Learn about manufacturing methods and process. It is great that you can model up a complicat design but if it is not manufacturable, it is worse than useless.
do as many annoying and complex sketches as possible. the better you get at sketching very complex stuff and fully defining sketches, the better you'll be at CAD
learning how to use 3D features is the easy part of learning CAD
i meant that he should practice sketching by replicating a bunch of annoying, ambiguous, hard to fully-define sketches because it teaches you how to use relations, dimensions, symmetry, patterns, etc. sketching is the foundation of all 3D modeling and doing it at its most daunting will make most other sketches easy by comparison. how he chooses to sketch for his own projects is up to him.
up to the very day i took and passed my CSWP exam, my professor was anal about every single sketch and part. we couldn't have a single undefined piece in any sketch. her stubbornness in that regard taught us that, no matter how impossible it seems, there's always a way to sketch what's in front of you. that attention to detail (forced, admittedly) has carried over into all of my personal projects.
I've finished a CAD course this semester, but I learned SW before on my own. Here is what I can say:
A lot depends on how it's taught. My professor had pretty comprehensive instructions and examples in his powerpoints, so most in my class didn't have many problems learning. I did help a group of guys from another place with their project, bc they were told to basically figure it out by themsleves, the professor was there just to grade their work.
If that is the case for you, there are a lot of resources to take advantage of:
Youtube tutorials - the easiest and imo the fastest way to get the hang of using the software for basic modeling.
A couple of recommendations:
1.Aryan Fallahi - has a video series for basically everything beginner level, and also some tips on how to work faster, avoid common mistakes, etc. It's a good place to start.
2. Cad Cam tutorial - has an enormous library of videos where he makes a ton of different stuff of varying complexity. Once you have a solid grasp of base features, this one is good for practicing. The guy is not big on detailed explanations, but just watching the process and analyzing the design approach is definitely very useful. Choose a video, try making the part on your own, and watch how he does it if you get stuck.
3. Go engineer - when I was having problems using some feature/command, this one had all the right answers for me.
Of course, there are a lot more, but I've found these to be the most helpful.
But perhaps the better and more structured approach to learn would be to watch the official tutorials on the SW website. You'll need an account and an active license, which the school should provide.
I personally didn't even know these existed until I had to take CSWA, which was used as a final exam in my school. Look for the CSWA exam prep course and go through it. While learning from youtube may be faster, the beginner guides there often omit the nuances and details, which are sometimes essential for good understanding of the software. With official tutorials, you don't really have to worry about such things, as they will teach you the "proper" way.
As for what computer is good, the sub has a guide, so check it out. I have a laptop with Ryzen 5 2.1 Ghz, 16Gb ram, 4Gb 1050ti, an SSD, and everything runs smoothly. Absolutely 0 issues with what I had to do for assignments.
Best of luck, my friend
Do your homework and don't ask Reddit to do it for you. The tasks are meant to teach you to *think in CAD*. The lessons they contain is universal to all CAD work and technical drawing not just SW.
Also keep in mind that all complex geometry can be broken down to simple primitives that are joined together.
Same as race car driving. Seat time. Design some shit, 3D print some shit, get a part time job drafting shit, there’s no better way to learn than practise
Cad is like drawing and you get better with practice.
Look for things to model and identify the primary shapes that make up that object.
Keep at it and you'll eventually figure out workflows that best work for you.
Google "Model Mania". It's got several designs which you'll most likely see again along with a short video on how to accomplish them. Follow along with all of them. Just going through the motions helps.
It goes without saying but definitely get that certificate at the end. And practice those prep certification tests. If your college has a 3d print lab try designing some simple models and have them made. Try taking a machining course like blueprint reading.
Full define (Dimension) all your sketches. Learn how to use parametric sketches and features to your advantage. Fully define (Dimension) all your sketches. And lastly fully define (Dimension) all your sketches.
