Web Links

Magazines / Portals:

Newsletters / Newsgroups / Chat / Blogs:

Newsletters:

Groups / Chat:

Blogs:

References / Tutorials:

AutoCAD, Architecture (ADT) & Revit:

  • 3D in 2007 – Some great 3D tutorials for the 2007 version of AutoCAD
  • Cad Tutor – Online AutoCAD (and others) tutorials, forums, blocks etc.
  • UNSW CAD – More AutoCAD (and 3ds max, VIZ) tutorials
  • myCADsite.com – Even more ACAD tutorials here
  • Quick Reference – A few sheets with ACAD commands etc.
  • System Variables – All ACAD SysVars by version number (PDF)
  • Command List – All ACAD Commands by version number (PDF)
  • ARCHIdigm – Lots of AutoCAD Architecture tutorials
  • UpFront Ebooks – Excellent AutoCAD, General CADD, IntelliCAD and Vision PDF tutorials, not too expensive
  • 3D Tutorials – Various tutorials on 3D modeling and rendering
  • CadCARD – Handy card that allows for quick CAD calculations and is a good reference
  • CADclips – Lots of free video tutorials for AutoCAD, AutoCAD Architecture and Revit

SketchUp:

Component / Block Collections:

DWG/DXF:

  • Seek – Autodesk’s block collection
  • CAD details – Large collection of manufacturer-supplied DWG-blocks
  • CBEN – Block exchange
  • CAD Blocks – Manufacturer-supplied DWG blocks
  • i-drop – Drag-and-drop technology from Autodesk

SketchUp:

  • 3D Warehouse – Largest repository of SketchUp components. You can even upload your own models!
  • Google Components – The official collection
  • Formfonts – High quality commercial arch. components

Software (for Windows if nothing else is mentioned):

General 2D:

  • AutoCAD LT – Detailed design and plotting (Autodesk).
  • AutoSketch – Good basic, cheap DWG-based CAD (Autodesk)
  • DRAFT IT – FREE drafting software (CadLogic)
  • SolidEdge 2D – FREE drafting version of their 3D mech. eng. software (UGS)
  • NOTE: Many of the 3D CAD packages below offer low-cost 2D versions as well

General 3D:

  • AutoCAD – Detailed design (2D, 3D), full-featured basic CAD package, many add-ons available (Autodesk). You can get a FREE student version (electrical) here.
  • DesignCAD – General CAD (Upperspace)
  • IntelliCAD – General 3D CAD. UI is similar to ACAD (ITC, CADopia)
  • Microstation – Detailed 2D, 3D design (Bentley) Download a FREE 2D version for students here
  • TurboCAD – General 3D. Also for the Mac (IMSI)
  • Vdraft – General 3D CAD (SoftSource)

Architectural:

  • Allplan – Building design (Nemetschek)
  • ArchiCAD – Building design (Graphisoft) Download a FREE full version for students here
  • AutoCAD Architecture – Object-oriented architectural design (Autodesk)
  • AcceliCAD – Architectural extension to AutoCAD and IntelliCAD (similar to ACAD Architecture) (AutoDSys)
  • ArrisCAD – Architectural CAD (Sigma Design)
  • BuildersCAD – Residential (BuildersCad)
  • CadLogic – Architectural add-ons to AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT
  • Cadsoft – Residential (CadSoft)
  • Cadwork – Timberframing, Heavy-Timber (cadwork)
  • Chief Architect – Residential, builder targeted. (Chief Architect)
  • DataCAD – Architectural CAD (DataCAD)
  • D-CAM – Timberframing, Heavy-Timber (Dietrich’s)
  • drcauto – Architectural add-on to AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT (drcauto)
  • FrameWright Pro – Timber-frame design for Archicad (Encina)
  • Gehry Technologies – Frank Gehry’s company provides architectural solutions based on Catia
  • hsbCAD – Timberframing, Heavy-Timber, based on AutoCAD (hsbSOFT)
  • IntelliFramer – Framing and paneling software for builders (BuildersCad)
  • Revit Architecture – Parametric building design (Autodesk). You can get a FREE student version here.
  • SketchUp – Sketch-based 3D modeling – also on Mac (Google). Download a FREE almost complete version here. You can download pre-made 3D objects here.
  • SoftPlan – Residential (SoftPlan)
  • VectorWorks – Building design (Nemetschek)
  • Vertex BD – Residential, has panelization module (ARGOS)
  • VisionREZ – Residential building and framing add-on to ADT (Ameri-CAD)

