this community is awesome
this community is awesome
Just want to thank everyone that engaged with my post today everyone was so chill and inspiring. I want to encourage us all in this community and all over Lemmy to continue to be kind and helpful. I had so many bad experiences on Reddit with hate keepers and know it alls and I’m glad we got this opportunity to be something better.
Ps: what cad software did you start on and what do you use now? Any tips and tricks will be greatly appreciated!
If you code at all OpenSCAD
If you've never done modeling at all TinkerCAD
If you want the easiest experience Fusion360
If you live the FOSS doctrine -- FreeCAD
It's possible that I'm not familiar enough with it, but in my experience OpenSCAD makes the vast majority of projects take way longer compared to non-scripting-based CAD software. I learned Onshape for a class and haven't used OSCAD since. (though it definitely still has some niche uses)
I find the same thing but It seems clear to me if you understood 3d geometry really well you would have a ton of benefit
I might be a bit of an odd case, but I use Autodesk Maya 2014. I was trained for 3d modelling and animation on it and it was still on my computer from those old days. I'm familiar with the tools and I get get what I want out of it quickly. I'm definitely missing some modern features but I'm not printing anything that needs more.
I've got other priorities at this stage in life to bother learning a new system that may not bring any benefit.
I bounce around between FreeCAD and OpenSCAD but I started on Sketchup.
First design was on freecad. The others on openscad.
I use AutoCAD r14 for 2D and for 3D modeling I use Delcam PowerSHAPE (now it has been acquisition by Autodesk), it's back when I study in university. Later I change it depends on what company use/have. Last I use NX in work.
For tips and tricks you'll be find it more when you do more practice, it is difficult to say what need to do. But for basic I'll say :
- Create better defined sketch.
- Do feature based mod/operation first. For examples do fillet/chamfer last if can, do pattern feature not sketch. It'll be easier later when you need to edit.
- Learn how to modeling efficiently.
For starting software there are many option out there. But I can recomend you view of it, especially that has educational/hobbyist/free version.
- Fusion360 (with edu email).
- Solidworks (IDK, it has version that I mean or not, but this one have largest user base).
- Autodesk Inventor (with edu email).
- Solid Edge Community Edition.
- NX education license.
- ZW3D edu license.
- Creo (it'll force you to learn how to model efficiently)
- Onshape (cloud based CAD, just need web browser to modeling).
- FreeCAD (if you want FOSS)
- Shapr3D (works on iPad and Windows, will be great if you have apple pencil or graphic tablet), (with edu email).
All of them have similarities in how to do 3D modelling, each of them has pros and cons. Choose one that you like and master it, try othe CAD package and you'll find which one is home to you. 😂
Keep practicing and be better.
lol hatekeepers. I'm going to use that -- what an apt term
Started with solidworks in 2008 and that was a big mistake. Its too good and its not open source lol
Same which is why I pirate it
If you're new to 3d design I usually recommend starting with Tinkercad. I moved from there to Fusion 360. Fusion is a huge pain in the butt if you don't want to way them large sums of money, but it's the cad software I most enjoy.
Step 1. Start with TinkerCAD
Step 2. Graduate to Fusion 360
Step 3. Go back to TinkerCAD because F360 was difficult
Final Step. Read other people's comments about moving to Fusion 360 and cry a littleFor learning or use. Fusion 360 still offers a free version for home use. There are great tutorials on YouTube or buy a $30/month Udemy account and get access to tons of courses and everything else in their library and cancel when you're done learning.