How did you learn CAD?

[mitch_04]

There is a large amount of people who are very talented with CAD on here. Astro pops up immediately since his entire build is designed before it's built, but I've seen it quite often on other builds as well.

My re-enlistment comes due in the coming May, and as long as it's available, I might as well take the college money while it's offered. College credits will help me towards my promotion as well. I figured that I can do CAD online and it'll be something that will be beneficial to me with my other hobbies. Might even make a few extra nickels on the side to buy some parts with.

So I'm curious, how and where did those of you who know CAD learn it?

[68vert]

My work sent me to training. PM me if you need tips etc

[GaRys69]

If you think the same as being the fabricator such as machining, cutting, welding and even forming the learning will come easy.
Most of the 3D programs that I have used have training built into them, but sometimes it is easier with someone there to bail you out.

Not sure how they teach CAD online unless it is just 2D and not 3D.
For most 3D programs your investment could be steep (unless they pay for that also).
For a computer that would not take forever to process and maybe the cost of a license.
Of course that depends on how detailed and how large the files become that you plan on doing.

Good luck and Thank you for serving.

[minendrews68]

I started out on a drawing board many, many years ago. I then progressed into CAD. As said before some CAD programs are quite expensive. there are however some that are reasonable. one program I use to use to do product development some 15 years ago was over $27k per seat!! It was Unigraphics (which back in the '70s was called McAuto. Very nice 2d/3d program, it would do just about anything. I play around with AutoCAD now. Even it runs in the $4k to $5k range.

[mmosley]

It was one of the classes I took while getting my Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering... I highly recommend that route, not only can you learn CAD, and get someone to pay to send you to further training, you can also have a shot at a career where you can actually afford this hobby. As a Mechanical Engineering student I also took hands on classes in machining, machine elements, casting processes, materials selection, and a few other useful classes for hot rodding.

When I was a design engineer I was sent to a few classes in Autodesk Inventor, Solid Works, Cosmos Motion, and a few others. I did some projects in FEA both as an undergraduate, and later as a grad student and used it as a research engineer later. As a grad student I also took classes in vehicle system dynamics which included projects like designing an anti-lock brake controller. My employer at the time paid for me to take coursework at the local community college in TIG welding also. The reasoning was that a designer that could weld also would be a better designer for assemblies that needed to be welded.

[mitch_04]

Mike, that's the exact route I would take if I ever decide to change my "life plans". I love living in a small town (1300) and would have considered going to school for mechanical engineering if there would have been a way to stay in my small town with that degree. Alas, there is no needs for engineers around here, mostly farming and farming related business! I have always said that if I am deployed when I come back I will 1. Buy a sport bike (I had one and miss it, love the speed!) 2. Pay off my home loan (3 years left) 3. Go to school for engineering purely for my own use. You get a decent amount more to go to college after being deployed and I would have already left my job for a year, so it wouldn't be like upping and quitting. Also, the extra money from the deployment would keep us going with part time jobs, even with a family.

Anywho, I do have AutoCAD. They give the student version to military for free. It's not allowed for profit, just personal usage, which is all I want. I also have Sketchup and have tinkered with designing a few houses and garages on there.

[mmosley]

Anywho, I do have AutoCAD. They give the student version to military for free. It's not allowed for profit, just personal usage, which is all I want.

Can you get Autodesk Inventor? It is made by the same folks but it is native 3D. Take a look.

[pist0lpete]

I am curious if you are interested in cad as a career or a hobby? If it's for hobby the biggest hurdle will be the cost of the software. As far as training goes, I use solidworks at work but not often enought to be as fast as our drafters. When I do need to model something and hit a block I have found a plethora of videos on YouTube. Also GoEngineer(our solidworks vendor) has weekly tutorials you can check out for free if you are a customer. If you are considering drafting as a career i would strongly advise you to consider engineering. In my experience the drafters have been limited in their advancement opportunities.

[mmosley]

If you are considering drafting as a career i would strongly advise you to consider engineering. In my experience the drafters have been limited in their advancement opportunities.

