Advance Steel (Autocad)

[Hitch]

With fairly limited knowledge of CAD, i've been making an attempt to brush up a bit.
Had a bit of a play with Draftsight, but the 3d capabilities seem a bit limited.
I Downloaded a student version of Autocad and Advance Steel software during the week and have been having a play.
Seems nice software, makes drawing standard frames etc a real doddle. Not even using 1% of its capabilities I doubt.

Anyone else tried it?

 

[Wendelspanswick]

Do you mean portal frames? And is it free to download?

 

[nodeward]

do you mean autocad inventor? if not they do a student version of that and its simple to use

 

[Kent]

although I have worked with CAD I don't like it, seems to break a big part of the thought process you get with a drawing board plan and then perspective if required. It feels to me like you already need to know exactly what your going to do and its just a drawing tool, haven't ever got my head fully round that seems to stun creativity and real thought if you know what I mean.
Then again I might just be a Ludite who likes a drawing board and scale rule

 

[lchris21]

just been trying to get to grips with Inventor 2015. Gave up on Solidworks as it was too much for me..............last had some formal training on Autocad 2D, over 20years ago, so have forgotten a lot. I find the new fangled 3D drawing software a bit too bossy for its own boots. Its a great tool for CAD jockeys who have never ever made anything from scratch, and have no concept of machining stuff. They can draw all sorts of weird and wonderful things with it. Part of my latest job means I have to start using it, but its a bit confusing sometimes as I'm used to actually making the things I'm trying to draw, but the program is not really concerned with the fact that somethings are impossible to machine !!! I have great pleasure taking some of the CAD jockeys down a peg or two after they've spent days designing something which cannot actually be made or has no hope of fitting together...................Old age and treachery will overcome youth and skill!!!
Its got it uses, but sometimes its quicker for me to put pencil to paper!!!
Its a slow process but I'll persevere

 

[Hitch]

Do you mean portal frames? And is it free to download?

Portal frames, staircases, handrails, caged ladders, usual type of stuff. Along with connections.

Free for the student version, about 6gig for both.

 

[Kent]

just been trying to get to grips with Inventor 2015. Gave up on Solidworks as it was too much for me..............last had some formal training on Autocad 2D, over 20years ago, so have forgotten a lot. I find the new fangled 3D drawing software a bit too bossy for its own boots. Its a great tool for CAD jockeys who have never ever made anything from scratch, and have no concept of machining stuff. They can draw all sorts of weird and wonderful things with it. Part of my latest job means I have to start using it, but its a bit confusing sometimes as I'm used to actually making the things I'm trying to draw, but the program is not really concerned with the fact that somethings are impossible to machine !!! I have great pleasure taking some of the CAD jockeys down a peg or two after they've spent days designing something which cannot actually be made or has no hope of fitting together...................Old age and treachery will overcome youth and skill!!!
Its got it uses, but sometimes its quicker for me to put pencil to paper!!!
Its a slow process but I'll persevere

I am not alone then in the thinking process

 

[Normsthename]

Its a slow process but I'll persevere

Keep at it, it will click one day!
I use Solidworks and like other 3D software there are two main ways to design, top Down or bottom up.
Bottom up you design single parts and then bring then together in the assembly.
The other way Top down is where you create parts within the assembly that you can link to the other parts.
Top down approach is better suited when you're not sure about the design and want it to evolve
I do a lot of POS design and Top Down method works for for me coming from a shop floor background.

Andy

 

[lshigham]

just been trying to get to grips with Inventor 2015. Gave up on Solidworks as it was too much for me..............last had some formal training on Autocad 2D, over 20years ago, so have forgotten a lot. I find the new fangled 3D drawing software a bit too bossy for its own boots. Its a great tool for CAD jockeys who have never ever made anything from scratch, and have no concept of machining stuff. They can draw all sorts of weird and wonderful things with it. Part of my latest job means I have to start using it, but its a bit confusing sometimes as I'm used to actually making the things I'm trying to draw, but the program is not really concerned with the fact that somethings are impossible to machine !!! I have great pleasure taking some of the CAD jockeys down a peg or two after they've spent days designing something which cannot actually be made or has no hope of fitting together...................Old age and treachery will overcome youth and skill!!!
Its got it uses, but sometimes its quicker for me to put pencil to paper!!!
Its a slow process but I'll persevere

I'm 20 and can do a decent drawing with the slide rule but am hopeless with CAD so you aren't on your own by any means

 

[dan.taylor.1]

What sort of system do you need to run solidworks, and how expensive is it?!

Dan

 

[Robotstar5]

What sort of system do you need to run solidworks, and how expensive is it?!

Here you go requirements the graphics card is the most important part.

 

[500e]

Cant get my head around 2\3 D CAD, drawings are bad enough dyslexia is a brummer can visualize things OK then explain to a friend who draws the darn thing, have spent the last 50+ years trying to put a drawing on paper let alone the screen

 

[Kent]

Cant get my head around 2\3 D CAD, drawings are bad enough dyslexia is a brummer can visualize things OK then explain to a friend who draws the darn thing, have spent the last 50+ years trying to put a drawing on paper let alone the screen

You know Dyslexia comes in many forms but one Big firm of architects goes out its way to employ such people for their ability to bring multiple problems together in a single solution. It is certainly normally no handicap, I was diagnosed dyslexic and tested in all areas Back in the 70s by a for most expert in the field.

 

[500e]

It has never been a real problem with me, other than spelling & maths

 

[Rocketman]

just been trying to get to grips with Inventor 2015. Gave up on Solidworks as it was too much for me..............last had some formal training on Autocad 2D, over 20years ago, so have forgotten a lot. I find the new fangled 3D drawing software a bit too bossy for its own boots. Its a great tool for CAD jockeys who have never ever made anything from scratch, and have no concept of machining stuff. They can draw all sorts of weird and wonderful things with it. Part of my latest job means I have to start using it, but its a bit confusing sometimes as I'm used to actually making the things I'm trying to draw, but the program is not really concerned with the fact that somethings are impossible to machine !!! I have great pleasure taking some of the CAD jockeys down a peg or two after they've spent days designing something which cannot actually be made or has no hope of fitting together...................Old age and treachery will overcome youth and skill!!!
Its got it uses, but sometimes its quicker for me to put pencil to paper!!!
Its a slow process but I'll persevere

Meh I'm one of those 'CAD jockeys' who spends most of their days doing 3D surfacing on automotive tooling.

Try doing those tool designs in 2D and program the cutter paths using G code manually.

 

[lchris21]

Sweet....nice bit of CAD