I've got Autocad 2002 and will soon be getting 2006. I know I can save DWG files to DXF for use with other cad programs that aren't Autocad compatible. But if I'm using Autocad 2006 and save a drawing, it can't be read by Autocad 2002 unless I save it back a few versions. Do you know if a DXF file saved by 2006 is the same as a DXF file saved by 2002 or Autocad version 10? Also, what is used to convert an Autocad drawing to G-code to be used by a CNC machine. Do you have to save it as DXF and import it? It looks like I'll be doing some side work doing some drawings for a starter company and it'd be nice to give them whatever they need to use the file if they can and not have to have someone manually input all the info.
I don't think you will have a problem if it is saved as a DXF file. As far as CAM is concerned, I'm using Mastercam Ver:X which has built in convertor for DXF, parasolid, autodesk, you name it. Our design department works in Solidworks - we haven't use Autocad for quite some time as our needs increased.
I use Vectorworks & some Solidworks for 3D. In each case, when a newer version is installed, there are backwards compatability issues, forcing all saves in older versions for each file format.
So it all depends on what software the machining company has on whether or not they can use a straight Autocad drawing or not, but a DXF file should be pretty universal?
Yes. any good CAM platform will read Acad DXF or DWG files. Gibbs CAM and Mastercam run about 8-10 grand for level 1 with a few options, so it is mandatory that they at least read Acad.
My oldest brother -a registered CE- saved himself from retiring many years ago by investing the original AutoCAD and all the plotters, etc because Arthritis was forcing him to hang up his blue pencils. When he finally did semi-retire (only drawing a few commercial projects per year) he "took on" teaching AutoCAD at some Junior College in the Phoenix area. He's no longer teaching the class; but still consults on a lot of jobs in Central AZ. Since the last version of AutoCAD before '06 came out, he'd been having troubles with prelims being sent to him - couldn't get all the DXF macros to work on his older version, and vice-versa. He ended up building a P4 machine - trashing his old P2 box- and I bought him WinXP (I get a killer corporate discount through my company's partnership with Microsoft) so he could upgrade (He gets a killer "educator discount" from whomever markets AutoCAD) to the latest version; which has turned out to be AC '06. I don't understand all the details, but yeah; the latest couple of versions of AutoCAD are not entirely backwards compatible with the older versions.
This is something that I've always been interested in learning. How would someone with no experience with Autocad get started? Is there some freeware out there that I could down load and start playing with or would I have to buy some expensive bundle to get started?
Acad stopped support for versions below ACAD R2000 last year I believe, so ACAD R2005 & 2006 will not save below R2000. 65Mistress, If you wish to get started in ACAD, the best and legal way is to get the most recent version of ACAD LT. It runs about $800 dollars, but if you have a student ID, and a college bookstore that carries it you can ususally get a student version for about $150. I know there are many cheap or freeware drawing programs out there, but if you want to learn ACAD you need ACAD. In the long run, the best way to learn it is to take classes at a community college.
