How can you gain CAD skills online?

Software is incredibly subjective, almost tribal. You will find AutoCAD users will fight for AutoCAD. SolidWorks users will fight for SolidWorks. Your choice of CAD software depends on your needs and requirements, and it is often defined by budget as well. Investigate ALL use cases you need the software for and perhaps download some trial versions to see how you get along. Most offer a 30-day trial, which is more than adequate for you to field test the particular application.

When I was in my undergrad I was exposed to the idea of a CAD program. There were many options to choose from. Some were proprietary, some were open source. However, almost all had a free student version. It is still true now. All the CAD programs are require moderately demanding hardware during learning phase. A CAD program generally is also OS dependent where Mac OS has less options than Windows. However, there are now cloud based options available which only requires reliable and fast internet connection and are OS independent. I would strongly encourage youngsters to try all of the available alternatives i.e., AutoCAD, Solidworks, PTC Creo, Catia, FreeCAD, etc., before selecting a CAD program. I prefer Fusion 360 and Solidworks.

I start by going online and asking questions. What am I trying to do? What am I trying to solve? What are my needs? Take things out for a spin with free trials. Talk to your peers, and find out how things have worked for them. Be adventurous, get messy, make mistakes, and have fun. Another thing to consider is the complexity of design you are looking to achieve. Not all software is built the same and your needs can drastically determine which software will best suit you. Start by taking stock of your goals, begin researching, and most importantly have fun!

Since I finish my studies the software I use the most is Autocad, is the most accurate and complete for technical drawings in diferently fields. I achieved a course from aitodesk where i learn even more about autocad and in my opinion there are always new ways that you can learn. Revit I course it to form the autodesk trening center in norway and for architecture combine with autocad is the best for build 3D construccion with exactitude and perfection. For me is still pendimng to develop the renderings setup in Revit. In my opinion these are the top softwares in architecture industry and the most usefull. compatibility of the archives is also an advantage for the autodesk family.

It helps you to be familiar with the different softwares as in looking for work or with others they may use a different software than you normally would however, find drafting tools and start working! They all more or less do the same thing only with a few different features or shortcuts. The more softwares you know the better for you in the job market.

Before you start taking paid courses, there are YouTube videos available that are very valuable. The style I encourage is to look for playlists and follow through, they help you to have guided learning, better than just watching random videos on YouTube.

Some CAD software companies will provide some sort of training with the software, or have some form of forum available that you can learn from. I know from experience that Onshape (which does have a free user license) has a free training program on their website as a part of their software, many other companies go the route of supporting a YouTube series that focuses on their software as well. The choice depends on what software and what the goal is.

As a LinkedIn Learning [in]structor with over 70 AutoCAD courses in the library, I will always say use LinkedIn Learning to learn all you need to know about AutoCAD. However, Autodesk also provides a superb range of learning content on their website. A good habit to get into is to build up a library of your own. Something I do is save all my URL links to numbered & named folders so that I have an index of what I have learnt to date. Also, keep a text-based journal of what you have learnt too. There are some great apps out there to do this such as OneNote, and Evernote. It is often a good idea to keep your tablet on a stand next to you to note anything important down as well, for future reference.

?? Choosing the Right CAD Software: A Guide to Your Perfect Fit! ?? Embarking on your CAD journey? The first and pivotal step is selecting the CAD software that resonates with your aspirations, interests, and skill level. Let’s navigate through this essential decision-making process! ??? ?? Exploring Your Options: The world of CAD is expansive, offering a variety of software catering to different design realms. Whether you’re delving into architecture, animation, engineering wonders, or more, there’s a software tailored to your creative pursuit. ?? Personalized Approach: Pinpoint your design focus, level of expertise, and budget considerations. From the renowned AutoCAD to the intuitive SketchUp.

If someone wants to learn CAD they should do online learn from friends or use the resources on Linkedin. Also, if someone wants to learn and get certification(s) Community Colleges are a good place to start. Paid Instruction from a pay-to-play business only wants your money and may not care about the quality of the instruction.

Books are still a great learning medium, and with apps such as Audiate and Kindle, you can store your online library quickly and easily. Numerous online books now offer downloadable tutorials and exercises and often have links to videos associated with the book's content as well. Many books do need to be paid for, in the same way as a physical book, but there are numerous subscription book apps, such as Kindle and others. Get into the habit of using your books as a source of reference material, keeping a journal that notes the location of the useful information in the book for future reference.

Reading is essential. Online videos, tutorials, and classes are essentially. It is the combination of all that is the most powerful. Reading allows you to experience the software textual through the eyes of someone passionate about what you are looking to learn. I have always felt written text to be more personal. Online videos need structure and direction more rigid then text. All are essential to effective learning.

Depends on your style of learning. For instance, I’m more of a Read And Do kind of learner and respond better to step by step written instructions, as opposed to someone who may be a Watch And Do kind of learner.

I read a lot of books, they give in-depth knowledge about a topic. A good book on CAD program will help you understand how information is displayed on the screen, which information is displayed on the screen and how to manipulate that information. A book will also include how mathematical basics for CAD. The details in the book may not be required to become an expert in a CAD program but they sure will help in developing intuition, understanding capabilities of a program and capabilities of CAD itself. If you can program you may also be able to create plugins for CAD programs after understanding its under the hood details.

