13-12-2012, 10:46 AM
Hi,
Many thanks Gary. As you know; once I get stuck into a project I'll not let go however hard it becomes but CAD is something else.
I've spent hundreds of hours over the last 14 years trying to crack the CAD code; every time time I've previously tried I've had to admit defeat due to other more pressing demands upon my time. Due to our rare freezing weather recently I finally got the chance to spend more time trying to master CAD as it was too cold to play out.
The breakthrough for me was that this time I downloaded EMS CAD whereas previously I had been trying to use fully loaded CAD programs like TurboCad. I found EMS suited me better and as it isn't loaded with lots of tool bars there was less to confuse me. Watching the lovely Aurora give the tutorial demonstration video proved a massive help as she made it appear so simple which in fact it proved to be. In the video Aurora explains in basic terms whilst showing how to use the cursor to select the different tools required for each function; I've watched many such tutorial videos but Aurora put things over in such an uncomplicated way that even a child could follow her instructions; this was exactly what I needed. Access to the video is very easy so it could be viewed with a couple of mouse clicks.
There was no complicated page settings; just follow the instructions and start drawing within minutes; it just doesn't get any better than this. EMS CAD is extremely straightforward to use; click on a tool and it does the job without lots of additional information or complication to throw you off track. "Snap" is on as default and this function is incredibly useful as is the "Nudge" function. It took around 4 hours to produce my first scaled 2D drawing using EMS CAD and a further hour to convert the drawing into 3D.
This thread is aimed at a CAD novice and concentrates on EMS CAD; the functions I describe may or may not be available in other CAD programs.
I would have thought a more basic drawing program like "MS Paint" which is a 2D drawing program and not CAD would have been very easy to use with little practice but I found out for me it proved the opposite. I'm certainly not knocking Paint; far from it because I've used Paint to draw basic sketches but I could never progress beyond this stage. I was even much worse at using the CAD programs I tried over the years; they all appeared to have a mind of their own and however hard I tried my drawings never materialized leaving me feeling utterly useless.
I'm not afraid of looking stupid in public or appearing totally thick; I'm not even scared of sticking my neck out whilst attempting something totally new to me; if I fail what have I lost? It's actually very hard to completely fail at anything I attempt to do as there are varying degrees of success. It's possible my first success in using CAD as shown in this thread appears more of a doodle to those experienced in CAD but to me it is a huge breakthrough; I'm on my own struggling through choice with something alien to me but slowly now making progress. I'd much rather look a fool in sharing my humble beginnings with CAD then other novices in a similar position hopefully will be encouraged; CAD is difficult to master without training but EMS CAD bump started me and I'll now practice further because once the basics are grasped the whole process slowly opens up; the one thing about EMS CAD which did throw me off track was in choice of "Machine". I spent a lot of time trying to draw something that a certain machine could never make; a milling machine won't bend or weld for example but once I realized what I was doing wrong the drawing came together quickly.
Regarding support for EMS CAD Gary which is a good question; I can only speak as a novice to this program but there are top class tutorial videos accessed through both EMS and "You Tube" to get you started; there is also the EMS CAD forum which I've found most useful and if stuck I can post a question for the experts to answer very much like this excellent GF forum. For anyone using EMS CAD for it's intended purpose there is EMS back up through contact. EMS CAD is totally free without any strings attached because EMS want people to use their CAD then place an order for the part/components through them and this is how EMS operates so for CAD novices like me it is a wonderful find.
Fortunately Gary I can remember things quite well once I've done them once but your suggestion of keeping notes/records as work progresses is good especially if CAD is seldom used.
EMS CAD video tutorials are a great help and by watching a couple of these a few times over things quickly drop into place. I learn much quicker through such tutorials because it is like having a teacher with me on a one to one basis and if I don't grasp what is being shown or explained I can quickly go back a bit. A few years ago I bought 3 DVD's showing how to install cheap 3 phase; this was another of my ventures into the unknown but by watching the particular DVD over and over again and taking notes with me into the garage I succeeded in installing 3 phase which I use to this day.
A dedicated book to the CAD program being used is also highly useful as you say Gary as the book can be opened at the chapter covering what you are trying to achieve. These days learning a new subject from scratch couldn't be easier. Book; video; forum; Internet or email are choices open to us all so there is absolutely no reason to feel isolated or stuck once a problem pops up.
I've still got a lot to learn regarding CAD but I know I'm not on my own with my initial struggles so I'm happy to share my story.
Kind regards, Col.
