct program. We have 2 seats for the A.E.C. version of Cadduct. They also make Cadpipe which has been around awhile and has been a good program from what I understand. I like this version because it draws more like Autocad rather than very "cartoonish" like some problems I have seen. We had a lady working here for a couple of months that did use and recommended the M.A.P. Cadduct and its cutting software. So if anyone has used the AEC program let me know. Thanks.tnbndr - Sep 14, 2004 - 02:15 PM Post subject:
Quote:
BUT!!! PM2000 has a luxury problem. It has too many parts in it. Some parts are too expensive to produce. (Time consuming)
While this is true, it is up to individual shops to set up standards and only use those fittings that they can produce cost effectively. The unique fittings can be used in those special cases that require them, at least they are available.
Our shop had standards and a fitting book set up prior to starting to use CadDuct Solids. Our CAD people and the shop foreman sat down and filtered through the CadDuct fittings library to find the fittings that would match our standards book and then created our own library of fittings and duct that our CAD people are allowed to use while drafting and designing. This keeps the shop production rate up because after all is said and done we must remain competitive.Grue - Sep 15, 2004 - 12:21 PM Post subject:
Guys,
Interesting conversation. I use Turbocad V9 probably for entirely different applications. I tried Prodesktop and Rhinocad but found better features in Tc.
Any other Turbocad users on board?
GlennTINHEAD_263IA - Oct 06, 2004 - 06:36 PM Post subject:
I have never heard of East Coast or Cadduct.. Must be regional or for the bigger shops.. Over the years I have used many different Cad programs and stick with ACAD 2000 for now...
AS far as duct fitting programs and there intregated cad programs,,, the one that I currently use is Shop Data systems... I have used Lockformers software for there Vulcan systems.. PCM is also a program that came with Lockformer.. These were all run on OS2 systems and I found to be a major pain in the neck..
I have also used cybermations clunky junky software with the old version of quick draw.. What a dinosaur that system was!!! It ran on a Venux operating system!!! Aargh!!
All in all I like the System our company uses now but it does have its limitations... The main thing I like about is the ability to enter in a specific fitting,, then export the pattern via DXF to my Autocad program for manipulation.. The old systems this was not possible.... Technology is a wonderful thing when you have the work to support it... Hopefully this economy will pick up after this election...CadMan - Oct 20, 2004 - 08:18 PM Post subject:
We also use Shop Data Systems. We had one of our detailers actually go to work for them this year to sell their new autocad based drawing program.Dawg - Nov 26, 2004 - 04:01 AM Post subject:
I use Auto Desk 2004Elektronauts - Mar 01, 2005 - 02:49 AM Post subject:
Pro/Enginner - Pro/SheetmetalBud - Mar 01, 2005 - 02:53 AM Post subject:
This is a program that I have been thinking about, is it user friendly? Whats the cost approx? Thanks for any information on this.bordontn - Mar 02, 2005 - 01:20 AM Post subject:
Autodesk QuickCAD 8
bordontnleissner - Mar 03, 2005 - 04:10 AM Post subject:
I use Profile master, with opus as a drawing tool, for our abrasive jet, but I like autodesk cad 2002 better. I can pull the icons where i need them when drawing unlike opus drop down menu. And our version of opus is limited to .dxf import only. Most of my customers send me .dwg files which I can converted to dxf. with acad. Our cnc software is nc-geomate and nc-console for waterjet.
Danicad69 - Sep 12, 2005 - 01:34 PM Post subject: Ever tried this one!
I've used InteliCAD for almost 10 years. It has 2d or 3d capabilities. It will download to Vicon or Advanced plasma tables. The drafting portion of the program is easy to use. If support is needed, they are very helpful. Has about 30 different reports you can print out.
Rickccrayjr - Sep 12, 2005 - 08:43 PM Post subject:
We offer all types of CAD packages
www.cadduct.comBill_Nilsen - Nov 03, 2005 - 02:28 PM Post subject:
I use DeltaCad -- it costs around 30 bucks and can be learned in a day. I have used it for years and have been able to accomplish anything I needed.beernut - Nov 03, 2005 - 05:16 PM Post subject:
I have been using East Coast CAD for some time it's OK not AutoCAD based. The newer versions are being integrated more with ACAD's building services. I used to use building services which was useless for production.
East Coast:
2D
3D
Collision checking
Peice #
downloads to our cuttersbeernut - Nov 06, 2005 - 01:27 AM Post subject:
After reading this thread I have been checking out CADDuct and was thinking what are the file sizes like?
I was working on a good size pharmaceutical project, 350,000 lbs. of tin and the piping contractor was using I think Quickpens pipe package which uses solids and the file sizes where huge. For coordination it was common to receive 45 Mb files.nansilly61 - Jan 11, 2006 - 04:15 AM Post subject: I have used both East Coast and CADDUCT
I have used both programs. I found East Coast to be VERY basic. Not much power in that program. CADDUCT with the input portion, PM2000 works very well with many different options. It does require quite a bit of set up, putting in your standards, ect. But is well worth it. I detail and then direct download, all the plasma operator does is punch in the number of the sheet they want burned and out comes the parts. No extra step of inputting. I think East Coast is meant mainly for very small shops that can't afford anything else.tnbndr - Jan 11, 2006 - 09:34 PM Post subject:
beernut:
Is that 350,000 lbs going to be on one drawing or broke up into several drawings by floor or whatever. I typically work on hospitals with well over 500,000 lbs of tin but that is total for the job. If it is three floors each drawing would be ~160,000lbs. That file size would probably be about 10Mb. and very manageable with AutoCad 2005 and Laptop processor.beernut - Jan 12, 2006 - 05:14 PM Post subject:
350,000 lbs one floor with interstitial space for mechanical. We broke up the drawings into two layers above the catwalk and below the catwalk.beernut - Jan 13, 2006 - 01:34 AM Post subject:
The plain AutoCAD filles were not too bad. Where we had problems was when the piping contractor would send files to us. The package they used created the pipes out of solids which made the files sizes huge. I would imagine that a ductwork drawing with that much duct drawn in Cadduct would be huge if they use solids.ccrayjr - Jan 17, 2006 - 02:41 PM Post subject:
Beernut....here are a few spec for Cadduct..
AutoCAD-based, advanced 'ARX' (NOT Lisp) add-on solid 'intelligent' objects (resulting in smaller file sizes).
Full, customizable and expandable rectangular, round, oval and 'bought out' fitting libraries.
Full, customizable and expandable piping, plumbing, electrical and structural libraries.
2D and 3D modes (collision checking and co-ordination).
Fully 'spec' and 'service' driven, completely user-configurable.
Totally integrated (by sharing the same libraries and database) with our optional shop (CAM) and estimating (EST) modules.
Complete and expandable reporting (included 'report generator') including Bill of Materials, detail reports, etc.
'IntelliText' annotation - automatically updates size, length, elevation, etc. annotation as fitting is stretched/moved etc.
CAD/CAM Interface Software - allows downloading of data from CADDUCT to DUCTCAM (requires DUCTCAM loaded on a CAM station)brian57 - Oct 12, 2007 - 08:09 AM Post subject:
I use AutoCAD 2008 for 2D, and Inventor Professional 2008 for 3D work.AceMetal - Feb 27, 2008 - 04:54 PM Post subject:
Hiya all.
