Autocad


What is AutoCad?

AutoCAD was one of the first Computer Aided Design programs to be made available on personal computers. It is built to help people design buildings, products, or public spaces, without having to draw up plans by hand. It was released in 1982 by Autodesk, Inc., and offered a personal solution to software that was before then released only for larger workstations. While CAD programs prior to AutoCAD required massive amounts of computing power in the form of gigantic computers, AutoCAD streamlined its operating and optimized it for the IBM PC, allowing people to work from home or on their own work computers.  AutoCAD is used mainly by drafters, although engineers, surveyors and architects may need to use the software from time to time.
 
An Overview
AutoCAD is a 2D and 3D computer-aided drafting software application used in architecture, construction and manufacturing to assist in the preparation of blueprints and other engineering plans. Professionals who use AutoCAD are often referred to as drafters. While drafters work in a number of specialties, the six most common specialization areas are mechanical drafting, architectural drafting, civil drafting, electrical drafting, electronics drafting and aeronautical drafting.

Release
Official Name
Version
Date of release
Remarks
1
AutoCAD Version 1.0
1.0
1982, December
DWG R1.0 file format introduced.
2
AutoCAD Version 1.2
1.2
1983, April
DWG R1.2 file format introduced.
3
AutoCAD Version 1.3
1.3
1983, August
DWG R1.3 file format introduced.
4
AutoCAD Version 1.4
1.4
1983, October
DWG R1.4 file format introduced.
5
AutoCAD Version 2.0
2.0
1984, October
DWG R2.05 file format introduced.
6
AutoCAD Version 2.1
2.1
1985, May
DWG R2.1 file format introduced.
7
AutoCAD Version 2.5
2.5
1986, June
DWG R2.5 file format introduced.
8
AutoCAD Version 2.6
2.6
1987, April
DWG R2.6 file format introduced. Last version to run without a math co-processor.
9
AutoCAD Release 9
9.0
1987, September
DWG R9 file format introduced.
10
AutoCAD Release 10
10.0
1988, October
DWG R10 file format introduced.
11
AutoCAD Release 11
11.0
1990, October
DWG R11 file format introduced.
12
AutoCAD Release 12
12.0
1992, June
DWG R11/R12 file format introduced. Last release for Apple Macintosh till 2010.
13
AutoCAD Release 13
13.0
1994, November
DWG R13 file format introduced. Last release for Unix, MS-DOS and Windows 3.11.
14
AutoCAD Release 14
14.0
1997, February
DWG R14 file format introduced.
15
AutoCAD 2000
15.0
1999, March
DWG 2000 file format introduced.
16
AutoCAD 2000i
15.1
2000, July

17
AutoCAD 2002
15.6
2001, June

18
AutoCAD 2004
16.0
2003, March
DWG 2004 file format introduced.
19
AutoCAD 2005
16.1
2004, March

20
AutoCAD 2006
16.2
2005, March

21
AutoCAD 2007
17.0
2006, March
DWG 2007 file format introduced.
22
AutoCAD 2008
17.1
2007, March
Annotative Objects introduced. First release for the x86-64 versions of Windows XP and Vista.
23
AutoCAD 2009
17.2
2008, March
Revisions to the user interface including the option of a Microsoft Office 2007-like tabbed ribbon.
24
AutoCAD 2010
18.0
2009, March 24
DWG 2010 file format introduced. Parametrics introduced. Mesh 3D solid modeling introduced. Both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of AutoCAD 2010 and AutoCAD LT 2010 are compatible with and supported under Microsoft Windows 7.
25
AutoCAD 2011
18.1
2010, March 25
Surface Modeling, Surface Analysis and Object Transparency introduced. October 15, 2010 AutoCAD 2011 for Mac was released. Are compatible with and supported under Microsoft Windows 7

Want to learn more about AutoCAD, click the links below for tutorials :
3. AutoCAD Beginner
4. AutoCAD for Beginner, Intermediate and Advance

Sources cited from :
1. http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-autocad.htm
2. http://education-portal.com/what_is_auto_cad.html
3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AutoCAD
4. http://cms.cerritos.edu/uploads/ENGT/autocad%20basics.pdf
5. http://www.andrew.cmu.edu/course/48-568/PDFs/2D_AutoCAD_2009.pdf
6. http://csanet.org/inftech/tutorial.html
7. http://we-r-here.com/cad/tutorials/index.htm

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)