Many thanks Gary. As you know; once I get stuck into a project I'll not let go however hard it becomes but CAD is something else.
I've spent hundreds of hours over the last 14 years trying to crack the CAD code; every time time I've previously tried I've had to admit defeat due to other more pressing demands upon my time. Due to our rare freezing weather recently I finally got the chance to spend more time trying to master CAD as it was too cold to play out.
The breakthrough for me was that this time I downloaded EMS CAD whereas previously I had been trying to use fully loaded CAD programs like TurboCad. I found EMS suited me better and as it isn't loaded with lots of tool bars there was less to confuse me. Watching the lovely Aurora give the tutorial demonstration video proved a massive help as she made it appear so simple which in fact it proved to be. In the video Aurora explains in basic terms whilst showing how to use the cursor to select the different tools required for each function; I've watched many such tutorial videos but Aurora put things over in such an uncomplicated way that even a child could follow her instructions; this was exactly what I needed. Access to the video is very easy so it could be viewed with a couple of mouse clicks.
There was no complicated page settings; just follow the instructions and start drawing within minutes; it just doesn't get any better than this. EMS CAD is extremely straightforward to use; click on a tool and it does the job without lots of additional information or complication to throw you off track. "Snap" is on as default and this function is incredibly useful as is the "Nudge" function. It took around 4 hours to produce my first scaled 2D drawing using EMS CAD and a further hour to convert the drawing into 3D.
This thread is aimed at a CAD novice and concentrates on EMS CAD; the functions I describe may or may not be available in other CAD programs.
I would have thought a more basic drawing program like "MS Paint" which is a 2D drawing program and not CAD would have been very easy to use with little practice but I found out for me it proved the opposite. I'm certainly not knocking Paint; far from it because I've used Paint to draw basic sketches but I could never progress beyond this stage. I was even much worse at using the CAD programs I tried over the years; they all appeared to have a mind of their own and however hard I tried my drawings never materialized leaving me feeling utterly useless.
I'm not afraid of looking stupid in public or appearing totally thick; I'm not even scared of sticking my neck out whilst attempting something totally new to me; if I fail what have I lost? It's actually very hard to completely fail at anything I attempt to do as there are varying degrees of success. It's possible my first success in using CAD as shown in this thread appears more of a doodle to those experienced in CAD but to me it is a huge breakthrough; I'm on my own struggling through choice with something alien to me but slowly now making progress. I'd much rather look a fool in sharing my humble beginnings with CAD then other novices in a similar position hopefully will be encouraged; CAD is difficult to master without training but EMS CAD bump started me and I'll now practice further because once the basics are grasped the whole process slowly opens up; the one thing about EMS CAD which did throw me off track was in choice of "Machine". I spent a lot of time trying to draw something that a certain machine could never make; a milling machine won't bend or weld for example but once I realized what I was doing wrong the drawing came together quickly.
Regarding support for EMS CAD Gary which is a good question; I can only speak as a novice to this program but there are top class tutorial videos accessed through both EMS and "You Tube" to get you started; there is also the EMS CAD forum which I've found most useful and if stuck I can post a question for the experts to answer very much like this excellent GF forum. For anyone using EMS CAD for it's intended purpose there is EMS back up through contact. EMS CAD is totally free without any strings attached because EMS want people to use their CAD then place an order for the part/components through them and this is how EMS operates so for CAD novices like me it is a wonderful find.
Fortunately Gary I can remember things quite well once I've done them once but your suggestion of keeping notes/records as work progresses is good especially if CAD is seldom used.
EMS CAD video tutorials are a great help and by watching a couple of these a few times over things quickly drop into place. I learn much quicker through such tutorials because it is like having a teacher with me on a one to one basis and if I don't grasp what is being shown or explained I can quickly go back a bit. A few years ago I bought 3 DVD's showing how to install cheap 3 phase; this was another of my ventures into the unknown but by watching the particular DVD over and over again and taking notes with me into the garage I succeeded in installing 3 phase which I use to this day.
A dedicated book to the CAD program being used is also highly useful as you say Gary as the book can be opened at the chapter covering what you are trying to achieve. These days learning a new subject from scratch couldn't be easier. Book; video; forum; Internet or email are choices open to us all so there is absolutely no reason to feel isolated or stuck once a problem pops up.
I've still got a lot to learn regarding CAD but I know I'm not on my own with my initial struggles so I'm happy to share my story.
Kind regards, Col.
Happiness is a wreck of a cabinet to restore.
