Question re AutoCAD training....
Discussion
If I wanted to re-familiarise myself with AutoCAD and bring my now very rusty skills up to scratch and update to the latest standards what training should I be looking for? I dabble with ACAD2000 on my PC at home, but the last time I used it in anger was probably V14 (I think).
I see much reference to City & Guilds but am a little confused between their 'CAD' courses and some which specifically say AutoCAD.
I am in permanent full time employment, so would look to do this as a part-time/evening course.
Any ideas?
I see much reference to City & Guilds but am a little confused between their 'CAD' courses and some which specifically say AutoCAD.
I am in permanent full time employment, so would look to do this as a part-time/evening course.
Any ideas?
pstruck said:
Steamer said:
not sure how far south west you are - but I noticed Bromsgrove college (or one of the colleges in that area) does evening classes in AutoCad.
A little further south and west than that - Exeter area. 
arrrr not quite such an easy commute for one night a week then!Check out your local colleges, the prospectuses usually drop though our door on a regular basis... most seem to have 1 night a week evening classes in CAD.
I do CAD in building services, an evening course would do you fine. What were you planning to use your refreshed CAD skills for?
I bought a lovely copy of AutoCAD for dummies from Waterstones and have a copy of AutoCAD 2008 at home to play about on/work. You can download full AutoCAD off Limewire or another peer to peer download program but i'm not saying it's legal
I bought a lovely copy of AutoCAD for dummies from Waterstones and have a copy of AutoCAD 2008 at home to play about on/work. You can download full AutoCAD off Limewire or another peer to peer download program but i'm not saying it's legal
When I had to learn to use AutoCAD for a placement I found it easiest to just practice on my own at home, just doing it in spare time. That way I got quicker and learned as I went along.
There are also free tutorials and exercises online.
Just my opinion and my way doesn't get you a qualification or certificate!
There are also free tutorials and exercises online.
Just my opinion and my way doesn't get you a qualification or certificate!
Aah, you civil chaps love that 2D stuff don't you.
Personally, I think if you're familiar with earlier versions then you shouldn't have too much trouble. CAD companies are extremely careful not to alienate experienced users when the bring out new versions. They will however encourage you to pay for expensive training...
Personally, I think if you're familiar with earlier versions then you shouldn't have too much trouble. CAD companies are extremely careful not to alienate experienced users when the bring out new versions. They will however encourage you to pay for expensive training...
Im not really sure about autocad, as i've never really played with it, but both I-DEAS (which is baaaad AIDS) and Solidworks have good tutorials to show you the ropes - personally i find i much prefer teaching myself with the tunes on and in my own time than in a classroom, but whatever works for you.
Solidworks is also available free and legit from their website if you pretend you are a student - not sure if this is still the case though.
Solidworks is also available free and legit from their website if you pretend you are a student - not sure if this is still the case though.
Engineer1 said:
Go for the dogs danglies, CATIA, AutoCad is a piece of piss the biggest problems are thinking how to construct your drawings, as i would say it is Computer Aided Drafting, as in just a computer instead of the drawing board and setsquare etc.
10 years ago i would have agreed with that ^^^^However, these days Autodesk have ensured that AutoCAD is far from a piece of piss without having some direction/training into the software.
I did it at an evening course last year. At college used 2008 version, at work used 2000LT, and we are trying out 2009 version at the moment. 2009 Version looks very swanky, and can do alot more things, but only expanding on what was already there in 2000 version imo. This is only for 2d use though
Frik said:
I've heard good things about SolidWorks 2009, I may even have to stop calling it MyFirstCADPackage®.
Anyone have any experience? Has it finally got quite sophisticated?
You have the healthy snobbish air of someone who knows what they're on about.Anyone have any experience? Has it finally got quite sophisticated?
Can you recommend a monkeys guide to AutoCAD or similar? Online, book form, dont care just has to be from the point of view of a complete moron.
Well I had some lessons at Uni, chap. Fat lot of good that was, AutoCAD is useless for us Mechanicals really and I haven't touched it since. I doubt it's changed an awful lot but back then there was a lot of text input and not much mouse clicking. Line 100@45 and the like.
Most CAD programs have really quite reasonable tutorials these days so you may well get by without any further study. It's a fairly unique GUI though.
Most CAD programs have really quite reasonable tutorials these days so you may well get by without any further study. It's a fairly unique GUI though.
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