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cad school and machine??

ROLANDROCKSHOP

ROLANDROCKSHOP

I wanna be Dave
Joined
Mar 4, 2007
Messages
5,980
Location
roland,ar
im thinkin of going to school to learn the fine art of
cad. i see the need for custom parts not only in rc
but other past hobbies ive been into.

can anyone give me a lil bit of info on what software i should try
to get acustomed to??

i was browsing the mag isle at barnes and noble
and saw a mag called "machinist":shock:...it got my attention,
i look inside and what do i find but a hobbiest wish catalog!!:shock:

can anyone give me any info on some of the cnc machines theyve
got in the ads of the mag?? theres one i believe for@$6500 3 axis cnc.
will check on brand. just wondering if anyone has one, has worked with one?? or..
if it would be cheaper just to work with someone to get the parts i wanted to produce that already has a connection?

any info would be greatly appreciated.
i think i have a ITT AND PTI colleges that have cad programs.
will be checking!!

thanks again!

and ill only be working with alum and delrin,if that helps.
 
Last edited:
I didn't go to school for CAD...and make just as much as my buddy that I work with that did go to school :lol:. Sometimes we both realize that I even know a bit more than he does about our CAD system/software.

I am very computer literate though, and also took alot of drafting in high school. Started the old school way of using a pencil, machine, templates, and triangles.

I learned by just sitting down at the computer and using it. Hands on is definitely the way to learn it fast. I would think that either AutoCAD or Solidworks would be the most widely used program for the cnc/machining world, but what do I know...I only draw buildings :lol:
 
Offroader5 said:
I didn't go to school for CAD...and make just as much as my buddy that I work with that did go to school :lol:. Sometimes we both realize that I even know a bit more than he does about our CAD system/software.

I am very computer literate though, and also took alot of drafting in high school. Started the old school way of using a pencil, machine, templates, and triangles.

I learned by just sitting down at the computer and using it. Hands on is definitely the way to learn it fast. I would think that either AutoCAD or Solidworks would be the most widely used program for the cnc/machining world, but what do I know...I only draw buildings :lol:
Click to expand...
That's what I'm doing, I got Auto CAD 2008 and the two exercise work books for Beginning and Advanced Auto CAD."thumbsup"
 
Offroader5 said:
and also took alot of drafting in high school. Started the old school way of using a pencil, machine, templates, and triangles.

I learned by just sitting down at the computer and using it. Hands on is definitely the way to learn it fast. I would think that either AutoCAD or Solidworks would be the most widely used
Click to expand...

Knowing the fundamentals of drafting is the key!! If you don't know how to draw it by hand, how can you expect to draw in on cad!! I don't use cad everyday like I used to, and now from time to time find myself scratching my head thinking......."I know I've done that before, but don't remember how! Where's my old textbook at??"

My local high schools, tech schools and colleges all teach AutoCad and/or Solidworks. I sure wish they had this software around when I was in school!! 90% of what I learned in college was on paper with a T-square! I had one semester of Autocad 12! Almost all my CAD knowledge has been self taught by trial and error.
 
It all depends on how much time you want to spend. School can only teach you so much. I run CNC's all day and 90% of what I know I learned on the job.
 
papasmurf said:
It all depends on how much time you want to spend. School can only teach you so much. I run CNC's all day and 90% of what I know I learned on the job.
Click to expand...

I agree! I was a toolmaker for 30 years at Ford and I learned most of my trade on the job not in apprentice school and it was a life long learning process. Auto Cad is the best though."thumbsup"
 
papasmurf said:
It all depends on how much time you want to spend. School can only teach you so much. I run CNC's all day and 90% of what I know I learned on the job.
Click to expand...

X2.That's how I learned what I know.Sometimes hands on is the best method.At least for me it is.
 
I agree with most here.. I started with a pencil & paper, then took a few AutoCAD courses 10 yrs ago. I learned and retained AutoCAD by using it everyday for many years.

Bottom line... If you want to learn you need to enjoy drafting....
 
thanks for the replys!

well i like drawing /sketching..
im a believer in experience is the best teacher.

talked to ITT yesterday,going in today
for a tour/meeting.
will see what happens next.:)
 
papasmurf said:
It all depends on how much time you want to spend. School can only teach you so much. I run CNC's all day and 90% of what I know I learned on the job.
Click to expand...

Same here, I run both 3 and 5 axis and I learned all of it on the job. We get guys out of school who still don't know enough to machine parts. I'd prefer to teach someone myself versus getting someone from a tech school.
 
I am now an at home machinist. I started years ago with AutoCad 9. If I am machining something I have to have a cad drawing. Even if I drew the dam drawing myself. If you are going to step into this wonderful world of machining then cad is a must. If you are working for your self and want to check out cad software on the cheap then go to download.com and search for free cad software. You might be surprised.

I use old software like SolidWorks 2000 and AutoCad 14. So It does not have to be today's cutting edge software.



Evan
 
I really like solidworks out of most of them, its sucks though going to find a job being 16 and saying you can design and run the machines. They almost don't believe you, I might not know much yet, but most jobs around here use Solidworks for everything.
 
RedNeck Rc said:
I really like solidworks out of most of them, its sucks though going to find a job being 16 and saying you can design and run the machines. They almost don't believe you, I might not know much yet, but most jobs around here use Solidworks for everything.
Click to expand...

They teach you the computer aided part of CAD in highschool but they cant teach you design.
 
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