Construction Management / Planning / Estimating:

  • Buzzsaw – Online collaboration for construction projects (Autodesk)
  • Constructor – Construction planning, scheduling (Vico Software)
  • Innovaya – Linking softwre between BIM and cost estimating
  • Timberline Office – Estimating software (Sage)
  • U.S. Cost – Material takeoffs and cost estimating

Mechanical:

  • Catia – General 3D modeling – also on Linux (Dassault Systems / IBM)
  • OneSpace – 3D modeling software. FREE personal edition. (Cocreate)
  • Design XPress – Full-featured FREE 3D modeling (Alibre)
  • Inventor – 3D parametric product design (Autodesk). You can get a FREE student version here.
  • MEDUSA4 – 2D/3D CAD & drafting. FREE personal version available (CAD Schroer)
  • pro/ENGINEER – 3D CAD/CAM/CAE package (PTC)
  • Solidworks – 3D mechanical design software (Dassault Systems)
  • VariCAD – 2D/3D CAD – also on Linux (VariSoft)

3D Form and Shape:

  • Blender 3D – FREE open-source 3D modeling and rendering software for several platforms.
  • MoI – Tablet-PC-based conceptual modeler (Triple Squid)
  • Rhino – 3D NURBS modeler (McNeel & Associates)
  • think3 – 3D modeler for product design (think3)
  • trueSpace – 3D modeler (Caligari)

CAM:

  • MasterCAM – CAM software for mill, lathe, wire etc. processes (CNC software)

Visualization, Rendering, Animation:

  • 3ds max – Visualization and character animation (Autodesk)
  • Artlantis – External renderer for many CAD programs (Abvent)
  • Cinema 4D – Visualization and Character animation (Maxon)
  • Kerkythea – FREE External renderer for SketchUp and other software
  • VIZ – Architectural visualization (Autodesk). You can get a FREE student version here.

GIS Integration:

  • ArcGIS for AutoCAD – A free tool to integrate ArcGIS maps and data into AutoCAD. (ESRI)
  • Google Earth – FREE 3D earth viewer. Integrates local features and SketchUp models (Google)
  • Google Earth Plugins (all FREE) to put your CAD models into the real 3D world: AutoCAD and Revit, Microstation

Landscape Design:

  • Land F/X – Landcape architecture in the AutoCAD environment

Other Free and Budget:

  • Budget AEC CAD – AEC low-price alternatives (from Cadalyst).
  • Budget CAD – Here’s a review of budget CAD packages (from Cadalyst)
  • CadDepot – CAD Shareware
  • Freebyte – Several freebies of varying quality

Tools:

  • AccuTrans – Translates between 3D file formats (MicroMouse Productions)
  • DWG/DXF/DWF Viewer – FREE viewer (Informative Graphics)
  • DWF:
    The following are links to the FREE DWF writer and FREE Design Review viewer software. A good alternative to PDF since you can also print from non-CAD software. Design Review allows for markups.
    Design Review | DWF Writer
  • DWG Gateway – Adds open/save across DWF file versions and PDF creation to AutoCAD, FREE (SolidWorks)
  • DWG TrueView – FREE DWG, DXF viewer and DWF writer (Autodesk)
  • Migration tools – Import settings, shortcuts etc. into newer version of AutoCAD, FREE (Autodesk)
  • PDF Writer – FREE PDF writer (CutePDF)
  • Spectrum – FREE viewer for many major 3D-formats (includes DWG) (Kubotek)

You can typically at least download free trial versions (good for ~30 days) for most full programs. Student versions are sold by the UMass U-Store computer department and through CadCampus or through Studica/TorComp. Please Note: Some software is available without a time limit while others are limited to a 1 year subscription.

Next Level Courses:

There is a follow-up course to this one in the Spring term.

Description:

Building upon skills acquired in the “Introduction to CAD for Construction and Architecture” course, this course presents advanced topics in architectural CAD software. Centered on problem-based tasks, topics such as 3-dimensional modeling, parametric building design, building information models (BIMs), material takeoff, energy-efficient planning, rendering and presentation, and others will be explored. Industry standard CAD tools such as Autodesk Revit, AutoCAD and Google SketchUp will be used to accomplish this.

If you want to venture more into architectural 3D and are not too shy to learn other software packages (e.g. Photoshop, ArchiCAD, 3ds Max), then you should check with the Architecture+Design department for courses.

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