All iPads iPad as a CAD content creation device ?

[x.marX]

I'm a design engineer who mainly works on production drawings for manufacturing. Many times, I had to make some minor to major corrections during my " unwinding" times, away from the workstation. Sometimes, I would have to make drawings from scratch in short notice.

9.7" 2018 iPad seems like a cost effective solution vs the surface pro for that purpose.
What do you guys think ?

Also, any software recommendations apart from AutoCAD 360 ?

 

[Newtons Apple]

I use AutoCad and the iPad is not ready except for the simplest of needs.

 

[Shirasaki]

Software support is still lacking. A windows laptop works considerably better than an iPad. My thought.

 

[x.marX]

Hmm...thanks guys for the replies!

I saw a demo of AutoCAD 360 on iPad pro with Apple pencil which seemed really intuitive.
May be that demo is just that, a demo ! I really hope it really picks up though. I don't like to carry my bulky laptop everywhere I go to make minor corrections and to be able to do it in a tablet would be great.

What about MS Excel ?
I have an Office 360 subscription and I'm hoping that the iPad version is good enough. Have anyone used Excel on iPad ?
How is it ?

I use Excel spreadsheets heavily for doing engineering calculations which uses a lot of "vlookup" by the way. Hope that it won't lag too much.

 

[Shirasaki]

I didn’t use a lot of excel on iPad. But the feature set on iPad is enough for simple tasks. Granted it does not support all functions, But Vlookup is supported on iPhone. On iPad, you can also draw sth on your excel sheet, a small bonus.
Here is the vlookup screenshot on iPhone.

 

[x.marX]

Thats good ! I think I can live with that.
I don't use any macros and VB but my excel files are too long and data heavy enough for my work laptop to make it lag.

Thanks for the reply dude !

OFFTOPIC:
I have a "dying" iPhone 6 and I'm yet to decide on which phone to get. I want good battery backup and iPhone SE would be a great option. I know the screen is small for gaming, excel editing & AutoCAD but if I buy an iPad (the original purpose of this thread/my question !), it should be a good combination, right ?

 

[Shirasaki]

Thats good ! I think I can live with that.
I don't use any macros and VB but my excel files are too long and data heavy enough for my work laptop to make it lag.

Thanks for the reply dude !

OFFTOPIC:
I have a "dying" iPhone 6 and I'm yet to decide on which phone to get. I want good battery backup and iPhone SE would be a great option. I know the screen is small for gaming, excel editing & AutoCAD but if I buy an iPad (the original purpose of this thread/my question !), it should be a good combination, right ?

Yes. That is a nice combo to have.

 

[x.marX]

Update:

1. I recently changed my mind to go for a Surface device but it costs a lot here while I can get ipads at 10 or even 15% discounts. So, I'm gonna get an iPad 6 32 GB.
For storage, I'm planning to use the sandisk iexpand. But, is it a good idea ?

2. Ming Chi Kuo is saying that Apple might go for a more aggressive pricing strategy this year. So, should I put my iPhone buying on hold for now ?

https://appleinsider.com/articles/1...re-appears-predicts-lower-2018-iphone-pricing

 

[anthony13]

I'm a design engineer who mainly works on production drawings for manufacturing. Many times, I had to make some minor to major corrections during my " unwinding" times, away from the workstation. Sometimes, I would have to make drawings from scratch in short notice.

9.7" 2018 iPad seems like a cost effective solution vs the surface pro for that purpose.
What do you guys think ?

Also, any software recommendations apart from AutoCAD 360 ?

I’m a heavy vectorworks user and have yet to find anything even for simple tasks. It’s a total bummer as the iPad Pro 10.5 is a speech machine but i still have to carry around my MacBook Pro every day relegating my iPad to a media device.

 

[Boyd01]

I’m a heavy vectorworks user and have yet to find anything even for simple tasks.

That's a shame, I was just wondering about the possibility of an iPad for CAD. I have used VectorWorks since around 1997 (?) when it was called MiniCAD. I retired back in 2011 and don't do a lot of drafting anymore, but still need some kind of CAD software. My old version of VectorWorks broke several years ago with a MacOS update so I have a Mac Mini setup to dual boot with Mountain Lion which will still run VectorWorks.

VectorWorks pricing has gotten outrageous for someone like me, it's very hard to justify $1500+ for software that isn't used very often. Wish there was a reasonably priced alternative, either on MacOS or iOS. I used the free trial of AutoCAD LT for awhile and could probably adapt but didn't really fall in love with it.

 

[sonicrobby]

For CAD creation, high recommendation for the Surface.
Thats the only reason I had gotten my Surface Pro, strictly for Solidworks usage. The iPad can handle everything in my workflow except for CAD creation. However, that is because there is still no app that works for me on the iPad yet. It could be different for you since Autodesk does know how to get with the times.

 

[x.marX]

For CAD creation, high recommendation for the Surface.
Thats the only reason I had gotten my Surface Pro, strictly for Solidworks usage. The iPad can handle everything in my workflow except for CAD creation. However, that is because there is still no app that works for me on the iPad yet. It could be different for you since Autodesk does know how to get with the times.

But the Surface Pro is very pricy here (5X !).

 

[sonicrobby]

But the Surface Pro is very pricy here (5X !).

Haha I understand, but just because the iPad is cheaper doesnt necessarily mean it could do everything a laptop version of ACAD can I personally dont have enough experience with ACAD on iOS as I dont have the subscription. If you have tried a demo and it suffices for your needs, then definitely get the iPad. Its definitely more portable and mobile friendly than the surface. Just make sure it will actually work for you.