Some companies will take a talented drafter, give him the title of Mechanical Designer, use it as an excuse not to hire the engineer they need and pay him hourly something less than what an engineer would make. Nobody wins. Even if the designer has the skills, experience, and knowledge.

Anyway, yes, given the opportunity, the engineering degree is a worthwhile pursuit. If you do not want to leave your area look into opportunities in ME&P, these are needed everywhere and regional opportunities should always exist. Tailor your education and your job pursuits accordingly if that is your interest. Make sure you get on with a company that offers a path to be a Professional Engineer, this is a field where that is a requirement for advancement. You may very well be able to find a job without relocating. It is also a field that with a PE license and some experience it is not too difficult to strike out on your own.

[Samckitt]

I studied Autocad in college, and my first few years of work were doing design work using Unigraphics. I currently work for Siemens that produces the NX (formerly Unigraphics) software, have been with them for 15 years. My job is software product consultant, I have experience in modeling, assemblies & for the past 5 years my specialty is NX Routing (piping, HVAC, etc)

[minendrews68]

Another Unuigraphics user.......... I had a lot of training in Unigraphics in St. Louis. Scott, did you ever go there for training?


I studied Autocad in college, and my first few years of work were doing design work using Unigraphics. I currently work for Siemens that produces the NX (formerly Unigraphics) software, have been with them for 15 years. My job is software product consultant, I have experience in modeling, assemblies & for the past 5 years my specialty is NX Routing (piping, HVAC, etc)

[Samckitt]

Another Unuigraphics user.......... I had a lot of training in Unigraphics in St. Louis. Scott, did you ever go there for training?

I have been there for training, but has been a while. The past 5 or so training classes I have been to has been Siemens only training classes, other than Routing Beta testing. Last "public" training class I went to there was probably Sheet Metal training.

[mitch_04]

It would be for a hobby mostly.

[rockytopper]

It would be for a hobby mostly.
You might try google sketch up they have a free version. YouTube has info about it.
Rocky

[CampbellshotrodsAZ]

I learned my CAD by racking up 5 figure debt... through my engineering degree. But if one were to pay over $4k for the software, the built in tutorials are enough to get anyone to learn, especially with Solidworks which is very user friendly. You can also become friends with computer geeks... know enough of them and one is bound to have a version you might be able to use....

[chickn]

Try creo direct modeling express, its free

http://www.ptc.com/product/creo/elements/direct-modeling/express

[mitch_04]

68 Vert and I have been discussing this a little through PMs. It sounds like Sketchup will work for me to get started with and to design pieces that I will not need machined. I am going to see if I can get AutoCAD Inventor through military use as well.

For designing frames and suspension components, Sketchup should work as I'm using them to layout everything to see what will fit. However, I do have a friend with access to a CNC machine and may want to build a part or 2 down the road. I'll have to get somewhat useful with a CAD program that can export the correct file for that.

[rrelco]

Solidworks all the way! i am a mechanical designer been that for over 20 years. tried them all Pro-E (creo) is not user friendly in my option! Inventor (Autodesk) is fun but i would prefer SW by far.

[captainofiron]

I learned Solid works and ProE in college, most of my experience is just tinkering around with the program.

In my last job they sent me to PTC classes, really showed me cool uses and shortcuts

[ho428]

I started sketching parts in the shop, then took some drafting courses and moved into engineering and onto the drafting board, been using Autocad and ACAD Mechanical for almost 30 years doing machine design, now learning Inventor. Inventor 3D modeling is a royal PITA to learn, even if you've been doing 2D cad your whole career, nothing translates over. Autocad is pretty easy to learn though, but no 3D in it.
Supposedly Solids works is more intuitive to learn, but I'm stuck with what work provides.
Solid works has a Student design kit. Cheap enough to try for 12 months, not sure how it progresses into a permanent seat though. If starting from scratch, learn some basic drafting first, then go 3D all the way.

[mmosley]

Inventor 3D modeling is a royal PITA to learn, even if you've been doing 2D cad your whole career, nothing translates over. Autocad is pretty easy to learn though, but no 3D in it.

