CAD and CAM Books

As a tool and die maker, I have used software which was more technical and more machine-specific (CAM). However, AutoCAD LT has been one of my favorites. The manual is easy to understand without being verbose. I find it to be very useful both on the job and at home. Thank you.

Even if you use AutoCAD frequently, everybody forgets---right? Cheryl Shrock's handy reference gives you step-by-step procedures for using most familar AutoCAD commands. So, why only 4 stars? Because of its size, there are limits to its contents---physical limits. I would suggest a two volume set or a second volume with more complex command procedures. For its price and size, I suggest buying it.

After using the manual for a few more months, I will add that I am not disappointed.

If this helps, please vote.

It's a great and easy book for the experienced in 2D who want to make more of their autocad with 3D; the commands are easily explained and are accompanied by many exercises to get to know the command's better.

I am thoroughly enjoying my use of this valuable resource. If I need help with the (defun) statement, all I do is about a 10 second search of all of the books on the CD or the one I choose. Simple as can be. This collection is a must for any serious minded CAD programmer/customizer or anyone interested in not having to carry around several books under their arm. :-

Autodesk Inventor 9 is a very powerful program and requires a lot of learning to use to it to full effect. This book is most helpful, but some in-person instruction would maximize the entire experience.

Phil Z.

This book is almost a must for all people entering the RP business. Well and clearly written book that despite of it's age is still valid reading. Exellent view over the history of 'automated fabrication', i.e. Rapid Prototypig. This book could be used as well for educational purposes as for setting up your own business. Personally I use it as a very good source of information and reference in my own work as a researcher.

Highly recommended.

The book is an extremely clear, simple, ste-by-step explanation of ACAD 2002. Skills are taught primarily through easy to follow exercises that build on each other, primarily the drafting of a room, its furnishings, etc... Some additional text is included regarding, plotting, layers etc... I will be using this as the text for my Intro class, primarily due to its legibility and clear graphics. While recommended for the designer who has bever used CAD, those with any experience or interested in an in-depth look at the software or its advanced features should look elsewhere.

Autocad has the ability to design full 3 dimensional objects. Indeed, most texts on it devote the bulk of their efforts to explaining this. McFarlane dissents. He offers here an introductory book on Autocad, that sticks to 2 dimensional drawings. The book gives a thorough grounding in how to use Autocad in this context. The conceptual issues here are far simpler than 3d.

While this may seem restrictive, it may be well suited to a reader completely new to any design package. The ability to use the 3d mode of Autocad may well be confusing for some portion of its users. It is to those users that this book might be addressed.

While McFarlane deals with the latest version of AutoCAD, it is in a deliberately restrained fashion. He offers to teach you two dimensional drawing with what has been for years a fully three dimensional package. He asserts that in the headlong drive into three dimensional design, something might have been lost in the education of engineers. Namely a firm grounding in the ability to do two dimensional layout.

I cannot say that I fully agree that this has been a deficiency in recent education. But perhaps for some students it has. If so, you may want to turn to his book to cover this deficit. The book should not be hard, one hopes. 2d stuff is much simpler. And you are only touching a rather small subset of AutoCAD's functions.

I used this to teach beginners to use Autocad, and was very pleased with it because it is what it says..basic. Some of those other books are so thick they are too intimidating to the students (besides costing too much) This book has good "try this" examples and practice ideas. I especially liked the "freezeframes" of the screen so students know what to look for and what buttons are supposed to be clicked, what their choices are and most importantly if they are in the right place. it was a very self-centered learning for the students as they went thru each chapter they could see for themselves if they were on track. I had less "i'm lost comments" than with other AutoCad books.