 

[Boyd01]

I saw a demo of AutoCAD 360 on iPad pro with Apple pencil which seemed really intuitive.

I just had a look at some of these: https://www.autodesk.com/products/autocad-mobile/features

For five bucks you can get the pro version for a month. Seems like it would at least be worth playing around with. My own needs are pretty simple. I don't even have an iPad at this point and am still trying to figure out if one could take the place of some of my Mac software which is all out of date and very expensive to replace.

 

[Boyd01]

Just to follow up.... I now have a 2018 9.7" iPad and Apple Pencil. Just downloaded the AutoCAD Mobile app and have been playing around a bit. It does a nice job displaying one of my existing .dwg files and I am able to modify it. Looks pretty good so far, but probably not the tool of choice for anything complex.

The basic app is free, although it does not allow you to create, store or modify drawings. But the good news is, you can activate a free 7 day trial of the premium app without signing up for anything or providing a credit card number. So it's definitely worth checking out if you're curious.

 

[neutrino23]

I'm a design engineer who mainly works on production drawings for manufacturing. Many times, I had to make some minor to major corrections during my " unwinding" times, away from the workstation. Sometimes, I would have to make drawings from scratch in short notice.

9.7" 2018 iPad seems like a cost effective solution vs the surface pro for that purpose.
What do you guys think ?

Also, any software recommendations apart from AutoCAD 360 ?

You should take a look at Shapr: 3D. Seems very nice. A bit pricey for casual use.

I’d keep an eye on the App Store. It seems there has been a surge of better quality software for the iPad in the last six months or so. Coincidentally(?) a little more than a year after the iPad Pro and Pencil came out.

 

[x.marX]

Good points guys !

I'm waiting for the Amazon Prime day offers to go live to see if I can snag one at a decent price.

 

[x.marX]

Good points guys !

I'm waiting for the Amazon Prime day offers to go live to see if I can snag one at a decent price.

I bought the iPad 6 32GB wifi along with a tempered glass screen cover.

Gonna buy a cover with a stand built-in followed by a pen and a Bluetooth keyboard but the choices are astounding !!
Suggestions are appreciated !

 

[Boyd01]

I think the Apple Pencil is the only real choice for a stylus. But I have had an Adonit Jot Dash for a few years, it has a fine point is like a more precise "finger", but it doesn't communicate with the iPad like the Apple Pencil. It's a nice option for iPads and iPhones that aren't compatible with the Apple Pencil .I see it has been replaced by the Dash 3 now, don't know what the difference is. http://www.adonit.net/dash/

I am still happy with my Zagg Rugged Book keyboard case. It's big and heavy but works well and does a good job protecting the iPad. I like the way you can reverse the ipad easily with the magnetic hinge. I'm a touch typist and the keys have a decent amount of travel, although the feeling is a little odd since the keyboard is a hollow plastic box. https://www.zagg.com/eu/en_eu/keyboards/rugged-book-keyboard-case

 

[x.marX]

Thanks for the suggestions Boyd01 !

I didn't see your post and pulled the trigger lol
Anyway, all those are low cost options. I'll try to get a feel for it and probably replace it later.

Yes, Apple pencil is my target but I'm still not 100% sold on going full on with the iPad. So, I'm holding off investing in the iPad ecosystem for now. I'm learning a lot of things/softwares/procedures for an exam. So, my primary use for the iPad is to create notes ! And I'm sure a low cost stylus/pen would be suffice.

Let me see how it goes and thanks again for the suggestions !
Appreciate it !

 

[Boyd01]

I'm sure a low cost stylus/pen would be suffice.

Just use your finger, that is the lowest cost device and you won't get any additional capabilities unless you invest in the Apple Pencil.

 

[x.marX]

UPDATE:
1. I'm worried about the iPad as it is still in transit. The weather is very bad here with torrential rains and strong winds and many roads, including the warehouses of courier/freight forwarding company's are water logged.

2. I booked the Apple Pencil at the local mobile phone shop but I might get the Adonit Pixel Pro instead if they have it in stock !

3. The screen guard as well the case is delayed too.
I'm thinking of cancelling it and buying one from that local store instead.

 

[EdwardC]

My AutoCAD subscription includes the "Pro" version of the IOS app and I can say it is for very basic drawing. I would go with a laptop and the real deal. Additionally, if you were to go to Windows, you could use Draftsight Pro, which can be purchased as a subscription or perpetual license and is an excellent alternative to AutoCAD. The free version is very good as well. They also have a Mac version, but it is not nearly as good.

 

[x.marX]

My AutoCAD subscription includes the "Pro" version of the IOS app and I can say it is for very basic drawing. I would go with a laptop and the real deal. Additionally, if you were to go to Windows, you could use Draftsight Pro, which can be purchased as a subscription or perpetual license and is an excellent alternative to AutoCAD. The free version is very good as well. They also have a Mac version, but it is not nearly as good.

Thanks for the information !

May be they would add more features to their iPad app as the current one is not good enough.

 

[Boyd01]

I got the free trial of the autoCAD app, and it worked well for opening existing drawings and making small changes. Spent a couple hours one evening trying to create something moderately complex and finally gave up after accomplishing almost nothing. Some of it was lack of familiarity, but it just seemed way too hard and the available tools are limited. The price is certainly reasonable, but I really don't need it.

Tried several other CAD apps that I wasn't impressed with. Shapr3d is the coolest app I've tried, but I really haven't spent mucn time with it. It seems more like a 3d design app instead of a general CAD app for creating technical drawings. Need to spend a little more time with it though.