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Posted: 10/21/2019 12:39:23 PM EDT
[#1]
using it
nothing beats actual time behind the screen |
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Posted: 10/21/2019 12:53:23 PM EDT
[#2]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
using it nothing beats actual time behind the screen I would add watching videos of the workflow for the particular program, and refer back when you get stuck. |
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Posted: 10/21/2019 12:59:53 PM EDT
[#3]
I suggest Fusion 360.
Here is a Video I made. It will give you a starting point. https://youtu.be/drrddxD36y4 |
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Posted: 10/21/2019 1:11:34 PM EDT
[#4]
As somebody who has used AutoCAD since about 1985, you have to put in the hours. The initial learning curve is steep, but just keep at it. Think of it as learning a new musical instrument.
At least you now have truckloads of youtube videos for guidance. I did take a few semesters in college for it, but I still had to practice. Now, it is so ingrained, it's no longer a part of conscious thought, I just think about what I want to draw, not how. Keyboard shortcuts are life. Whatever platform you end up using, you'll probably want to make custom LISP keystroke macros. But that comes with experience, certainly no rush on getting that even in your first six months |
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Posted: 10/21/2019 2:05:11 PM EDT
[#5]
School.
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Posted: 10/21/2019 2:29:58 PM EDT
[#6]
I have been making objects for my drones from prototype frames to GoPro mounts for the last 3 months.
I may not be as fast as somebody who makes a living off it but I have gotten better. Fusion 360 is pretty intuitive and whatever else you need to do is a quick youtube search away. Taking my renders to 3D stl files for 3D printing is easy. Starting to mess with learning the CAM sode of things for milling my own frames next. |
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Posted: 10/21/2019 2:40:47 PM EDT
[#7]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
School. i could always tell someone that used the software alot, vs those that just did it for class and assignments |
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Posted: 10/21/2019 2:44:04 PM EDT
[#8]
There are lots of tutorials on youtube. Not just "follow these steps to make this object" tutorials, although those can be helpful.
There's also general how to do stuff like parametric designs and whatnot. I learned (still learning, actually) fusion 360 by tinkering with it and watching stuff on youtube. I'm hardly a pro at it, but I have designed several useful products that I'd like to get printed, and a few more that will be eventually made into physical plans for construction. One of the first designs I did in fusion 360, an ARFCOM BFL maker coin design: 
Another, a junction box complete with cap and screws: 
This is a fan blade (not a design, just a proof of concept that I understand how to make them) 
Here's an adapter I designed to connect my 400mm f/2.8 lens to my 77mm solar filter 
A couple things I've designed that are not posted here, a baffle stack and tube for a suppressor, and a work bench. |
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Posted: 10/21/2019 2:45:19 PM EDT
[#9]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
As somebody who has used AutoCAD since about 1985, you have to put in the hours. The initial learning curve is steep, but just keep at it. Think of it as learning a new musical instrument. At least you now have truckloads of youtube videos for guidance. I did take a few semesters in college for it, but I still had to practice. Now, it is so ingrained, it's no longer a part of conscious thought, I just think about what I want to draw, not how. Keyboard shortcuts are life. Whatever platform you end up using, you'll probably want to make custom LISP keystroke macros. But that comes with experience, certainly no rush on getting that even in your first six months 
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Posted: 10/21/2019 2:57:24 PM EDT
[#10]
I use SW at work every day, mostly taught myself in college tinkering before they really picked it up.
Have a personal copy at home for projects, used it for everything from gun parts to my sister's house, to my new garage, etc. Drawn up a few things for people here over the years as well. |
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Posted: 10/21/2019 3:06:30 PM EDT
[#11]
Freecad has some part tutorials that show you step by step how to model some things.
Lars Christensen on YouTube has a *lot* of content for Fusion 360. Youtube is great for this stuff. One way is to just search for something you're trying to do, and see what comes up. There's no better motivation than "I need to make this" to get you to figure out how to design something. |
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Posted: 10/21/2019 3:16:31 PM EDT
[#12]
I learned by watching this guy: https://www.youtube.com/user/vertanux1
Within 1 hour I was making things. That was a few years ago and hundreds of Autodesk hours later- now I have a shop that I sell 3d printed stuffs. https://www.etsy.com/shop/kiloohm |
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Posted: 10/21/2019 3:36:08 PM EDT
[#13]
A copy paste of a wor doc I put together for some youngsters that wanted to learn on their own.
Fusion 360 for hobbyists https://www.autodesk.com/campaigns/fusion-360-for-hobbyists Fusion 360 free 3D CAD/CAM design software for students and educators https://www.autodesk.com/products/fusion-360/students-teachers-educators Here is a short video that will show you what YOU can learn to do. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2u26YaJm48 Next comes some resources that I have come across that have helped me learn about this whole computerized design mystery. First in no particular order is NYC ? CNC They have CNC machines quite similar to the ones at our Maker Center and in my opinion the guy puts out some good videos. https://www.nyccnc.com/fusion-360/ Go here and check out Titans of CNC Academy YOU can learn much here, and it’s free. If you want go ahead and sign up https://academy.titansofcnc.com/ Watch these videos they will help you get started. This video is where I started learning CAD about 6 months ago. It was done by Lars Christensen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5bc9c3S12g&t=3s Brad Tallis does a good job of explaining some of the finer points of Fusion 360 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLEVULiWognkczOpDSGSlFg/videos I hope this helps you out. JP. |
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Posted: 10/21/2019 5:36:15 PM EDT
[#14]
Titans of CNC or Lynda.com. You'll need to find a seat of Solidworks for Lynda.com.
