Last updated: August 20, 2024 at 07:59 PM
Summary of Reddit Comments on "Best CAD":
Fusion 360
- Fusion 360 is recommended for beginners due to the availability of numerous tutorial videos on YouTube.
- Pros: Beginner-friendly, widely used, powerful, and feature-rich.
- Cons: Account issues reported by some users.
Tinkercad
- Tinkercad is suggested as a starting point for beginners.
- Pros: Easy to learn, user-friendly for creating simple designs.
- Cons: Limitations for more complex or iterative designs.
OnShape
- OnShape is praised for being easy to learn with great functionality.
- Pros: Free for hobbyists, browser-based, user-friendly, and has good tutorials.
- Cons: Some limitations reported by users.
FreeCAD
- FreeCAD is highlighted for being free and open-source.
- Pros: Capable of more complex designs, attractive for those seeking open-source solutions.
- Cons: Few users reported a learning curve.
SketchUp
- SketchUp is mentioned as an easy-to-learn option for beginners.
- Pros: Intuitive interface, suitable for simple designs like action camera mounts.
- Cons: May not be as powerful as other CAD software for more complex projects.
OpenSCAD
- OpenSCAD is recommended for those comfortable with coding.
- Pros: Constructive solid geometry, short learning curve for coding-savvy users.
- Cons: May not be as suitable for those who prefer a graphical user interface.
Other CAD Software
- Shapr3d on iPad is praised for its usability.
- Solidworks is mentioned as a good option for students with a .edu email.
- Alibre is another option, especially if one does not have an educational email for Solidworks.
- Blender is highlighted for its flexibility, especially for users familiar with its features.
Recommendations & Tips
- For beginners, there's a suggestion to start with 123D Design before moving on to Fusion 360.
- It's recommended to explore various CAD software and tutorials to find the most suitable one.
- Practice, modeling challenges, and exploration are emphasized to improve CAD skills.
- Color usage in CAD drawings is discussed as a helpful visual tool for clarity and understanding.
Overall Impressions on Various CAD Software
- Users have mixed experiences with different CAD software like Solidworks, Creo, Catia, and Inventor.
- Pro/E (Creo) is noted for its capabilities despite a steep learning curve.
- User reviews highlight preferences for certain CAD software based on specific needs and experiences.
- The importance of mastering a CAD software and practicing regularly is emphasized for proficiency in CAD modeling.