Any CAD or 3d modelling people on here?

[Paul the 6th]

Just looking for a bit of advice on cad and 3d modelling. I've got a wide range of skills in photoshop, illustrator, corel draw and various other graphic design packages but I'm looking to learn a bit of CAD/3D modelling type stuff for professional development (and because I'm a geek).

So to all the experienced cad/modellers out there, which program would you recommend for learning (useability and user friendliness) the basics behind cad and modelling?

Thinking along the lines of AutoCad and Rhino 3D at the moment but I've feeling these might be a bit tricky to master without a bit of 'proper' tuition?

Thanks in advance

[SoulKiss]

Originally Posted by Paul the 6th

Just looking for a bit of advice on cad and 3d modelling. I've got a wide range of skills in photoshop, illustrator, corel draw and various other graphic design packages but I'm looking to learn a bit of CAD/3D modelling type stuff for professional development (and because I'm a geek).

So to all the experienced cad/modellers out there, which program would you recommend for learning (useability and user friendliness) the basics behind cad and modelling?

Thinking along the lines of AutoCad and Rhino 3D at the moment but I've feeling these might be a bit tricky to master without a bit of 'proper' tuition?

Thanks in advance

I got Rhino 3 (on the beta test) and did a model that ended up in print (3d version of a 2d logo).

I like it because its NURBS based - means its all lines and not meshes when working, I also use it for 2d stuff.

If you go looking on the high-seas for it stick with version 3, finding a working copy of V4 has been elusive.

[Paul the 6th]

cheers SK,

someone has also recommended solidworks for cad & modelling, do ya know much about it?

Screw AutoCAD. It's wank.

For engineering stuff you can't go wrong with either ProEngineer or Solidworks. Solidworks is very similar, and a much more intuitive program with better tutorial support. Learning any system will give you the basics though, so you can adapt pretty quickly.

You certainly can't get them on torrents by searhing google either.

Originally Posted by SoulKiss

I got Rhino 3 (on the beta test) and did a model that ended up in print (3d version of a 2d logo).

I like it because its NURBS based - means its all lines and not meshes when working, I also use it for 2d stuff.

If you go looking on the high-seas for it stick with version 3, finding a working copy of V4 has been elusive.

Maya. Been doing it for a living for 8 years now, although I don't have much experience on anything else (except a bit of Lightwave and XSI).

Depends what you want to do with it I guess

[SoulKiss]

Originally Posted by lukemillar

Maya. Been doing it for a living for 8 years now, although I don't have much experience on anything else (except a bit of Lightwave and XSI).

Depends what you want to do with it I guess

Keep meaning to try Maya out I must admit.

Originally Posted by gettin2dizzy

Screw AutoCAD. It's wank.

For engineering stuff you can't go wrong with either ProEngineer or Solidworks. Solidworks is very similar, and a much more intuitive program with better tutorial support. Learning any system will give you the basics though, so you can adapt pretty quickly.

You certainly can't get them on torrents by searhing google either.

cos that not an unbiased opinion.

It entirly depends on what you want to model...

Autocad isnt straight forward although it isnt rocket science.
Sketch up is crude but does the job,
solid works is complicated and runs as a bolt on to cad...

Im a draughtsman by trade and do pretty much anything and everything although I do very little 3d, But i have worked with 3d modellers over the years and they dont have an issue with autocad etc

Difficult one.

For CAD type stuff 3DSMax is pretty good.

For modelling I use Maya, it's just so easy. The only issue I have with maya is the render engine takes a lot of faffing around to get a decent result and I can get this in half the time if I just use Max. I tend to model in Maya and then export as .FBX into Max and use either mentalray or Vray render engines.

Modo is also up and coming and the new 401 release should address a lot of bugs and issues.
I only do this as a hobby but here is a link to some of my stuff, I've also been featured on few websites and 3D World magazine before but am by no mens a pro (but Luke is).

http://forums.3dtotal.com/album.php?u=26320

[JamesMio]

Our designers at work use SolidWorks and it's the bomb - they're designing everything from big stuff like log grabs and armoured vehicles, to wee stuff like bolts etc.

It's very, very pricy though!

[anna]

As has been said perhaps start with sketchup.. free google program and then perhaps upgrade.