Computer Aided Design

You are not logged in. [ Login ] Why log in
(NOTE: Login is not required to post)

AutoCAD courses, fork in the road

12/21/13       
Gavin Member

I've been taking AutoCAD courses online from my local community college. I have AutoCAD 2D, levels 1 and 2 under my belt. Now, I have two options:

1. I can go on and take AutoCAD 3D levels one and two

2. I can take one more course that is advanced 2D.

Either 'stream' will give me a little certificate in the end. Of course, I could do all the courses - but my time, money, and motivation are limited.

Which makes more sense in this industry?

How many out there use AutoCAD for 3D modelling? I've tinkered with the 3D capability in AutoCAD, but have found it a little underwhelming. I'm already proficient (although not an expert) in another program which is an ACIS solid modeller. For this reason I'm leaning toward the 2D advanced course.

Lastly, I'm due to start a job in six weeks which will involve some drafting in Cabinet Vision, although I'm guessing most of my time will still be spent at the bench - I have zero experience with this type of software, or drafting for use with a CNC. Will the choice above have any impact on how prepared I would be going into the process of learning Cabinet Vision?

Thanks for any advise.

12/21/13       #2: AutoCAD courses, fork in the road ...
Jeremy Talbot

Gavin, I must start by saying that you should get some training with 3d software. The way things are going, alot of things start out in 3d, and with the way cad/cam packages go, you can create your parts and machine them directly from the 3d model. And, after you have machined your parts, you will need to provide the guys in the shop with some form of documentation as to how to assemble the parts you have machined. Sorry to ramble on, but in short, get some 3d training.

12/22/13       #3: AutoCAD courses, fork in the road ...
james mcgrew Member

Website: http://mcgrewwoodwork.com

3D,, strides in 3d printing, (ask your grade schooler and they will know what this is) model, file production (I spent a good 30 k this year on files) and just good ole production, I am not familiar with "advanced 2d" but if you are proficient in vectors, editing and layers then take a good look at "raising the Bar"

12/22/13       #4: AutoCAD courses, fork in the road ...
Ozan

To learn AutoCad will be the best think you will never feel you waste any time , it will pay you back million times with your time and money.
it takes a while to learn but when you understand it you will not need cabinet vision , you can write your own better software and post to any CNC.

if you find affordable classes to learn you are just right direction, drafting on cad and create DXF (Design Exchange File) is simple stuff if somebody show you how to do it and show you how to draw Lines and curves ,layers , you can learn it in few hours
and also you need to learn only " what you need to do" before learn more thinks about CAD ( Computer Aided Design ) Wood industries are way too back with technology then other Industries and I see that all the sub software companies makes good profit of it, prices are too high because it is just the transition of our time , it won't be like that if we adopt the todays technology development, this is our payback.

12/22/13       #5: AutoCAD courses, fork in the road ...
Jessy Bobby

Can't hurt to learn AutoCAD, but you're putting the cart before the horse. First you need to determine what you will be designing. If it's cabinets or closets, then just get good at CV or one of the cabinet packages. AutoCAD won't help you there. But most small shops do custom or one-offs where AutoCAD is your best tool for the job.

As for 3D, I wouldn't go there with AutoCAD. First ask yourself, who is the 3D for? If it's for presentation purposes, you're likely better off with some other 3D package like Sketchup or one of the cabinet programs. If it's for the back end, then you're probably already at a large company with skilled designers using Inventor, Top Solid, etc. But for guys like you, there's just no point in taking the time to do 3D models in AutoCAD. It's just a waste of time. I've done it myself.

12/23/13       #6: AutoCAD courses, fork in the road ...
Pat Gilbert

My advise is when you come to a fork in the road take it.

I find 3d useful, but it takes more time. The benefit is that you get a perfect cut list or layout for a router. But it useful only if you use it conjunction with Smartlister or Cadcode.

But from a practical point of view you just need to learn CV or MV as they own the market.

