It was the first parametric CAD software that was launched in the market. Conclusion: SolidWorks Vs Creo What Is Creo ParametricĬreo, originally named Pro Engineer when it was launched in 1985.Hope this helps and good luck to your friend in their program! Sounds like a very strong structure to prepare them for industry. This isn't as possible with Creo and SW, but if you can run them correctly it is difficult for someone to beat the time allotment needed for projects. The upside of AutoCAD is that most CAD operators can jump into it and at least find their way around it to get what they need to get done, done. Of course it requires a steep learning curve to become a strong operator of Creo or SW.
My time working as a consultant and improving efficiency has definitely dictated that. A strong operator in either of those programs can complete tasks much quicker than a strong operator of AutoCAD. In a nutshell, the pro's of Creo and SolidWorks are that they have a significantly more complex and efficient modeling package. We think we are justified in doing this as we have students regularly win National medals in SkillsUSA competitions and many of our students move on to be high level students and leaders at schools like MIT, WPI, RPI, RIT, etc. If a student plans on moving onto an engineering program, we prepare them with high level designs in both programs. If a student has a job lined up as many of them do, we focus on the software that employer uses. We then build on this by utilizing the modeling packages for Creo their sophomore year, then SolidWorks their junior year and we then allow students to choose their senior year based on what they plan to do in the future.
Personally, in our shop, we utilize AutoCAD as an introductory level program for our freshman class to teach the fundamentals of CAD from creating mechanical drawings, schematics and other common drawing types as well as learning things like view projection, dimensioning theory, and other drawing construction theory. Autodesk themselves do not market AutoCAD as a high level 3D modeling package. This isn't to say it can't be used in high level design, but it's not ideal.
AutoCAD is more of a beginner level software that is very diverse, but it's modeling package is not used as regularly for complex design. Creo and SolidWorks are much more employable than AutoCAD when it comes to 3D modeling. I've utilized Creo, AutoCAD, SolidWorks, NX, Inventor and even Katia in both a professional and academic setting. Prior to teaching, I was lucky enough to have a very enjoyable and challenging career as a Mechanical Engineer and Project Manager. Hello there! I'm a CAD teacher at a high school in Massachusetts.