Woodworker seeking advice

[Anonymous]

So I use AutoCAD at work for piping design but it is exclusively 2D work (spool sheets from client ISOs for fab shop production). I've been using the 3d model space lately to create some models for woodworking projects and would like to know if any of you do the same and could recommend some online courses or youtube vids that you have found usefull? TIA

[Bud_Schroeder_ADESK]

Hello and thanks for posting your question to the AutoCAD forum.  I do not have an exact answer for you, but it may help while you wait for others to jump in with suggestions.    You can use Google to search and see if others have shared anything.  Also be sure to search the forums, you may find something there as well.  I also know that Carl Bass does a lot of woodworking design in Fusion 360.   You might want to check the Fusion 360 forums, to see if anyone is maybe using both Fusion 360 and AutoCAD to do this.     

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360/ct-p/1234

Hope this helps and that others jump in with other ideas for you. 

[TheCADnoob]

Ive done small stuff like basic layouts and what not in AutoCAD as its great for basic stuff. I would recommend looking into fusion as well for modeling. AutoCAD can do it, but the nature of parametric modelings like Inventor and Fusion 360 make modeling easier especially if you want to change things on the fly. 

I would reach out to the fusion community and see what they recommend as far as courses. There are several moogs offering classes as well.

https://www.coursera.org/learn/fusion-360-integrated-cad-cam-cae

https://www.udemy.com/fusion360/

[dieters · Accepted solution]

I use AutoCAD a lot for woodworking projects around the house, including a 3D model of a kitchen remodel, an arbor design in 3D, a deck and deck cover, and other projects. I find myself using primarily 10 additional commands:

Visualize: 3DORBIT, PLAN

User Coordinate System: UCS (3P, ZA, W), UCSICON

Profiles: EXTRUDE, REVOLVE, SWEEP

Booleans: UNION, SUBTRACT, INTERSECT

Caveat: If you create wood molding, it's traditionally based on elliptical arcs used in the tooling, which will be more challenging.

Autodesk University has offered classes in 3D modeling that you might consider viewing or downloading the presentations and notes. Here's one of them:

https://www.autodesk.com/autodesk-university/class/Quick-Start-AutoCAD-3D-Solid-Modeling-2017

Dieter

[Bob_Zurunkle]

My first forays into 3D were actually in AutoCAD LT, believe it or not. It does wireframe 3D but there are also tricks to approximate 3D items. I was using it to create a manufactured home in 3D, and that's how I learned also to use paper space. Of course, this was back around 1999-2000.

Nowadays, consider programs such as Inventor, in which you can create parts and assemblies, make exploded views, create BOMs, and of course assign material properties. Parametric modeling is fun and simple!

[Anonymous]

Thanks everyone for the advice on Fusion 360. I just downloaded it and I think it's going to work fine for me. I actually use sketchup at home but I have CAD here at work and would like a solution I can use at both locations without having to purchase more software. Fusion looks to be a lot like sketchup so the learning curve shouldn't be too bad, especially since I know CAD.