What difference is there if you create a drawing in AutoCad and CATIA?

Drawing in AutoCAD is powerful. Very easy create, modify & replicate. Easy to learn too. Its not an Engineering software. Its for generating2D drawings and basic3D too.

InCATIA, creating a drawing is tedious. Esp purely line diagrams. CATIA is an advanced design software with engineering capability. Here you create the engineering product in3D environment and generate2D drawing from the created3D. So the drawing are very accurate and precise.

2D CAD software

These types of softwares have been first developed in way back1970’s. Major automobile and aerospace organizations used to develop their own internal design software. These softwares are mainly developed for the repetitive drafting problems.

Some most popular2D cad softwares of recent times are:

1. Autocad: AutoDesk is developed this software. This is one of the first CAD software which popularize the use of CAD softwares because it does not require strong graphic configurations. In the initial versions it was totally command based but at the later versions it has developed as one of the most user friendly2D software. Autocad can be customized using Auto lisp, Visual lisp, VB,.Net and C++. It supports .DWG and .DXF file formats.3D modeling is also possible using AutoCAD but not so popular.

2. Microstation: Bentley systems developed this software. This software is famous for use in civil, architectural and plant layout related drawings, though it is having strong rendering features. The later versions are capable of3D modeling as well. It can be customized using microstation development language (MDL), VBA, C and C++. It supports .DGN as well as .DWG and .DXF file formats.

3D CAD software

In1980’s these types of softwares first developed by IBM-Dessults partnership. The developments of3D softwares have helped product design real fast and thus give birth of product lifecycle management (PLM) and product data management (PDM).

Other than3D visualization these3D CAD softwares are having lots of advanced features. Some of those are: parent child relation ship, Parametric, Top down modeling approach and geometry can directly be exported to FEA softwares.

Some popular3D cad softwares are:

1. Catia (Computer Aided Three Dimensional Interactive Application): This is icon based high end cad software, developed and marketed by desault-IBM. Though it is having all the modules like part, assembly, surface etc. but it is known for its very advanced surface modeling capabilities. Cost wise it is higher then pro/e, solid edge etc.Apart from CAD it is having modules in CAM (computer aided manufacturing) and CAE (computer aided engineering).The latest version of it can be customized using VB, C++ and CAA.

2. Pro-Engineer (pro/e): It is developed by PTC. This is menu based software. It is having many modules which include solid modeling, surface Modeling, sheet metal, Pro mechanica (FEA), machining, cabling etc. Pro/e is known for its strong parametric and logical relations. Pro/e is good in sheet metal also. It is mainly used by medium scale industries.

3. Solid Edge: It is developed by UGS. This is also icon based software.

Though it is very user friendly, it is having some drawbacks like: user cannot see how the edit will interact with its subsequent features, since while editing it roll backs .Solid edge can be customized using VB.

I Don't know...

Conception Assistée Tridimensionnelle Interactive Appliquée

I am using only the CAD software and not yet use CATIA so I can’t say about this because my field of spatiality is  Roads so I am using CAD and Road CALC and other Road Related software but now I will try to create and check with CATIA also,  Thanks for your Great contribution to enhancing my Knowledeg.

AutoCAD: is widely used for civil and architectural engineering, mostly for very large drawing scale, like structures and buildings. But it can also be used for mechanical projects. Autodesk Invetor: mostly used for mechanical and electrical products. It has additional functions for dynamic simulation and stress analysis. Solidworks is similar to Autodesk Invetor. Solid edge is suitable for small projects, it can't handle large projects. It's relatively small application with limited abilities.

CATIA is a huge application, with so many functions and abilities, it can handle huge projects, like rockets and national projects. It covers almost all aspects of engineering design and manufacturing. It's so big that the documentation can take years to cover and understand fully.

Actually I don't use CATIA .. but I've already knew about it .. thanks for Mr.Jacob AlOmar and Mr.Jetley for this explanation

autocad is best for 2d cad and more user friendly.

catia is best for surface design as well as 3d modelling is good in catia

Auto Cad is used for2D drawing. It's user friendly and easy to draw, understand.

Catia is for3D drawing. It's mostly used in Aviation purpose.

AutoCAD is a basic software in which you can create2D diagrams and some3D objects as well.

CATIA is an advanced software which is built for "class A" surfacing features. 

CATIA is generally used in industries where surfacing is the main concern.

example : Aerospace, Automotive industries etc.

I dont know anything of CATIA but I know creating a Drawing in2D and3D is simple in AUTOCAD. Built a correct template and this is useful for every Project