Now that is irony. I learned how to machine first, then learned solid modeling. I tried using 2D Autocad afterwards and it was a royal PITA! With SolidWorks or Inventor I take my "block" of material, then extrude cuts, holes, or what not into my material the same as if I was machining it. Same with sheetmetal. I create a flat sheet in Inventor then draw a line, bend it, and etcetera. When I am done creating my solid model I click a few buttons and presto, 3 view drawing falls out already on the template with all the title blocks. Drag a few dimension call outs and they automatically populate with the size of the feature just as I created it. One or two more simple steps and I have a PDF print I can send to any machine shop for a quote. Assemblies are equally easy. BOM is generated automatically. Weldments take a little more thought. But you can do fitted pieces and fixture all in 3D model, then go cut the part with a bevels cut into them so all your welder has to do is assemble the jig saw puzzle and burn it in.

I guess if you learn one first, then looking at it from another mindset or methodology you have to take a few steps back to get into it.

[jakespeeds]

For me 20 years of machining and sheet metal experience. Got involved with autocad for a number of years and took a vocational school for it. Then switched to Solidworks. Paid for the school offered by Solidworks and been using it for over 10 years now. I guess the moral of the story after reading other experiences on here is that there is no one way.

Jake

[mitch_04]

Kind of turned into "Which CAD program" thread! I don't mind, still interesting. For me, for now, it is more about what I'm able to acquire. I already have AutoCAD, I have to look into Inventor, and I'll check Solidworks as well. My re-enlistment is not for a while yet, so I have time as far as college courses go.

Does anyone have experience with online courses relating to CAD?

[rockytopper]

You tube is your friend. We now use Catia V5 at work. We have a very large training dept but the easy way to learn a new function is you tube. People have made step by step videos. I'm sure there is solid works, auto cad etc and lots more on there. My older brother who is a registered surveyor took auto cad on line from a college to pass his bar ex so that's a option for you.
Rocky

[captainofiron]

You tube is your friend. We now use Catia V5 at work. We have a very large training dept but the easy way to learn a new function is you tube. People have made step by step videos. I'm sure there is solid works, auto cad etc and lots more on there. My older brother who is a registered surveyor took auto cad on line from a college to pass his bar ex so that's a option for you.
Rocky

Catia? let me guess Aerospace?

This brings something up to the OP, the choice of software greatly depends on the industry you will be going into.

[MonsterCarlo]

My Dad was a pattern/tool & die maker and he got into AutoCAD in the late 80's or something after being a machinist for over 20 years. But now ProE, AutoCAD, MasterCAM, and SolidWorks are standards. If you're just diving in, there are some included Tutorials, and there is some YouTube stuff, but in my web and graphic design world, a resource I've always liked to use is www.lynda.com and I believe they have tutorials for all of these, as well as sample files, data, etc.

Lynda is definitely cheaper than school and learn as you go online.

[ih8z28s]

I started out on Catia back in 1987 right out of school, I have used AutoCAD up to 14, and currently have been using nx7.5, we are switching to 9.5 in September, should be interesting! If you do take classes, you should be able to get a student version for not a lot of money. It's real handy to be able to create a sheet metal part I might need and have it made where I work.

[minendrews68]

Joe,
How do you like the nx7.5? Isn't that what UniGraphics use to be before Siemens bought them out?


I started out on Catia back in 1987 right out of school, I have used AutoCAD up to 14, and currently have been using nx7.5, we are switching to 9.5 in September, should be interesting! If you do take classes, you should be able to get a student version for not a lot of money. It's real handy to be able to create a sheet metal part I might need and have it made where I work.

[feeble]

I went to school for drafting in the early 90s, a mix of board drafting and AutoCAD and have been using Inventor almost exclusively for about 13 years. To echo what the others said, get an Engineering degree. I am paid very well for my education level, more than some engineers, but there are some things I will never get to do no matter my ability, experience or ambition because I lack the degree. I am getting too old now, the ROI isn't there for me to go back to school (although there are other reasons to go back). Don't wait!