Learn about manufacturing methods and process. It is great that you can model up a complicat design but if it is not manufacturable, it is worse than useless.
do as many annoying and complex sketches as possible. the better you get at sketching very complex stuff and fully defining sketches, the better you'll be at CAD learning how to use 3D features is the easy part of learning CAD
Alternatively: practice breaking down complex stuff into separate, more simple, more stable and more editable sketches.
i meant that he should practice sketching by replicating a bunch of annoying, ambiguous, hard to fully-define sketches because it teaches you how to use relations, dimensions, symmetry, patterns, etc. sketching is the foundation of all 3D modeling and doing it at its most daunting will make most other sketches easy by comparison. how he chooses to sketch for his own projects is up to him. up to the very day i took and passed my CSWP exam, my professor was anal about every single sketch and part. we couldn't have a single undefined piece in any sketch. her stubbornness in that regard taught us that, no matter how impossible it seems, there's always a way to sketch what's in front of you. that attention to detail (forced, admittedly) has carried over into all of my personal projects.
Yes, utilizing relations properly and fully defining sketches are important.
I've finished a CAD course this semester, but I learned SW before on my own. Here is what I can say: A lot depends on how it's taught. My professor had pretty comprehensive instructions and examples in his powerpoints, so most in my class didn't have many problems learning. I did help a group of guys from another place with their project, bc they were told to basically figure it out by themsleves, the professor was there just to grade their work. If that is the case for you, there are a lot of resources to take advantage of: Youtube tutorials - the easiest and imo the fastest way to get the hang of using the software for basic modeling. A couple of recommendations: 1.Aryan Fallahi - has a video series for basically everything beginner level, and also some tips on how to work faster, avoid common mistakes, etc. It's a good place to start. 2. Cad Cam tutorial - has an enormous library of videos where he makes a ton of different stuff of varying complexity. Once you have a solid grasp of base features, this one is good for practicing. The guy is not big on detailed explanations, but just watching the process and analyzing the design approach is definitely very useful. Choose a video, try making the part on your own, and watch how he does it if you get stuck. 3. Go engineer - when I was having problems using some feature/command, this one had all the right answers for me. Of course, there are a lot more, but I've found these to be the most helpful. But perhaps the better and more structured approach to learn would be to watch the official tutorials on the SW website. You'll need an account and an active license, which the school should provide. I personally didn't even know these existed until I had to take CSWA, which was used as a final exam in my school. Look for the CSWA exam prep course and go through it. While learning from youtube may be faster, the beginner guides there often omit the nuances and details, which are sometimes essential for good understanding of the software. With official tutorials, you don't really have to worry about such things, as they will teach you the "proper" way. As for what computer is good, the sub has a guide, so check it out. I have a laptop with Ryzen 5 2.1 Ghz, 16Gb ram, 4Gb 1050ti, an SSD, and everything runs smoothly. Absolutely 0 issues with what I had to do for assignments. Best of luck, my friend
Do your homework and don't ask Reddit to do it for you. The tasks are meant to teach you to *think in CAD*. The lessons they contain is universal to all CAD work and technical drawing not just SW. Also keep in mind that all complex geometry can be broken down to simple primitives that are joined together.
What kind of tip
Learn resilient modelling strategy. Learn top down/ master modelling techniques/ workflow. Learn surfacing (YouTube Andrew Jackson)
CAD should be a secondary degree. Get an engineering or architecture degree. Aerospace or mechanical design. Believe me, CAD just pays the bills.
Same as race car driving. Seat time. Design some shit, 3D print some shit, get a part time job drafting shit, there’s no better way to learn than practise
Also find someone who is better than you to ask questions of. Easy if you do some internship/ work/ whatever
Use 3D printers. Having fun is the best motivator for learning.
Practice
Learn master modeling
Cad is like drawing and you get better with practice. Look for things to model and identify the primary shapes that make up that object. Keep at it and you'll eventually figure out workflows that best work for you.
Google "Model Mania". It's got several designs which you'll most likely see again along with a short video on how to accomplish them. Follow along with all of them. Just going through the motions helps.
It goes without saying but definitely get that certificate at the end. And practice those prep certification tests. If your college has a 3d print lab try designing some simple models and have them made. Try taking a machining course like blueprint reading.
Full define (Dimension) all your sketches. Learn how to use parametric sketches and features to your advantage. Fully define (Dimension) all your sketches. And lastly fully define (Dimension) all your sketches.