Free AutoCAD 2009 - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

mdshunk · 03-24-2008, 11:42 PM

Download a free 30 day trial:

http://images.autodesk.com/adsk/file...wnload_faq.pdf

MattCoops · 03-27-2008, 01:03 PM

you'll need more time than that to learn the new features

SelfContract · 03-27-2008, 01:25 PM

Don't worry. Right about 29 days, promptly remove or un-install the trial program, then install/setup again for another 30 days use. Hopefully, it will reset the period and won't write into windows registry or erase registry values of any previous setup rememberance at all. It's a pain to resetup, but won't take long and doable.

kpall312 · 03-27-2009, 11:58 PM

Or just get the full version from rapid.... for free.

Chris Johnson · 03-28-2009, 12:17 AM

Anyone playing with the new 'Autodesk - Revit', it suppose to be the cat's meow @ $ 5k plus.

Rumor is in time everyone will be using it.

**framerman** · 03-28-2009, 07:27 AM

Chris, I've been using Revit for a few years and yes, it's the cat's meow. It's similar to what Cole uses (ArchiCAD) You can be up and running in a few weeks, but to get the grasp of the whole product will take you months if not a year or more. BTW, it's far from new. It's been around for quite some time.

Some things can be quite infuriating. AFAIK, it is the only program I know of that you can't change the UI on.

Revit is what they call BIM (Building Information Modeling) What happens is you "build" the home (or building) in the computer. The advantage is if you move something in the model, all views, all pages, all elevations, all cross sections.....everything....updates automatically. No need to check every page to see if you covered yourself.

This is a home I have been designing for awhile, but have shelved for too long. I need to get back at it. The rendering is with a different program, not the one included with Revit, though they have upgraded the engine last release.

**framerman** · 03-28-2009, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kpall312

Or just get the full version from rapid.... for free.

you're a real card aren't you?

Chris Johnson · 03-28-2009, 09:56 AM

I have heard top end architect firms are using it...especially on larger projects, schools, multi-family etc. because of the feature you mentioned (BIM).

I've also been told that manufacturers need to get their details into whatever format Revit uses to keep in the game.

Then I have been told that because of the initial cost and big learning curve it would be a long time before everyone was using it.

I'm only inquiring because a supplier asked me what my take and experience was behind all this, plus the AIA show is in San Francisco next month and they want to attend and look ready for the next wave of architects and designers ahead of everyone else in the industry.

**framerman** · 03-28-2009, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Johnson

I have heard top end architect firms are using it...especially on larger projects, schools, multi-family etc. because of the feature you mentioned (BIM).

I've also been told that manufacturers need to get their details into whatever format Revit uses to keep in the game.

Then I have been told that because of the initial cost and big learning curve it would be a long time before everyone was using it.

I'm only inquiring because a supplier asked me what my take and experience was behind all this, plus the AIA show is in San Francisco next month and they want to attend and look ready for the next wave of architects and designers ahead of everyone else in the industry.

The Freedom Tower is designed in Revit. The software is huge in Australia.

You are right about the details needing conversion. Also, the same goes for their blocks. Good thing is that they are parametric. One file will do the whole Anderson window line for example.

I have an older version, but I believe if you purchase Revit, they throw in either full ACAD or ACA. There's been rumors about discontinuing ACA for years. They won't do it IMO.

You should download the trial and test it out. Some people get hooked immediately. If you have been into CAD for years, it can be tough to cross over. If you are fresh into design, it is easier to catch on with the program.

Railman · 03-28-2009, 10:38 AM

Framerman,
You might want to render those slates parallel to the gutter instead of vertical for several reasons!

Regardless, it shure looks good. From the rendering, it looks like curved glass, or not?

Joe

**Cole** · 03-28-2009, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SelfContract

Don't worry. Right about 29 days, promptly remove or un-install the trial program, then install/setup again for another 30 days use. Hopefully, it will reset the period and won't write into windows registry or erase registry values of any previous setup rememberance at all. It's a pain to resetup, but won't take long and doable.

Dont count on it, Autodesk knows what they are doing. Is it the full version anyway, if not, I bet it wont let you export/save/print anything.

**framerman** · 03-28-2009, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Railman

Framerman,
You might want to render those slates parallel to the gutter instead of vertical for several reasons!

Regardless, it shure looks good. From the rendering, it looks like curved glass, or not?

Joe

Yeah, I know. I've got a slight problem there. I was hoping no one noticed! That is one of the little quirky things with Revit exporting to another rendering engine.

Chris Johnson · 03-28-2009, 02:37 PM

I will get around to trying it one of these days...sooner rather than later.

