Design Solidworks
Solidworks, Autocad, and other design programs for a newbie?
I am new to drawing, and design programs. I want to find something quick and easy to learn that will allow me to draw a few simple designs so I can have them made in a machinist shop, and I would also like to make the drawings 3D if possible.
Can you give me any suggestions for a newbie on what I should look for?
A few years back I decided to broaden my technical skills by acquiring and learning how to use a 3D drawing program. The Big Three in this arena are SolidWorks, SolidEdge, and AutoDesk. I already knew a little bit about AutoDesk products so I signed up for and attended sales presentations for SolidWorks and SolidEdge. But none of the Big Three had a package that I could afford on my own resources.
Casting around looking for other solutions, I ran across Google and their free SketchUp! software that you can download from the Internet. It wasn’t terribly obvious to me how I would ever learn how to use SketchUp! for engineering work, but I still mess around with it. I think it would be an excellent place for a beginner to start.
What I eventually purchased for serious work was Alibre Professional, after first downloading a free test version from the Alibre web site. I am still no expert using this software, but found it to be very capable with lots of useful features. Recommended for serious newbies.
If you want to make drawings that a machinist can work from, forget 3D for now. Unless you are thinking about cranking out a few hundred pieces on a CNC mill or turret lathe, and need a 3D-to-CNC interface program (VERY expensive), 2D drawings will work just fine. Most machine work requires one or more 2D projection views of a 3D model anyway. And every machinist I know works from 2D drawings.
For an excellent and inexpensive 2D drafting program, check out Midnight Software’s DeltaCAD at www.deltacad.com. About thirty bucks and it gets the job done. I am now on my third upgrade of this drawing program and like it very miuch.
On the other hand, their are 3D printers available that will make a 3D solid plastic object from a 3D solid drawing program. Facinating to watch that take shape, but it’s about like waiting for paint to dry. Expect to spend dozens of hours waiting before a single part emerges from “the tank”. Still, if you need a solid model to hold in your hand and show a prospective customer, this is the way to go.
SolidWorks Formula SAE Design Project