Learning C3D

[JimJonesPELS]

My Autocad skills are very basic - nowhere near proficient.  Is it advisable to go into C3D at that level, picking up the drafting skills as you go, or spend more time and effort becoming proficient in straight Autocad before beginning with C3D?

Thanks

Jim

[MichaelH13 · Accepted solution]

Jump in with 2 feet. I have learnt Civil3D over the past 4 months and I started from scratch, never used AutoCad before. 

There are plenty of learning tools online for free that you can use, I have found Youtube tutorials from Jeff Bartel to be very helpful.

I started here: https://www.autodesk.com/certification/learn/course/autocad-design-drafting-cert-prep

And then I also completed this module: https://www.autodesk.com/certification/learn/course/civil3d-infrastructure-design-cert-prep

It's a lot of information to absorb, so take your time but you can pick up a lot of skills as you go along.

[m_kingdon]

It really depends on you and your circumstances.  But from my experience, I'd highly recommend being at least proficient in AutoCAD before depending on Civil 3D.  We have had engineers join our team with no experience using AutoCAD and we expected them to be self-sufficient after a 3 day Civil 3D training course, it never worked.

You could probably learn to do some useful basic workflows, like produce profiles and cut and fill volumes.  But to be able to produce drawings that are acceptable to issue requires a lot more skill and time using the software.

If your employer has a good template and some competent Civil 3D users you can seek help from then getting started in Civil 3D shouldn't be too difficult.  If you are starting on your own then it will be very difficult without AutoCAD knowledge.

[JimJonesPELS]

Thanks. I like the sound of that and will follow your advice.

Jim

[JimJonesPELS]

Thank you your advice.  As you say, it depends on the circumstances.  I do have a great deal of design experience and so am able to grasp what's going on with the design.  

I'm going to go forward with my Autocad skills as are and jump into C3D.  If the grass gets too tall, I can always retreat and regroup.  Wouldn't be the first time.

Thanks again,

Jim

[m_kingdon]

Sounds good, if I can add some areas of focus in AutoCAD, having good understanding of these in AutoCAD will help with Civil 3D:

• Layers and layer management in AutoCAD, then you can learn about Styles in Civil 3D and how Styles depend on layers.
• Annotative objects and scales.  How certain objects and text appear in viewports set to certain scales and have good discipline in maintaining scales.
• Polyline editing, using fillet and TTR circles to draw out curved polylines.  Do not use splines.

Good luck, ask questions here if you need Civil 3D help.

[JimJonesPELS]

Thanks again. Those sound like some essential tips.

I can pretty much guarantee I’ll be putting up questions here.

[Chaznsc]

• Ask lots of questions. These forums are an absolute gold mine. 
• As for your AutoCad chops, use it, you will get those quickly. 
• Online classes, free or paid, are invaluable tools, but nothing like just using the software. 
• Do a few projects "by hand", I bet you will catch on rapdily. Then you can move on to automating what Civil 3D can do FOR you. Its where the rest of us started before there was any C3D, LDD, etc. I started with DCA, the grandpappy of all these packages. By far and away, my early plans were done with just Autocad skills. 
• Dont try and learn all this at once. Pick a topic, and start at the bottom. Master it. Then move on.
• You. Can. Do. This.

[MichaelH13]

All great suggestions. Annotation drives me mad sometimes. Splines are not great to work with.

Plenty of people on here to answer questions.

Good Luck!

[JimJonesPELS]

Thanks yet again.

I have no problem asking questions and am certain I will be utilizing this community extensively.  I made my living doing projects "by hand" for quite a few years so am not intimidated by engineering design.  It's learning how to manipulate the software that seems the challenge.  I am in awe of how rapidily the design gets done. 

How to actually create and plot out drawings is the deep, dark mystery. 

I appreciate your prompt and helpful responses.

Best,

Jim

Jim