what is the quick way to get familiar or master a software from beginning?
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jmaida wrote:
AC3D is a cheap intro to CAD.
No. It is a cheap intro to creating objects in 3D. (Blender is cheaper, at 'free'.) CAD (Computer Aided Design) is something else, and dimensioning is a central part of that 'something else.' With a proper CAD drawing (not a file, but a 2d drawing printed on paper), you can hand it to a machinist and they can make the part from scratch because it has all the dimensions and tolerances needed to make that part. AC3D is incapable of making such a drawing without tons of work to fake the dimensions. You won't be able to have those 'fake' dimensions update when the part is stretched because they will be pure objects (lines, rectangles, elipses, and even text objects probably...) made to look like real dimensions, but having no connection to the part's real attributes. Any competent CAD package, including QCAD, will have real dimensions that can be updated with the part. AC3D most definitely does not. It would be a grave disservice to point a newbie at real CAD drawing to AC3D because it is a waste of their money, for what they want to learn. FreeCAD would be better, because it introduces them to the concepts of real CAD, and it is free. But there are better options available.
Our Forgotten Astronomy | Object Oriented Programming with C++ | Wordle solver
I said it was a cheap intro not the only intro. Yes, Blender is also a cheap intro. QCAD is too. Your lecture on CAD tool capabilities is note-worthy for CP audience. For me, been there, done that.
"A little time, a little trouble, your better day" Badfinger
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As far as I've seen, AC3D isn't a CAD package - there aren't any dimensioning tools in it to my knowledge. If you know differently, then by all means correct me, but if it doesn't do dimensioning I'd highly recommend NOT purchasing it for CAD work. It will be too frustrating. (I played with it a long time ago.) FreeCAD is a better alternative, but it isn't as user friendly as Alibre CAD, or the other options mentioned. If you are into AC3D, Blender is another option you may be interested in. For many items it is far easier to use than AC3D, and far more powerful.
Our Forgotten Astronomy | Object Oriented Programming with C++ | Wordle solver
"Computer-aided design (CAD) is the use of computers (or workstations) to aid in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimization of a design" Yes, there is more to it than that. Inivis calls it a "3D design software program". So it is an intro to CAD. Done.
"A little time, a little trouble, your better day" Badfinger
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When I'm learning a new "thing" nothing else exists until I nail it -I think I may be a tad autistic
In a closed society where everybody's guilty, the only crime is getting caught. In a world of thieves, the only final sin is stupidity. - Hunter S Thompson - RIP
pkfox wrote:
I think I may be a tad autistic
Maybe... but people always want to label something that's not the norm... even though the norm will always produce mediocre results by it's very nature. I do the same. Methinks you're just focused.
Jeremy Falcon
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The quickest way to learn anything is to go all in. Doesn't matter if it's software or a new language. Devote all your time to it and 10,000 hours later you might know a thing or two.
Jeremy Falcon
I have a small project to do and do not have enough time:)
diligent hands rule....
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Simple. Practice. Practice. Practice. You will find yourself in Carnegie Hall.
:thumbsup:
diligent hands rule....
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You are kidding me, right? It isn't that hard to get on YouTube and type in "QCAD for beginner", or something equivalent. [https://www.youtube.com/results?search\_query=qcad+for+beginner\](https://www.youtube.com/results?search\_query=qcad+for+beginner) This guy seems to have some good stuff: [Draw QCAD RC Plans for the Lite Ranger 1 Step by Step - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsCmbuysehY)
Our Forgotten Astronomy | Object Oriented Programming with C++ | Wordle solver
this info is great!
diligent hands rule....
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I have a small project to do and do not have enough time:)
diligent hands rule....
Time is the number one excuse people give to not do something.
Jeremy Falcon
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"Computer-aided design (CAD) is the use of computers (or workstations) to aid in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimization of a design" Yes, there is more to it than that. Inivis calls it a "3D design software program". So it is an intro to CAD. Done.
"A little time, a little trouble, your better day" Badfinger
From someone who has done CAD in the manner specified by the OP, Invisis AC3D is definitely NOT an introduction to that type of CAD, and will just piss the OP off when they find out what real CAD is. They will know that they wasted their money. They would be far better off to play with FreeCAD for free than to spend $90 on AC3D.
Our Forgotten Astronomy | Object Oriented Programming with C++ | Wordle solver
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I said it was a cheap intro not the only intro. Yes, Blender is also a cheap intro. QCAD is too. Your lecture on CAD tool capabilities is note-worthy for CP audience. For me, been there, done that.
"A little time, a little trouble, your better day" Badfinger
jmaida wrote:
For me, been there, done that.
