14-12-2012, 04:03 PM
Hi,
Thanks Joe; yes I agree MS Paint is really about paint but with a little practice basic 2D drawings can be produced because straight lines; circles; squares;rectangles etc. are available from the left hand tool bar. I've previously spent many hours using Paint and it was most useful in getting me used to selecting the various tools which is so important to a novice.
David has kindly sent me a couple of links regarding MS Paint and I've just studied them both in full; the first is an explanation as to the various functions of paint whereas the second is a video showing how to use colour including shading. Whilst watching the video I noticed other Paint videos to choose from so there is a good following for paint on "You Tube".
http://fay.iniminimo.com/paint.html
http://fay.iniminimo.com/paint.html
It is indeed difficult Joe to find a suitable drawing or CAD program to cover the actual drawings I wish to do without the program being too basic or grossly over complicated. There are so many free downloads to choose from and all have their own style. I've tried lots of such programs over the years but without any real progress.
I've come to realize that not only my ignorance of CAD was holding me back but that my computer graphics are simply not up to the task when it comes to the more complicated programs involving 3D. I'm working hard on my ignorance of the subject and hopefully the computer will soon be replaced. At least with a decent on board graphics; a fast computer and my new 23" flat monitor I will not be waiting for the computer to catch up.
I've been advised a number of times to pick just one drawing or CAD program and stick with it; this makes a great deal of sense and believe me I've tried my best to accept this sound advice; unfortunately it is very difficult for a novice like me to know what program is best for me. I bought TurboCad with the intention of sticking with it until I became competent but the harder I tried to use TurboCad the worse I became. I could not blame either the computer or the TurboCad program; the problem was me. I could not grasp the basics and I spent hours watching tutorial videos in fact TurboCad has lots of such videos and even with masses of concentration I was hopeless.
I can confirm now that what Joe; Gary and others advise regarding sticking with one drawing program does work. I think the trick is first to try a number of these drawing programs and stick with the one that feels right allowing a bit of initial success.
Yesterday I had ten minutes to spare before dinner so brought up my EMS drawing of the clutch mounting. I had previously struggled whilst trying my best to add an external circlip groove. As the original mounting also had an internal circlip groove to retain the oil seal out of curiosity I thought I would try to add the second circlip groove. I tried a number of times but the program didn't seem to want to do as I intended so I tried doing the same steps a number of times because I felt I was doing it correctly; sure enough the circlip groove suddenly appeared so it was not my fault but the computer; it was only at this point when I realized that perhaps my computer graphics had been working against me.
Once the circlip groove had been added and the drawing "Saved" I thought I would experiment by removing some of the sharp edges of the mounting. Once again I experienced problems but now knew to try the same procedure a number of times; Yes; I was right because the curves started to appear; at times they appeared in the wrong place so I simply went back and tried again until the computer got its act together. A poor man blames his tools but in this case I am being held back because my computer graphics are outdated; this begs the question; has this played a part in my many previous failures? I'll never know but what I do know is that I've now got a CAD program I can understand and I'm making rapid progress at last. I can't wait to get my new computer. Last night I timed it and it took four minutes to load the 3D image. Its just taken a minute to load this 3D image I've taken the picture of.
Once the very basics of 2D EMS CAD are grasped then 3D is a doddle.
The updated drawing of the clutch mounting is shown below both in plain uninteresting 2D and also glorious 3D. What used to be hard work is now very enjoyable.
Kind regards, Col.
Thanks Joe; yes I agree MS Paint is really about paint but with a little practice basic 2D drawings can be produced because straight lines; circles; squares;rectangles etc. are available from the left hand tool bar. I've previously spent many hours using Paint and it was most useful in getting me used to selecting the various tools which is so important to a novice.
David has kindly sent me a couple of links regarding MS Paint and I've just studied them both in full; the first is an explanation as to the various functions of paint whereas the second is a video showing how to use colour including shading. Whilst watching the video I noticed other Paint videos to choose from so there is a good following for paint on "You Tube".
http://fay.iniminimo.com/paint.html
http://fay.iniminimo.com/paint.html
It is indeed difficult Joe to find a suitable drawing or CAD program to cover the actual drawings I wish to do without the program being too basic or grossly over complicated. There are so many free downloads to choose from and all have their own style. I've tried lots of such programs over the years but without any real progress.
I've come to realize that not only my ignorance of CAD was holding me back but that my computer graphics are simply not up to the task when it comes to the more complicated programs involving 3D. I'm working hard on my ignorance of the subject and hopefully the computer will soon be replaced. At least with a decent on board graphics; a fast computer and my new 23" flat monitor I will not be waiting for the computer to catch up.
I've been advised a number of times to pick just one drawing or CAD program and stick with it; this makes a great deal of sense and believe me I've tried my best to accept this sound advice; unfortunately it is very difficult for a novice like me to know what program is best for me. I bought TurboCad with the intention of sticking with it until I became competent but the harder I tried to use TurboCad the worse I became. I could not blame either the computer or the TurboCad program; the problem was me. I could not grasp the basics and I spent hours watching tutorial videos in fact TurboCad has lots of such videos and even with masses of concentration I was hopeless.
I can confirm now that what Joe; Gary and others advise regarding sticking with one drawing program does work. I think the trick is first to try a number of these drawing programs and stick with the one that feels right allowing a bit of initial success.
Yesterday I had ten minutes to spare before dinner so brought up my EMS drawing of the clutch mounting. I had previously struggled whilst trying my best to add an external circlip groove. As the original mounting also had an internal circlip groove to retain the oil seal out of curiosity I thought I would try to add the second circlip groove. I tried a number of times but the program didn't seem to want to do as I intended so I tried doing the same steps a number of times because I felt I was doing it correctly; sure enough the circlip groove suddenly appeared so it was not my fault but the computer; it was only at this point when I realized that perhaps my computer graphics had been working against me.
Once the circlip groove had been added and the drawing "Saved" I thought I would experiment by removing some of the sharp edges of the mounting. Once again I experienced problems but now knew to try the same procedure a number of times; Yes; I was right because the curves started to appear; at times they appeared in the wrong place so I simply went back and tried again until the computer got its act together. A poor man blames his tools but in this case I am being held back because my computer graphics are outdated; this begs the question; has this played a part in my many previous failures? I'll never know but what I do know is that I've now got a CAD program I can understand and I'm making rapid progress at last. I can't wait to get my new computer. Last night I timed it and it took four minutes to load the 3D image. Its just taken a minute to load this 3D image I've taken the picture of.
Once the very basics of 2D EMS CAD are grasped then 3D is a doddle.
The updated drawing of the clutch mounting is shown below both in plain uninteresting 2D and also glorious 3D. What used to be hard work is now very enjoyable.
Kind regards, Col.
Happiness is a wreck of a cabinet to restore.
