I need to learn CAD

[Rob@USC]

I tranfered this year and in one of the classes I'm taking, I'm expected to know a CAD program (either AutoCAD [versions 2005 or 2000i] or Pro/Engineer [version Wildfire 2.0]). I haven't used any kind of CAD in over a year, so I remember very little/none of it. Then I used Pro/Engineer, but I'm thinking it'll be easier to find a book for AutoCAD (plus I know 2 guys who know it and could offer some help).

Basically I need some kind of 'AutoCAD for idiots' (if they make it). Preferably a book I could get at a Barnes & Nobles (since there's one within walking distance) or maybe somewhere like Amazon. Is there a book that anyone recommends to learn AutoCAD?

Thanks,
Rob

[camaronat]

Not that I can think of. There should be some tutorials in there to get you started though.

I think the best way would be to just dive in and try stuff. You'd be suprised how fast it will come back to you.

Good luck.

[AlienInv8r]

They don't even teach AutoCAD at Va Tech, they keep telling us Inventor is the new thing in modeling software.

If you come up with a good book, post up about it. I'd like to grab something so I can learn how to use it more also, somehow I doubt it'll be obsolete like they tell us when I graduate.

[j_downey50]

i heart CAD. i'm going into my third year of it. in our classroom, there's a TON of books on using autocad. i'd imagine there are some out there, but it's not that difficult really... my first year, the teacher couldn't even use a computer. needless to say, he was fired. but i've taught myself everything i know about autocad just from playing with it since the teacher didn't know what the **** he was doing lol.

[SirShaun]

Inventor is all we use in my High School Tech Class. I made a sick *** 69 camaro model. I love Inventor. Ive never tryed CAD but thats what all those damned cutting machines run on.

[camaronat]

Here at UAH all they use is Ideas. I think they are on like Ideas 9 or 10. I took it at 8.

I wish they used Autocad here, but they don't because it is too expensive. I am guessing that is the same reason why they don't use it a bunch of other places too.

[LD]

Originally posted by Rob@USC:
I tranfered this year and in one of the classes I'm taking, I'm expected to know a CAD program (either AutoCAD [versions 2005 or 2000i] or Pro/Engineer [version Wildfire 2.0]). I haven't used any kind of CAD in over a year, so I remember very little/none of it. Then I used Pro/Engineer, but I'm thinking it'll be easier to find a book for AutoCAD (plus I know 2 guys who know it and could offer some help).

Basically I need some kind of 'AutoCAD for idiots' (if they make it). Preferably a book I could get at a Barnes & Nobles (since there's one within walking distance) or maybe somewhere like Amazon. Is there a book that anyone recommends to learn AutoCAD?

Thanks,
Rob

maybe this?


or these

I have a really good entry level CAD book floating around here somewhere. I couldn't find it in those search results, but I'm sure one of those will work.

[3.4 [deployed]]

I haven't done AutoCad in about 11yrs :( :( :(

GOing back to school to take some in the fall. Good luck. THere are Idiots guide to AutoCad out there, I've seen it. Biggest problem for me is that I was a wiz on AutoCad 10, and now there's just AutoCad 2005 & AutoCad LT. THey cost $$$$$$$$$$. I wonder if they still make student versions???...............

[LD]

there are people with the full version that are pretty cheap

[ellik]

they dont have it because of the cost. Its still industry standard. If your going from AutoCAD R10 to 2000 or above.... good friggin luck. My office is switching to ADT 2004 and that changeover is causing mega problems already. I'd enroll in a semester class. really if you want to get a good grasp on it, thats the way to go. you can jump in and start playing around, but there is a lot that you wont pick up on, unless you read the help section from start to finish forward and backward.

[j_downey50]

hm... my school has autocad2002 i believe. with you guys saying it costs so much, it makes me wonder why my high school would spend so much money giving every student their own computer and expensive software on it, while they can't even afford to supply us with paper? we've ran out of paper 3/4 through the school year every year since i was in 6th grade. we need some new budgeting around here...

[3.4 [deployed]]

it's the administration's fault

[camaronat]

highschools usually get grants and stuff for it. the school doesn't actually buy it. My highschool has mostly 97lite and one or 2 with 2004lite.

[ellik]

they get grants, plus Autodesk gives them even cheaper rates....

[MrCoffee]

talk to megabass... thats how he designs boxes for us [img]smile.gif[/img]