Quote: I've been meaning to teach myself some CAD at some point, but haven't found the time for that. Usually if I'm building something myself though, I find that it's better to not plan it all the way through with the measurements, you notice room for improvement during the build anyway.
There are some great freeware CAD programs out there.... and you can get inexpensive Student versions which produce a watermark on the finished copy.... I am an AutoCad person but have taught myself Many different versions while on the job. AutoCad Mechanical desk top, Solid Works, Solid Designer, ProE, MicroCadam, RoboCad, Catia, The only difference between what they do is their DeskTop interface and work platform..... Dos, Windows, Unix... Apple.
AND the old fashioned kind of Drafting on a Drafting board with a drafting machine and Tools like straight edges, Triangles, and templates.... I drafted on the Boards for about fifteen years before I got my hands on a CAD program.
I used to LOVE doing drawings in INK and on Mylar.... I did those at General Dynamics Aerospace division.... Doing the Atlas Centaur Commercial refit. Tuning a ballistic rocket into a satellite delivery rocket.
But with all those experiences I found the drawing process takes the same amount of time sometimes longer. Especially if you are doing something for the first time... like Designing. There is an amazing amount of work you can do with just plain old graph paper, and a straight edge. Or if you have a reasonably steady hand no straight edge at all.
deb
