CompuServe Messages

Scott, CAD isn't magic, there is a tendency for managers to expect miracles from their operators when they see the results of a project done on CAD once the operators are competent. So often, a project completed quickly as a result of existing geometry being suited to the job, becomes a yardstick of performance. Since the strength of CAD lies in the ability to utilize existing geometry, those projects that must be done from `scratch' typically take as long to complete as a project done on the boards. Keeping realistic time frames in mind will help prevent disallusionment. Adequate training and establishment of office standards are critical elements in a successful CAD implementation. Hardware requirements are as much a matter of personnal opinion as taste in automobiles. To some users the hardware is simply an appliance, to others it is an extention of their very being and as a result nothing is ever good enough. The latter is always hard to please but which one do you think does a better job? CAD isn't cheap, technology marches on. Things are getting better, used to be the hardware cost more than the software, with PC's the news gets better as more chip manufacturers enter the fray. The big hidden cost of CAD shows up when an installation outgrows the `sneaker net' drawing interchange system. Networking incurs a major expense in hardware, software and installation costs as well as administration overhead. Dennis