There are a lot of ways to skin the cat. For cabinets anything will work. Some guys just use the architecturals massage them and get a cutlist with Cadcode directly from the dwgs.

For one offs some guys prefer to do 2d drawings showing the necessary information and let the shop figure it out from there. For one offs (except they are not one offs,l they are multiples) in store fixtures 3d is definitely the way to go.

Originally Pattern Systems owned the market but when they tried to come out with a product that would do 3d they failed and lost their outside sales representatives. The same out side sales representatives then went to Microvellum and sold those same Pattern System customers Microvellum. The consensus is that Microvellum is the way to go but imo that consensus was as much created as workable.

Short answer learn Microvellum. Second place goes to Cabinet Vision.

12/26/13       #7: AutoCAD courses, fork in the road ...
VMD CAD Member

Website: http://www.designpresentation.co.uk/

Hi All,
I found here some discussion regarding Auto Cad, If you want more discussing & better solution, visit the given link.
It will be more easy to contact them and send your problem details to get solution online.

http://www.designpresentation.co.uk/

2/13/14       #8: AutoCAD courses, fork in the road ...
Michael Member

Learn 3D and use Smartlister. It is the only way to be completely flexible in your drawings. The Microvellum learning curve is steep as learning to draw in 3D. Making one off parts in Microvellum is very difficult.

If you need a one off part or cabinet or piece of furniture, you just draw it in AutoCad. Cutlist in Smartlister and off to the CNC it goes.

Good luck.


Post a Response
  • Notify me of responses to this thread
  • Subscribe to email updates on this Forum
  • To receive email notification of additions to this forum thread,
    enter your name and email address, and then click the
    "Keep Me Posted" button below.

    Please Note: If you have posted a message or response,
    do not submit this request ... you are already signed up
    to receive notification!

    Your Name:
    E-Mail Address:
    Enter the correct numbers into the field below:
     

    Date of your Birth:



    Return to top of page

    Buy & Sell Exchanges | Forums | Galleries | Site Map

    FORUM GUIDELINES: Please review the guidelines below before posting at WOODWEB's Interactive Message Boards (return to top)

  • WOODWEB is a professional industrial woodworking site. Hobbyist and homeowner woodworking questions are inappropriate.
  • Messages should be kept reasonably short and on topic, relating to the focus of the forum. Responses should relate to the original question.
  • A valid email return address must be included with each message.
  • Advertising is inappropriate. The only exceptions are the Classified Ads Exchange, Machinery Exchange, Lumber Exchange, and Job Opportunities and Services Exchange. When posting listings in these areas, review the posting instructions carefully.
  • Subject lines may be edited for length and clarity.
  • "Cross posting" is not permitted. Choose the best forum for your question, and post your question at one forum only.
  • Messages requesting private responses will be removed - Forums are designed to provide information and assistance for all of our visitors. Private response requests are appropriate at WOODWEB's Exchanges and Job Opportunities and Services.
  • Messages that accuse businesses or individuals of alleged negative actions or behavior are inappropriate since WOODWEB is unable to verify or substantiate the claims.
  • Posts with the intent of soliciting answers to surveys are not appropriate. Contact WOODWEB for more information on initiating a survey.
  • Excessive forum participation by an individual upsets the balance of a healthy forum atmosphere. Individuals who excessively post responses containing marginal content will be considered repeat forum abusers.
  • Responses that initiate or support inappropriate and off-topic discussion of general politics detract from the professional woodworking focus of WOODWEB, and will be removed.
  • Participants are encouraged to use their real name when posting. Intentionally using another persons name is prohibited, and posts of this nature will be removed at WOODWEB's discretion.
  • Comments, questions, or criticisms regarding Forum policies should be directed to WOODWEB's Systems Administrator
    (return to top).

    Carefully review your message before clicking on the "Send Message" button - you will not be able to revise the message once it has been sent.

    You will be notified of responses to the message(s) you posted via email. Be sure to enter your email address correctly.

