AutoCAD LT vs. FreeCAD

It is suitable for use with students who are familiar with using a computer. Unfortunately, we still have many people without access and basic knowledge, such as a simple application of the oficce package.

I see FreeCad as the perfect solution for a startup with limited resources that want to save as much as possible and doesn't mind using non-standard 3D CAD software, i.e., it's not required by customers to use specific software for compatibility. It's perfect for hobbyist use and makers who don't care about brands and pay monthly fees. I see it as very well suited for small businesses that need FEA (finite element analysis) and can't/don't want to pay huge amounts of money for it, just like us. I see FreeCad as less appropriate for big corporations or well-established businesses that need standardized solutions, compatibility with clients or good version management. Don't get me wrong, it can get the job done, but it will be much slower than state-of-the-art CAD systems.

Incentivized

• Drafting and layouts generation
• 2D Modeling and measurements
• Layers and property features
• Useful commands like mirror, copy, move, array, offset and rotate etc.
• File recovery feature

Incentivized

• Finite element analysis.
• Being free.
• It is very flexible and customizable with Phyton.

Incentivized

• Incremental savings (if possible) because autosave on big drawings took time to get done because it saves the whole file
• Some custom macros that I made should be made standard (like infinite horizontal or vertical lines)

Incentivized

• Would be great if it was cloud based
• If it had some basic analysis tools
• Had a rendering function

Incentivized

For being a light version of the program it has a ton of functionality and features. I found the system fairly easy to learn how to use once I took an intro course on it. Overall i think the usability is great and it was easy to jump right in and get working in the program

Incentivized

Usability is awkward. Perhaps if you learn it as your first CAD, it will feel OK. Still, it comes from commercial CAD products like mine (Onshape, Solid Works, Inventor, Solid Edge). You will feel it is less intuitive, with a less polished UI, difficult to customize and, this is a subjective one, less serious. I'd love to see it improve the usability and UI. I believe the engine behind it is powerful, but how you interact with the software is still lacking.

Incentivized

Although AutoCAD LT is the lite software when compared to standard AutoCAD, it does all the work when it comes to 2D modeling and issuing design drawings. When comparing it to BricsCAD, AutoCAD LT shines, as it works without freezing and is usually more responsive than BricsCAD, it just outclasses it.

Incentivized

Freecad is used often when receiving files from multiple sources and the need to work with cad in various forms from meshes to solid cad. Often when receiving scans of 3d objects the format is easy to work with and convert to traditional cad later on. There is no other cad that can bridge the gap between all the cad formats that we found yet.

Incentivized

• We have been able to looks at CAD files that ordinarily we would not have been able to open. Giving us more control over our projects
• We are now able to create very accurate draft designs that save us and our engineering/architecture team valuable time in drafting.
• We can create our own plan sheets for when it is something that does not require a stamp. This saves us time and money.

Incentivized

• It has allowed us to do some cad work that no other systems has allowed us to do and is key to getting that done fast
• It has lots of online support through forums and blogs for trouble shooting
• It could have an updated interface to make the functionality more user friendly for first time users

Incentivized