Also, it wan't explicitly stated by others I don't think, but knowing how to use a CAD program to model something in 3D is not the same thing as knowing how to design and engineer something. See GrabCAD for bucketloads of CAD models that have zero basis in reality (presumably modeled by students but I guess you have to start somewhere right?)

[Barrrf]

I started with SDRC I-DEAS in college. Been using Inventor and Solidworks ever since. The stuff comes naturally to me now.

As odd as it sounds, Im designing a Pram right now in INventor. The idea is to just be able to print off the details of the tube bending I want done and give it to my fab guy.

[Samckitt]

It was Unigraphics up to V18 or V19, EDS bought back all of Unigraphics Solutions & SDRC & the Next version of "unigraphics" was when the 2 were merged together. Someone had said it was the Next chapter & that is were NX came from. I currently have 3 versions, 7.5, 8.5 & 9. But I get it free working for Siemens. ;-)

[minendrews68]

Well, If you ever decide to get rid of one I'm available. I have a copy of ver 15 or 16 but I can't use it, It was one that had to be run at our corporate office and we had to get in through the internet at the satellite offices. I just didn't want to throw it away. I really liked using it. I'm retired now I just draw for fun anymore.


It was Unigraphics up to V18 or V19, EDS bought back all of Unigraphics Solutions & SDRC & the Next version of "unigraphics" was when the 2 were merged together. Someone had said it was the Next chapter & that is were NX came from. I currently have 3 versions, 7.5, 8.5 & 9. But I get it free working for Siemens. ;-)

[Samckitt]

Sorry Carl, it wouldn't do you any good either. I work for Siemens, the NX licenses are registered to Siemens computers. Won't work anywhere else.



Well, If you ever decide to get rid of one I'm available. I have a copy of ver 15 or 16 but I can't use it, It was one that had to be run at our corporate office and we had to get in through the internet at the satellite offices. I just didn't want to throw it away. I really liked using it. I'm retired now I just draw for fun anymore.

[minendrews68]

Yeah, I figured. Are they still really expensive? I remember when the company I was working for upgraded their engineering department. All new computers, LANs, we thought we were something because we could do a drawing here in Arkansas and plot it out on a plotter in Indiana. (or any of our other sites). We were using 16 MB ram, 500 mb hard drives, video cards with maybe 250 mb memory. It seems funny now. I believe each 3D seat of Unigraphics was around 27K. Our company would send 10-15 of us from different sites to the training we had a ball! I'll have to tell you some time what we did to one of the instructors, really funny stuff.

[ih8z28s]

Joe,
How do you like the nx7.5? Isn't that what UniGraphics use to be before Siemens bought them out?

yeah it was called unigraphics up to 18 or 19 I think, and then changed to NX, next spring we are going live with teamcenter, that will be a big learning curve for us old folks I really like NX, I think its one of the best 3d modeling programs out there, I just hope they don't screw us up like when we went to NX6, we called it "more clicks with NX6", they added all these extra steps to everything. the best thing they ever added was the escape to clear commands, finally caught up to AutoCAD with that one! I'm still waiting for the day that I can pick multiple individual groups of text and have it cycle through them for editing like you could back in the mid 90's with AutoCAD 12

[Samckitt]

Yeah, I figured. Are they still really expensive? I remember when the company I was working for upgraded their engineering department. All new computers, LANs, we thought we were something because we could do a drawing here in Arkansas and plot it out on a plotter in Indiana. (or any of our other sites). We were using 16 MB ram, 500 mb hard drives, video cards with maybe 250 mb memory. It seems funny now. I believe each 3D seat of Unigraphics was around 27K. Our company would send 10-15 of us from different sites to the training we had a ball! I'll have to tell you some time what we did to one of the instructors, really funny stuff.

Yeah its still expensive, probably worse. I never see how much a single seat license costs, so I don't know. And depends on which modules you get too, and what sales person you deal with, Siemens recently donated millions of dollars of software to the colleges around Hampton VA area. I am working on a project at the shipyard that builds the country's aircraft carriers.

