What Do You Use To Draw/design Projects?

Hi Bob, I' Tea Tree Gully way.
I tried Fusion 360 after reading some really good reviews. Sadly I was unable to download it, apparently not unusual.
Sometimes simple is best....why I hang on to TurboCAD, it's not the best, but it is easy after 20 years!!
cheers
Bill

G'day bill, I've managed to download it and had a look at it but have no idea where to start. I've never used any sort of cad cam software before, I can draw with a pencil and rule etc. but I'm complete newbie, it just scares me looking at it, and every time I try something it does weird things that I don't understand, It's probably quite normal but i'm lost.
 
Thanks Tom, yes I've heard that it's easy to use and cheap, as in free. However I've also heard that it does not produce a dimensioned drawing you can work from..

Emachineshop does have a dimensioning feature. It's not quite the same as a righteous drawing but it is functional.

Tom S.
 
Emachineshop does have a dimensioning feature. It's not quite the same as a righteous drawing but it is functional.

Tom S.

Thanks Tom,

I've downloaded it and will give it a go, mostly I just make stuff from the designs in my head, but sometimes when trying to develop a design it gets a bit complicated, so a CAD program that I can use will be a help..

Cheers,

Bob.
 
I use Fusion360. Free for hobbyist and super easy to learn.

Thanks Greebles, I've downloaded it but cant figure out where to start, are there any tutorials available, I'm a complete novice when it comes to CAD.
 
Thanks Greebles, I've downloaded it but cant figure out where to start, are there any tutorials available, I'm a complete novice when it comes to CAD.


you tube has lots of tutorials on 360, likewise on Fusion 360 site. On your screen when you log into Fusion and it shows a worksheet, the ? mark on top right corner of screen gets you to help or tutorial

cheers
michael
 
you tube has lots of tutorials on 360, likewise on Fusion 360 site. On your screen when you log into Fusion and it shows a worksheet, the ? mark on top right corner of screen gets you to help or tutorial

cheers
michael

Thanks, I have had a look and found it thanks again, All I have to do now is find the time to start using it.

Cheers,

Bob.
 
Bob

All good CAD programs both 2D and 3D have a fairly steep learning curve. What you want to make has a lot to do with what program to use. If you want to design a complete model IC or steam engine from the ground up then 3D is the way to go because you can design your parts and then assemble them in the CAD program to check for fit and operation.
If you have a CNC mill then again 3D CAD is the way to go. Fusion 360 is a strong 3D CAD program and there is a ton of you tube help available. It has a strong CAM program built in and you know because you have down loaded it and you are giving it a go that you can get both for free.
If you need just simple 2D drawings that you can take out to the shop and make parts on you manual machines the DraftSight is a good free 2D CAD program.
The thing with CAD and CAM is take it in little bites. Don't start out trying to design a complete engine. Just design small parts that use the various task of the CAD program. Watch tons of you tube about the program you want to use and keep at it. Soon you will be to a point that you can design the IC engine and go out to the shop and build it.
I've been designing all kinds of stuff in CAD for over 20 yours and I still learn thing on a regular basis.

Hope this helps

Dave
 
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Well it has finally arrived. 2 1/2 months ago I ordered a new lathe. A Liang Dei LD 1216GH, Picked it up yesterday (Fri) morning and installed it in my garage. I'm now a very happy chappy. I've still got a bit of work cleaning it up, all the grease they put on before shipping. The lathe comes from Taiwan, and is very well spec'd, I hope it lives up to the spec's, if it does it will be a beauty, Gave it a short test run nice and quiet, all the gears change smoothly and easily.
 
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Well it has finally arrived. 2 1/2 months ago I ordered a new lathe. A Liang Dei LD 1216GH, Picked it up yesterday (Fri) morning and installed it in my garage. I'm now a very happy chappy. I've still got a bit of work cleaning it up, all the grease they put on before shipping. The lathe comes from Taiwan, and is very well spec'd, I hope it lives up to the spec's, if it does it will be a beauty, Gave it a short test run nice and quiet, all the gears change smoothly and easily.

Did your lathe come with a 4 jaw chuck and a face plate. If now as soon as the budget will let you you will want to get at least a 4 jaw chuck.

Dave
 
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