Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Learning Autocad...

Hi,

This is a hard question to answer without wearing a fire proof suit. I like
ACAD but it is not the easiest program to learn even with the right books @
$45 a time. I bought all the books and couldn't get into it even though it
is the industry standard for my profession. The only way to get started with
any hope of understanding is with lessons, I have tried to teach via email
and it proved impossible even with screen dumps. I took a night-class and
found within three weeks of starting I understood enough to not bother
finishing the course and could then learn in my own time. I'm sure there is
a whole raft of people saying they could learn it from a book. The up-side
is it is a very powerful program but there are many down-sides. The cost of
pluggins to do CAM, ACAD does not have any CAM, but they are available. I
have software that runs inside ACAD for the production of G-Code, I don't
know what flavour because I haven't used it yet.

On reflection there are CAD/CAM packages that are more suited to CNC because
they are easier to use right out of the box, the list is huge. You must
first think of the cost and time involved in learning and then why you are
learning it. I learned it because it is the industry standard but I'd have
gone another route if all I wanted to do was cut metal.

There is an online user-group and www.cadalog.com is very useful but I'd not
bother with either of these before I knew the basics.

Regards,

Terry

> Just wondering how I should go about teaching myself Autocad. Any
> books your guys would reccomend? On-line tutorials, etc.? Please
> post any information you guys think would be helpful.
>
> Also, Have I made the right decision to go with Autocad or should I
> look into something else?
>
> Thanks in advance to anyone who replies.