Cad Recommendation

[David NobleParticipant @davidnoble71990]

I’m thinking of attempting to learn some CAD. Can anyone recommend a fairly simple package or app.

I’m particularly interested in whether two parts will fit together or not.

Many Thanks, David

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

It may help keep the number of different reccomendationsto under 100 if you say whether you use a PC or Mac and whether you want free software or are willing to pay for it.

I’d go with Alibre Atom3D for a reasonable cost or Fusion 360 for the free option.

[David NobleParticipant @davidnoble71990]

Fair point Jason, thanks. I’m using a MacBook and I don’t mind a small cost but I Don’t want to spend loads in case I can’t get on with it. I’m an absolute novice at this.

David

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

There have probably been more than 100 threads/topics asking this question!
Why not have a look at this recent one, https://www.model-engineer.co.uk/forums/topic/freecad-tutorials/ follow the first link to a youtube video finding the ‘back to basics No 1’  video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z32vichtXa8  and see if that looks like something you can get to grips with.

[Andy_GParticipant @andy_g]

The problem is that if you want to do ‘proper’ (=accurate) CAD, rather than make pretty models, none of the options are simple. Each will have a significant learning curve, but you may get on with one better than another.

I’d suggest Fusion 360, assuming you’re on a PC (and don’t have an issue with being beholden to The Man).

Even the hobby version gives you mechanisms and things like interference checking.

 

[Edit replies appeared while I was typing – I *think* F360 will run on a MAC, but not sure]

[David NobleParticipant @davidnoble71990]

Thanks Bazyle, I thought there must have been a fair number of similar requests but when I tried to search for CAD or cad advice the results were disappointing. Thank you for your links.

David

 

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

A look through the CAD section of the forum would be the best place to start looking.

[David NobleParticipant @davidnoble71990]

You’re right again Jason, sorry for being a bit slow!

Sorted now, thanks. David

[Andy_G]

On Andy_G Said:

The problem is that if you want to do ‘proper’ (=accurate) CAD, rather than make pretty models, none of the options are simple. Each will have a significant learning curve, but you may get on with one better than another.

I’d suggest Fusion 360, assuming you’re on a PC (and don’t have an issue with being beholden to The Man).

Even the hobby version gives you mechanisms and things like interference checking.

 

[Edit replies appeared while I was typing – I *think* F360 will run on a MAC, but not sure]

Yes F360 runs happily on my MacBook.

[Wade BeattyParticipant @wadebeatty78296]

I used Solidedge in a couple of engineering houses I worked for and it is very accurate. It is parametric so you can change the model by changing dimensions and the model will follow. It is not immediately intuitive, you need to use YouTube and help pages to become proficient. It is a very powerful program AND there is a free version for non-commercial use. It is what I use at home.

Hobbyists & Makers

[jaCK HobsonParticipant @jackhobson50760]

F360 has some really great tutorials on Youtube. I used Product Design Online and found them to be very well paced. They are pithy but that means you can easily miss something. Occasionally version differences can cause confusion.

I spent 5 days straight, self-learning. Probably 5 hours a day but I needed the breaks. By the end I could do most things well but I was not fast.  ‘Well’, for me, meant building maintainable models. Bodging out a one-off design is much easier than planning a model for efficient modification in the future or parameterisation.

My focus was for 3D printing. A printer can make very complicated shapes so you find you want to know all the F360 features. If you were just creating models/drawings for mill and lathe work then you can skip a lot of features.

After 6 months away from it (well, now more like 18 months)… it will probably take me 3 days to get back to where I was.

 

Even the free F360 has some very powerful capabilities and interesting free plugins to play with.

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

Another simple one is Tinkercad which is aimed at the lower teenagers but I have seen some very detailed models produced with it.

If you’re into simple CNC milling rather than 3D printing then Easel and Carbide Create are popular and also GRBLGRU (created by a single guy to work with grbl as the motion controller). These are simple CAD options integrated to CAM path profile generators to be easier than Linux/Mach.

[Wade Beatty]

On Wade Beatty Said:

I used Solidedge in a couple of engineering houses I worked for and it is very accurate. It is parametric so you can change the model by changing dimensions and the model will follow. It is not immediately intuitive, you need to use YouTube and help pages to become proficient. It is a very powerful program AND there is a free version for non-commercial use. It is what I use at home.

I’ve used Solid Edge Community for about four years now and it was very well worth the investment in my time to learn. It is a powerful 2D & 3D CAD system that runs locally (no cloud involved) on both my Win11 and Win10 i5 laptops (both Home Editions). But it is NOT suitable for Apple Mac’s – it is Windows only product.

Regards,

 

IanT

[Author]

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