    WOODWEB's forums are a highly regarded resource for professional woodworkers. Messages and responses that are crafted in a professional and civil manner strengthen this resource. Messages that do not reflect a professional tone reduce the value of our forums.

    Messages are inappropriate when their content: is deemed libelous in nature or is based on rumor, fails to meet basic standards of decorum, contains blatant advertising or inappropriate emphasis on self promotion (return to top).

    Libel:   Posts which defame an individual or organization, or employ a tone which can be viewed as malicious in nature. Words, pictures, or cartoons which expose a person or organization to public hatred, shame, disgrace, or ridicule, or induce an ill opinion of a person or organization, are libelous.

    Improper Decorum:   Posts which are profane, inciting, disrespectful or uncivil in tone, or maliciously worded. This also includes the venting of unsubstantiated opinions. Such messages do little to illuminate a given topic, and often have the opposite effect. Constructive criticism is acceptable (return to top).

    Advertising:   The purpose of WOODWEB Forums is to provide answers, not an advertising venue. Companies participating in a Forum discussion should provide specific answers to posted questions. WOODWEB suggests that businesses include an appropriately crafted signature in order to identify their company. A well meaning post that seems to be on-topic but contains a product reference may do your business more harm than good in the Forum environment. Forum users may perceive your references to specific products as unsolicited advertising (spam) and consciously avoid your web site or services. A well-crafted signature is an appropriate way to advertise your services that will not offend potential customers. Signatures should be limited to 4-6 lines, and may contain information that identifies the type of business you're in, your URL and email address (return to top).

    Repeated Forum Abuse: Forum participants who repeatedly fail to follow WOODWEB's Forum Guidelines may encounter difficulty when attempting to post messages.

    There are often situations when the original message asks for opinions: "What is the best widget for my type of shop?". To a certain extent, the person posting the message is responsible for including specific questions within the message. An open ended question (like the one above) invites responses that may read as sales pitches. WOODWEB suggests that companies responding to such a question provide detailed and substantive replies rather than responses that read as a one-sided product promotion. It has been WOODWEB's experience that substantive responses are held in higher regard by our readers (return to top).

    The staff of WOODWEB assume no responsibility for the accuracy, content, or outcome of any posting transmitted at WOODWEB's Message Boards. Participants should undertake the use of machinery, materials and methods discussed at WOODWEB's Message Boards after considerate evaluation, and at their own risk. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages it deems inappropriate. (return to top)


  • Forum Posting Help
    Your Name The name you enter in this field will be the name that appears with your post or response (return to form).
    Your Website Personal or business website links must point to the author's website. Inappropriate links will be removed without notice, and at WOODWEB's sole discretion. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages with links it deems inappropriate. (return to form)
    E-Mail Address Your e-mail address will not be publicly viewable. Forum participants will be able to contact you using a contact link (included with your post) that is substituted for your actual address. You must include a valid email address in this field. (return to form)
    Subject Subject may be edited for length and clarity. Subject lines should provide an indication of the content of your post. (return to form)
    Thread Related Link and Image Guidelines Thread Related Links posted at WOODWEB's Forums and Exchanges should point to locations that provide supporting information for the topic being discussed in the current message thread. The purpose of WOODWEB Forums is to provide answers, not to serve as an advertising venue. A Thread Related Link that directs visitors to an area with inappropriate content will be removed. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages with links or images it deems inappropriate. (return to form)
    Thread Related File Uploads Thread Related Files posted at WOODWEB's Forums and Exchanges should provide supporting information for the topic being discussed in the current message thread. Video Files: acceptable video formats are: .MOV .AVI .WMV .MPEG .MPG .MP4 (Image Upload Tips)   If you encounter any difficulty when uploading video files, E-mail WOODWEB for assistance. The purpose of WOODWEB Forums is to provide answers, not to serve as an advertising venue. A Thread Related File that contains inappropriate content will be removed, and uploaded files that are not directly related to the message thread will be removed. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages with links, files, or images it deems inappropriate. (return to form)