[Samckitt]

Joe, I will have to find it & report back, but I am pretty sure there is a check mate check that will do a spelling check for you.

[Samckitt]

Did a quick check on NX 8.5, I dont know how to use it or when it was implemented.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

[GaRys69]

Sorry to highjack the OP


next spring we are going live with teamcenter, that will be a big learning curve for us old folks

Joe, I also am one of those old folks.
Do not sweat the use of Teamcenter it works great/easy (our training only took about 1 hour).


the best thing they ever added was the escape to clear commands,
finally caught up to AutoCAD with that one!

What version are you using?
We are using NX6 and that is something that is so needed in the large files that we use.
This is one of those things that always they tell us that it will be fixed in the next version
(but seems it has not happened yet).

Down here in the Houston Oil Field Business we are always looking for Engrs, Designers and Drafters.

[Samckitt]

The Escape to exit a command has been in NX for years. You are not seeing it on NX6? What kind of computer, Windows, UNIX....?

[GaRys69]

We are currently using Windows 7.

Just using the Esc key does nothing.
Same with the WORK IN PROGRESS window/ Press to stop to interrupt this operation (does nothing).

Most of the time the system works as it should.
But at times even the simplest task will need to process overnight (and sometimes just sticks on UPDATING).

I did a NX Command Finder search on "escape" this morning and did not see anything.

Thanks

[Samckitt]

I did a search for "Escape" in NX8.5 and got nothing either. It works in 85, but I was still thinking it has been there for a LONG time. I'll ask around.

The stop button you mention, yeah that sometimes doesn't work well, or at all. Something to do with how the processor in the computer works, if it is loaded up with a lot of things to process & you press the stop button, that is then next in line for what it is processing. May take a while to get to it. Ctrl-Alt_Delete, kill process works much quicker.....:-)

[Samckitt]

Escape to exit a dialog is available in NX6, unless the escape key has been reassigned to another function. That is what I am told from other NX support people.

[mitch_04]

Well, I think this thread has gotten far enough off course. I don't mind discussing which program or where to learn, but this isn't very relevant to the original question.

[GaRys69]

You are right, please forgive us.

One thing that makes life so much easier while working with modeling/assemblies is to get a good SpaceBall.
You can use a mouse but it is a pain.

[69stang]

Started out on autocad R11, got training on ProE when I started my first drafting job. We phased out autocad there and took up SolidWorks. Used SolidWorks through 2009 and still use autocad 2004 at home and occasionally at work. While I was unemployed in 09 autodesk offered free Inventor for training for 6 months I think. Once I was back to work we used SolidEdge (hate that software, hate might not be a strong enough word), then we switched to NX, currently using 9. The only thing I don't care about with 9 is they changed dimensioning, it seems more cumbersome. I also use a student version of Solidworks 2009 on my home pc I use to play with. More on topic, go for your engineering degree. Like others have said, I'm getting too old to spend money towards a degree to benefit my career. I've been able to make a decent income based on my experience prior to doing design work but not nearly as much had I went on to get my bachelors.

[Decline]

I took "continuing education" night classes at a school in Detroit to learn CAD. I use auto desk Alias automotive. This is more for design 3d modeling and class A surface modeling.
In my experience all the OEMs that I've worked for engineering depts use catiaV5.
Solid works is made by the same company and is a little more user friendly then catia.
Never seen any of the others used in the OEM automotive field but I'm sure any of them could work if you know what your doing. A lot of CAD software has the same tools just different names.
Also don't pay for software if it only for personal use, too exspensive. A seat(license) in catia can run up to 75k a year with all the bells and whistles. Alias 35k/yr. solid works 5k/yr
There are student copy's and free trials available for most of them

[minendrews68]

I agree with the "spaceball". I used one years ago with Unigraphics, I have one now that I use with AutoCAD, only thing now they're called 3DCONNEXION. Great piece of equipment though. Now if I just had a real job to use it. I just play around anymore.