Fusion/Titans is the best value (free) by a long shot. |
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Posted: 10/21/2019 6:26:08 PM EDT
[#15]
For simple geometric stuff or to edit STLs I use Tinkercad. It's free, super simple, and good enough for about 50% of what I make.
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Posted: 10/21/2019 6:36:30 PM EDT
[#16]
Step 1. Download the student version of Autocad. Depending on how new your computer is, you might not be able to run the latest version, so check the specs before you download.
Step 2. YouTube and Autocad's own website. There's also a help feature that's really good that's built into it. But honestly if you just follow the youtube tutorials you'll be good to go. It's not hard. |
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Posted: 10/21/2019 8:05:43 PM EDT
[#17]
Fusion 360 is fantastic and free for commercial and non-commercial use if your business makes less than $100k using the software. Autodesk has it available on their website. Hans Christiansen has a bunch of fantastic vids on YouTube to start off and advance quickly. I highly recommend them.
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Posted: 10/22/2019 9:44:29 AM EDT
[#18]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
using it nothing beats actual time behind the screen That’s all there is to it. It can be frustrating and annoying but push through and before you realize it the things you’re doing or learning to do are advanced as hell. |
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Posted: 10/22/2019 6:19:48 PM EDT
[#19]
Get a 3d cad program, start using it. When you need to do something you don't know how to do Google it and watch some youtube videos. Repeat.
The same way you learn how to do anything in 2019. |
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Posted: 10/23/2019 1:22:58 PM EDT
[#20]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5tp4QXciK4
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Posted: 10/24/2019 8:55:34 PM EDT
[#21]
Lars Christensen YouTube channel is pretty darn good.
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Posted: 10/24/2019 9:57:21 PM EDT
[#22]
I just remembered I also have turbocad 2017 deluxe. Haven't used it much either, so I can't remember if it can do 3D, threads, etc.
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Posted: 11/1/2019 8:07:24 PM EDT
[#23]
Great thread! I was about to ask the same question.
Not trying to take the thread off topic, but to go along with this topic, what’s a good CNC machine that’ll go as far as making an AR-15 lower and is not too horribly pricey to get started with? If this is too far off topic let me know and I’ll start another thread. |
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Posted: 11/1/2019 8:12:14 PM EDT
[#24]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Great thread! I was about to ask the same question. Not trying to take the thread off topic, but to go along with this topic, what's a good CNC machine that'll go as far as making an AR-15 lower and is not too horribly pricey to get started with? If this is too far off topic let me know and I'll start another thread. Be it known I have not gotten to actually try it though. One day... |
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Posted: 11/2/2019 7:13:24 PM EDT
[#25]
@Rat_Patrol what cnc model did you get?
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Posted: 11/2/2019 11:08:39 PM EDT
[#26]
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Posted: 11/3/2019 5:26:21 PM EDT
[#27]
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Posted: 11/3/2019 7:57:25 PM EDT
[#28]
I find the "Learn Fusion 360 or die trying" to be good so far. His version of the program is a hair out of date, but it's not hard to figure out. He has like 13 episodes, and doesn't waste time explaining to do obvious things like save and open, or describing the layout, etc.
Just gets right down to it. |
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Posted: 11/9/2019 4:53:55 AM EDT
[#29]
I'm a Solidworks guy. The best way to learn it is to:
1) Get the program (or the educational version). 2) Get on YouTube and search for "Solidworks for beginners tutorial" (or some variation). 3) Open both the program and the tutorial, following along as the tutorial demonstrates hows and whats. There's a bunch of tutorials, often for different year/versions of the Software, but any fairly recent version shouldn't be overly different. The real value of the tutorials is learning the interface, which (in Solidworks) can be formidable to the noob. Once you've been shown how to set up the workspace, draw a shape, extrude it, and take cuts/etc....you're on your way. That's about 2-3hrs worth. After that, it's mostly just running into a wall ("HTF do I format the threading on this bolt?") and searching for a demo specific to that. There's demos that show you how to post-produce, "cleaning up" and editing your work into a professional format, and so on. Bottom line: Watch tutorials, imitate the stuff they show, then just dive in and find problems expressing your ideas, then search for how to do what you want. |
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Posted: 11/9/2019 1:17:03 PM EDT
[#30]
If you know somebody that can give the quicky 1hr crash course, it would be a huge leg up on the basics of how it works.
After that, it comes down to how creative you are problem solving, youtube vids, patience, and more patience. This line above is pretty much beating your head against the wall until you get it right 
There will be an initial hump to get over (like pretty much everything in life), but after that it gets easier and things start progressing pretty quickly. I find standard geometry stuff pretty easy. The OCD requires dimensions, relationships, etc. The curvy sculpty stuff is awesome, but my head just dont work that way and I really struggle here.
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Posted: 11/18/2019 4:00:24 PM EDT
[#31]
Quote HistoryQuoted: This. I'm so used to MasterCAM at work, I keep trying to use shortcuts in F360 or other programs. |
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