Personally I'm not a fan of books to learn softwares. You learn better by videos. However, for theoretical part of CAD, understanding concepts, or CAD/BIM standards books are a great choice of learning.

Online communities are an incredible way of learning from your peers, and also networking, which could lead to future work/career opportunities. Most communities offer great feedback, advice, and support via online forums. For example, Autodesk has the Autodesk Community, where forums for most Autodesk applications exist. As an Autodesk Expert Elite Member, I often visit these forums to offer solutions, advice, and feedback to users.

Online Communities are essential to those seeking to expand their knowledge and connect with like minded professionals. You can meet other highly passionate individuals in your field that share and collaborate. Running into an issue? Likely you aren't the first with that issue or similar issue. Online communities allow you to connect with your peers from around the globe. Take advantage of the access to highly passionate and engaging industry change makers. Trust me, I wouldn't be where I am without it. We are stronger together. ? Unsure where to go, reach out, we are always willing to help.

CAD Community Forums are a great option. Websites like Stack Overflow, Autodesk forums, and Reddit's r/CAD are great places get answers to questions and queries, also to find effective solutions. It’s also an active stream to learn from experienced users.

Online communities are great. I once met someone through an online community. We shared horror stories and awesome successes. Now he is my co-worker.

Online communities are a proven way to enrich CAD skills. Online discourse is another layer of CAD skill refinement beyond professional practice and added courses.

Getting into online projects is incredibly easy nowadays. With the likes of Instructibles, Tinkercad, and so many other cloud/internet-based project platforms, you can easily develop your skills, by working on sample projects that each platform provides. Make sure to attend to these projects regularly, making sure you repeat tasks to aid retention so that they become muscle memory. Maybe even keep a journal, listing all the tasks you perform and how well they went, looking to improve as you go.

Online communities are invaluable for honing CAD skills and expanding your professional network. These platforms provide learning opportunities from peers and open doors to potential career prospects. Communities like Autodesk's Autodesk Community offer forums with expert advice and feedback for various Autodesk applications. Joining such communities not only enhances CAD skills but also fosters meaningful professional connections for your future in the field.

Not just online projects but actual projects too. Go to your friends and family and ask them what you could create for them. They'll give you ideas of things you haven't thought of. Some of which will be so easy you'll finish it in a day and they'll be very impressed. Some of which will be challenging and make you dig deep to learn the CAD program better and gain new insights you didn't know you lacked.

One learns best by solving problems and online projects provide those problems. One may also collaborates with others during online projects. Another advantage of online projects is exposure to different ideas which translates to novel designs.

Wherever you learn a new skill you work on some kind of project. Through the project you will not only sharpen your skills but also learn the workflow and develop a portfolio which will help you land a job/get freelance projects. There are many tutorials and specific playlists where people have made projects. These step by step tutorials videos can help.

Many chatgpt based AI extensions have come to market, one should definitely learn how to use these. It will save a lot of time. You can listen to podcasts, YouTube channels such as CAD Point, subscribe to newsletters, join LinkedIn groups on CAD by doing this you will be up to date with the happenings in the industry. Also share your point of view, learning experiences, or if you have discovered something that is easy and time saving with the community, on professional networking platforms like LinkedIn.

Events like Autodesk University and BILT often have a significant online archive that can be explored at leisure to learn the best and latest trends going on today.

There are plenty of options to learn online, many of them are free like youtube, or you can join a specialist program and learn from an authentic course that teaches you in a structured way, not just the tool but how to apply it to solve real world problems.

This may seem old fashioned and obsolete. Learning to draw by hand and visualise objects in a free-mode will greatly enhance your 3D modelling skills. If you can imagine the object, you can create it in 3D. Using software packages is a great extension of this simple skill, so grab a pencil, some rulers and take up technical hand drawing as a learning step towards 3D modelling.

Absolutely, mastering the basics of CAD and drafting is crucial for anyone looking to excel in this field. Once you have a solid grasp of the fundamentals, the choice of CAD software becomes less important; it's more about learning the specific commands and tools within that software that can help your needs. YouTube is a valuable resource for learning, with a plethora of tutorials catering to all skill levels. Additionally, exploring the help options within your chosen CAD program can provide invaluable insight. Seeking guidance from experienced mentors & engaging with the CAD community is also beneficial. There are often multiple ways to achieve the same results in CAD, exploring how others approach these can expand your skill set.

There are ‘best practices’ which companies develop and deploy for its CAD users. In my opinion, a CAD student must spend some time in industry to learn these best practices. These may help her grow and will give her an advantage during her on freelance practice.

Quisiera destacar la eficaz capacitación que viene incluida en la ayuda de SolidWorks bajo el apartado "Tutoriales". Contiene todo lo necesario para hacer un trabajo de calidad, sin tener ningún conocimiento previo del programa. Desde lo más básico hasta técnicas más avanzadas de modelado y dibujo, con estos tutoriales estarás listo para brindar a tu empresa lo necesario para trabajar de forma precisa y transmitir la información de manera clara.