OP is doing 2D design. The only real point in doing 2D design is to get dimensions down on a scaled drawing in order to hand it to someone for production. You can't 3D print from a 2D drawing. AC3D might be usable for 3D printing, but it is not usable for 2D dimensioned drawings. So obviously, you haven't done that if you don't know the difference in those capabilities. As I've said elsewhere (too often - I should just shut up) AC3D is not the tool they need, even for beginning to learn the CAD they are trying to do. If it was just 3D printing - maybe. But if they are focused on 2D prints, that is not their goal.
Our Forgotten Astronomy | Object Oriented Programming with C++ | Wordle solver
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From someone who has done CAD in the manner specified by the OP, Invisis AC3D is definitely NOT an introduction to that type of CAD, and will just piss the OP off when they find out what real CAD is. They will know that they wasted their money. They would be far better off to play with FreeCAD for free than to spend $90 on AC3D.
Our Forgotten Astronomy | Object Oriented Programming with C++ | Wordle solver
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jmaida wrote:
For me, been there, done that.
OP is doing 2D design. The only real point in doing 2D design is to get dimensions down on a scaled drawing in order to hand it to someone for production. You can't 3D print from a 2D drawing. AC3D might be usable for 3D printing, but it is not usable for 2D dimensioned drawings. So obviously, you haven't done that if you don't know the difference in those capabilities. As I've said elsewhere (too often - I should just shut up) AC3D is not the tool they need, even for beginning to learn the CAD they are trying to do. If it was just 3D printing - maybe. But if they are focused on 2D prints, that is not their goal.
Our Forgotten Astronomy | Object Oriented Programming with C++ | Wordle solver
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Southmountain wrote:
so I am wondering if you have any genius way to master this software quickly?
No, CAD software has a steep learning curve. Some are a tad easier than others but none of them are easy.
Definition of a burocrate; Delegate, Take Credit, shift blame. PartsBin an Electronics Part Organizer - Release Version 1.3.1 JaxCoder.com Latest Article: EventAggregator
Try learning Solidworks! I’ve been using it for the last 15 years and still find new ways of doing things! Mind you, its user interface leaves a lot to be desired - no consistency across functions! It’s as if it was designed by disparate teams all with their own idea on how to implement the functionality
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now I start to play with QCAD software and start by reading its user guide. so I am wondering if you have any genius way to master this software quickly?
diligent hands rule....
About the software, I didn't know that one, thanks. Last time I had to make 2D things I went for NanoCad, very similar to older versions of AutoCad that I had seen in college. About the learning point... (I now speak about SketchUp, I learned parallel to working in 2D with NanoCad) I started looking at the context help of each button, then I tried to make some things on my own with that small knowledge, once I found enough "fvck you" moments, I went to youtube and searched for a good content creator (took me a couple of days to find someone good), have a look to his way of doing things. Go back and start working on my own again.
M.D.V. ;) If something has a solution... Why do we have to worry about?. If it has no solution... For what reason do we have to worry about? Help me to understand what I'm saying, and I'll explain it better to you Rating helpful answers is nice, but saying thanks can be even nicer.
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now I start to play with QCAD software and start by reading its user guide. so I am wondering if you have any genius way to master this software quickly?
diligent hands rule....
Patience, diligence and practice. There are no shortcuts. Having said that, some CAD packages are fairly intuitive, and others not. Of the ones I used in my day, Autocad was gruesome, possibly the worst software UI I have ever encountered. Daxcad (now defunct, I believe) and Silverscreen were a delight to use. I found Fastcad and several other light- to middleweight systems somewhere in between, neither particularly easy to use, nor particularly difficult. Golden rule is RTFM and keep it handy!
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now I start to play with QCAD software and start by reading its user guide. so I am wondering if you have any genius way to master this software quickly?
diligent hands rule....
knowing the actual domain is really useful when learning a new software. if you want to learn to use a CAD software, knowing what CAD is and what is the terminology and how things are done helps.
CI/CD = Continuous Impediment/Continuous Despair
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Try learning Solidworks! I’ve been using it for the last 15 years and still find new ways of doing things! Mind you, its user interface leaves a lot to be desired - no consistency across functions! It’s as if it was designed by disparate teams all with their own idea on how to implement the functionality
I've spent years with TurboCAD and have a pretty good handle on it. Plus I have the Platinum version, which ain't cheap. (without subscription, which I am against)
Definition of a burocrate; Delegate, Take Credit, shift blame. PartsBin an Electronics Part Organizer - Release Version 1.3.1 JaxCoder.com Latest Article: EventAggregator
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now I start to play with QCAD software and start by reading its user guide. so I am wondering if you have any genius way to master this software quickly?
diligent hands rule....
I struggled at first to learn Fusion 360 (my 6th or 7th CAD system?). I found a great step by step tutorial on YouTube. I watch the video at double speed to get the gist of it, then follow along at home. After each step I stop the video and parrot the step. The devil is in the details! It's pretty easy - watching the video I press space, alt-tab to F360, do the step, alt-tab back to YouTube, press space to play. Rinse and repeat. This really helped me learn the important but sometimes tiny details required to get F360 to work.
