Ok, I'm trying to learn CAD. I've downloaded a few different programs but I having a tough time. Ive played with some stuff at work and it was super easy but they were programs that were several thousand dollars. Anyone out there that can help me
Trying to learn CAD
- Thread starter Turbo Buick 6
- Start date
What is it that you want to do with CAD?
If you just need to do quick, easy 2D drafting, DesignCAD is pretty cheap and intuitive to use. You can still import .dxf and .dwg files. I've used it for about 10 years and it's my first choice for quick and dirty sketches.
TurboCad is a step above, not bad 3D rendering, but a little pricier and a little more cumbersome to use.
If you just need to do quick, easy 2D drafting, DesignCAD is pretty cheap and intuitive to use. You can still import .dxf and .dwg files. I've used it for about 10 years and it's my first choice for quick and dirty sketches.
TurboCad is a step above, not bad 3D rendering, but a little pricier and a little more cumbersome to use.
Here's the key to CAD:
It's math driven. For most systems, you need to know the exact measurements before you draw. Once you have base values, you can do constructions that calculate for you, like tangency, perpendicularity, parallels, bi-sections, etc.
It's math driven. For most systems, you need to know the exact measurements before you draw. Once you have base values, you can do constructions that calculate for you, like tangency, perpendicularity, parallels, bi-sections, etc.
I downloaded turbocad. I'm just trying to make 2d drawings of flanges so its faster for my cnc guy to write a program. I am so lost with turbocad and with the free one the help doesnt work I can't even make the scale so that x 0 and y 0 are in the center. Much easier to do the math with 0 as a center point and just use some negative numbers.
I can't even make the scale so that x 0 and y 0 are in the center. Much easier to do the math with 0 as a center point and just use some negative numbers.
The part I am trying to draw right now is all based off of circles with 4 lines coming off the tangents to form a dimond shape with radiused edges. I was able to draw it on emachineshop.com. But that seems to be more of an idiot cad.....more my speed:rofl:
I use Auto cad, UG, Tebis, Lemoine, Cimcad, PV and PCDmis. all have a little different tabs and menus but do the same stuff. our files go out as .cad, .igs or .prt to be machined or inspected.
Cimcad 2D is about the simplest 2D program I've ever seen, our wire guys use it. super fast and the screen strokes make drawing easy. it uses construction lines to make everything then trace the finish shape and good to go.
3d programs are a lot more complex and make you think in 3d even when doing 2d stuff.
I'd open a new drawing and go thru and click every dropdown and action to see what it does. most cad will ask or tell you what it's looking for in a window or line. also right click on header and it'll let you set up tool bars. right and middle click are used on a lot of our cad systems so make sure you have 3 button mouse. some of our systems use the trihegren as 0,0,0 and you have to transform an object to move from or to 0,0,0. some have absolute and work coordinates but they only export as absolute so if drawn wrong it gets sent out wrong even thou it looks good on screen. layers is another thing you need to watch for, make the layer you're using is work layer and active or the things you're doing are being stuck somewhere else that you can't see. we run black screens so the cad colors stand out, but some files come in as black so you can't see anything, see what color you're using for drawing could be same as screen color.
I'll stop now. :rofl:
Cimcad 2D is about the simplest 2D program I've ever seen, our wire guys use it. super fast and the screen strokes make drawing easy. it uses construction lines to make everything then trace the finish shape and good to go.
3d programs are a lot more complex and make you think in 3d even when doing 2d stuff.
I'd open a new drawing and go thru and click every dropdown and action to see what it does. most cad will ask or tell you what it's looking for in a window or line. also right click on header and it'll let you set up tool bars. right and middle click are used on a lot of our cad systems so make sure you have 3 button mouse. some of our systems use the trihegren as 0,0,0 and you have to transform an object to move from or to 0,0,0. some have absolute and work coordinates but they only export as absolute so if drawn wrong it gets sent out wrong even thou it looks good on screen. layers is another thing you need to watch for, make the layer you're using is work layer and active or the things you're doing are being stuck somewhere else that you can't see. we run black screens so the cad colors stand out, but some files come in as black so you can't see anything, see what color you're using for drawing could be same as screen color.
I'll stop now. :rofl:
not to confuse but you can draw 1/4 of the arc and mirror it about Y then mirror the half object around X and have the whole thing done just by making a 1/4 of it. you job sounds easy but 8X14' dies could take days or weeks if we didn't mirror.
If you could fax/email me a detail drawing and let me know what file type the end user reads I can do it.
also import old files into your cad and play with them to see what the things do.
Thanks guys. As of right now I'm just trying to figure out how to do it on my own. Well I need help doing it but I would like to make the drawings rather than have someone else do them. Maybe at some point I will give up.....but I doubt it....I'll just keep fighting it till I figure it out.
Seems like once you know what you are doing it is very easy to make simple flanges in CAD....I just need to get half way to the "know what I'm doing" part:rofl:
Seems like once you know what you are doing it is very easy to make simple flanges in CAD....I just need to get half way to the "know what I'm doing" part:rofl: