AutoCAD LT vs. National Instruments LabVIEW

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.

Most of the time, I am using LabVIEW to develop automated controls for lab-scale and pilot-scale systems. LabVIEW is great for its graphical programming interface, which is easy to learn and understand. The program also has a lot of built-in VIs to perform different complicated I/O, data processing, controls, and graphing tasks which are extremely useful and convenient to use. My only problem with LabVIEW is how hard it is to clean up and debug the program, due to its being a graphical interface. It is hard to search for specific variables when debugging, and some of the online debugging features don't function well in real-time.

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

• real-time data visualization
• implementation of modern control strategies
• integration of languages such as python and c++, for various applications
• data acquisition through microcontroller cards

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

• Barrier to entry is large
• Install times are crazy
• Just in time help needs to be more apparent (most students do not know about the examples section)

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

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

We have used MatLab's data acquisition toolbox in the past which was not too bad either, especially if you prefer the text-based programming format. The only problem with that was that the library of compatible data acquisition hardware was somewhat limited and if your hardware is not from one of the more popular brands like NI there is a good possibility that you won't be able to use it with your MatLab script. LAstly, the amount of supporting material (tutorials, etc.) is very limited as it is not a very popular tool

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

• We are able to save money by writing our own programs instead of outsourcing.
• We recently bought a new force test stand and we are able to use LabVIEW to write a program that fits our needs exactly instead of making due with what came with the stand.
• When our customers ask us to do data acquisition, we know that we can always make a solution.

Incentivized