Engineering / CAD software

[Doubleggregg]

What’s the easiest to learn for a beginner? I’m old, my only real experience with drafting is high school paper and pencil, but I can draw my ideas and know how to read a technical drawing.

I want to learn to do 2D and 3D drawings. I have ideas for a few projects I want to get on paper that I figured the best way is to start learning some of this stuff as a hobby as well.

Plus my 8 year old wants to learn how to use a 3D printer so maybe I could use the CAD skills there too.

What software would you learn? Solidworks, fusion360, one of the free 2D platforms?

 

[Fenix Motorsports]

I use Fusion, it was easy to convert after using inventor for school years ago, but even starting from scratch its pretty easy to pick up especially with being free to use for hobbyists.

 

[Motiracer38]

I have Solidworks at home and have used NX, Inventor, and Catia at work. If you can get your hands on a Solidworks copy, even an old version, it would be the best as most CAD software is compared to it. Onshape and Freecad are popular but I've never used either. Any of these will make files to 3D print and make files for laser cutting but if you wanted to create Warhammer figurines or whatever the kids are into these days then a vector modeling program like Blender 3D would be best to learn.

 

[Oh4Tahoe]

I have Solidworks at home and have used NX, Inventor, and Catia at work. If you can get your hands on a Solidworks copy, even an old version, it would be the best as most CAD software is compared to it. Onshape and Freecad are popular but I've never used either. Any of these will make files to 3D print and make files for laser cutting but if you wanted to create Warhammer figurines or whatever the kids are into these days then a vector modeling program like Blender 3D would be best to learn.

Just my two cents, Solidworks is a modeling software and CAD is drawing. As somebody that had a background in ACAD , Solidworks left me banging my head a few times. If you were learning from scratch it’d be th way to go

 

[the bodj]

I've heard good things about OnShape.

Fusion keeps trying to take money from me, but I like the setup.

I have an old copy (2017) of solidworks that I use for more simple modeling on my old desktop that I then use to cut on the plasma table.

I just paid like $50 for a 'makers' version of Solidworks to run on my more powerful laptop so I can do more 3D scanning/detailed parts.
https://www.solidworks.com/solution/solidworks-makers

 

[UR_Mawm69]

Just my two cents, Solidworks is a modeling software and CAD is drawing. As somebody that had a background in ACAD , Solidworks left me banging my head a few times. If you were learning from scratch it’d be th way to go

I SECOND THIS.

I got a degree straight after high school in AutoCAD.
I always wanted to be good in SW but i was just too fucking good and fast at AutoCAD eventually.
I AM TOLD BY MY OLD BOSS, that i eventually got fairly good at SW right before my accident.
i have ABSOLUTELY NO memory of that, or of anything in SW, other then the basic shit. i do remember about 90% of all the AutoCAD commands though.
nothing really helpful in this post. just wanted to say that. haha.
im learning SW at my current job though, and i will say that having my memory of all my AutoCAD shit definitely helps in the big picture though.

 

[philofab]

I absolutely hate Autocad.


Solidworks for 2d and 3d.
Draftsight for just 2d.

 

[Cleandezert]

Just my two cents, Solidworks is a modeling software and CAD is drawing. As somebody that had a background in ACAD , Solidworks left me banging my head a few times. If you were learning from scratch it’d be th way to go

i hated solid works after learning to draft in autocad... its a whole new universe. Now i am old and dgaf learning anything new.

 

[UR_Mawm69]

i hated solid works after learning to draft in autocad... its a whole new universe. Now i am old and dgaf learning anything new.

i dont HATE it, learning everything in AutoCAD first. but it's definitely a brain workout