I've been running Softplan for 9 years now, simple to learn and use, never played with AuoCAD too much since I never had time to go thru the learning curve.

So from what I am gathering here I can transfer Softplan files over and open them in AutoCAD and vice-versa, but Revit is a whole new game and the files will be useless? If so, the transition will be expensive for alot of companies/people.

Literally you will need to run both for many years to come or until you no longer need your old files...which is really never...not in today's cut and paste world.

**framerman** · 03-28-2009, 02:51 PM

If you can export to dwg or dxf, then you can import into Revit just as easily as you can into AutoCAD. From my recollection of my SoftPlan days, you can. If you've been using SoftPlan, you will understand it better than if you were a straight CAD guy.

ScipioAfricanus · 03-28-2009, 10:49 PM

Revit is awesome! Very powerful, and many of the medium sized and larger firms are going with it. If you want to get a position in one of those firms then Revit with AutoCAD is the way to go. I have the Revit Architecture Suite with ACAD 2008 but it is a bear to learn, especially with out shelling out for training.
Revit also comes in three flavors; Architecture, MEP and Strucural. They all run about $5K.
From what I understand Archicad or Microstation are the other big names out there. Especially for big commercial projects with multiple people working on the same plan file.
I do mostly single family residential stuff and I find that Chief Architect is just the right amount of power and ease of use for what I do. I understand Chief and SoftPlan are alot alike.

All that said any of the softwares stated will import 2D DWG files mostly without problems but not the 3D files that you will be able to open and work with in another program without alot of work arounds. I import DWGs into Revit then have to trace over the cad to buildthe 3D walls and such.

Well, I don't know if this helps at all but I love the conversation.

Hey Framerman, what was the other rendering/raytracer you exported to?

Andy.

Chris Johnson · 03-28-2009, 11:52 PM

I like Softplan because it is what I call idiotproof, when I bought it the salesman told me I would load it, play around for a bit and within half a day I would be abl to do simple drawings...it was the truth and after spending a weekend working with it I was able to do complete houses.

Now granted, I still don't use Softplan to it's fullest potential, but I do use it to do everything I want. I really have no interest in landscaping or all the various cabinets, trim profiles, paint colors and such, but the basic drawing and creating details and sections are fantastic.

Oh yea, and the fact it has all the walls already loaded makes it easy to use as well, it did not have ICF walls originally and I figured that out pretty quickly.

**framerman** · 03-29-2009, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScipioAfricanus

Hey Framerman, what was the other rendering/raytracer you exported to?

Max

DrewD · 04-02-2009, 11:39 AM

Revit has some advantages over AutoCAD, notably when Autodesk releases Eco-Tect in the near future. You will be able to load your Revit projects and "flex" the environment to visually display heat loads, energy consumption and water run off displacement. Revit along with other forms of BIM will begin to become the primary software but I believe that it will not be for some time. I know of a few large scale Design/Build firms ($150 million+) that only use Revit but they are few and far between. AutoCAD will most likey be use for shop drawings with the 3D modelling in Revit used to help visualize projects for customers. I have been using Revit for a year now and find it far simpler to use then AutoCAD, imo.

Dennis G. unger · 04-05-2009, 07:30 PM

Good evening

I teach AutoCAD to engineering students at Wentworth Institute of Technology. At Wentworth we are having some debate over where the CAD industry will turn and what our students must have in order to get their foot in the door on their first engineering job. Civil engineers seem to require AutoCAD based programs so they can collaborate with the land survey industry (who operate mostly on software that is AutoCAD compliant).

Then Architects need autoCAD compatible files so they can colaborate with the Civil engineers. And now BIM is becoming more popular with building designers. BUT I keep geting adult tradesmen signing up for AutoCAD classes because shop drawings and building coordination drawings are now being produced in 3D AutoCAD compliant file format.

Collaboration must be the driving force in where the CAD industry turns. Otherwise we are all going to be building the Tower of Babble. You must Think about who you will be working with before you think about what program is eaiest for you...

Decades ago the dxf file format was established to allow differant types of professionals to work together. Today it seems to me that everyone is starting to move apart with specialty software that ignores the continuity required to go from the Land Surveyor to the civil engineer, to the architect, MEP designers to construction tradesmen and ultimately to the building maintainance manager.

THanks

Dennis G. Unger, P.E.

balacbe11 · 10-03-2009, 08:30 AM

Any how thanks i was searching for autodadd 2009 but i downloaded an illegal pirated copy from rapidshare the files were damaged. Thanks for sharing