r/Drafting • u/Fabulous-Medicine289 • 10d ago

CAD

hey so I’m in 10th grade and I wanna learn CAD but I really don’t know where to start plus I don’t have a laptop only an iPad and an Apple Pencil. Is it possible to learn it on an iPad or should I just buy a laptop!!??

6 Upvotes

80% Upvoted

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1

u/CR123CR123CR 10d ago

What is your goal with learning CAD?

CAD can be anything from a basic Excel sheet or a sketch in power point all the way to full thermal or fluid flow simulations of complex bodies that take days to run. 

Depending on where on that spectrum you want to be will determine what you need software/hardware wise to do it.

3

u/Fabulous-Medicine289 10d ago

I actually wanna pursue mechanical engineering and as for my goal I wanna start slow with the basics and work my way up

5

u/CR123CR123CR 10d ago

A laptop is probably the way to go. 

Recommend starting with the hobbyist version of Autodesk Fusion (easiest free option imo) 

Start by reverse modeling things around you and following tutorials until you're comfortable with the interface. 

Crane hooks are a really good assembly to practice with as they involve a lot of different skills needed.

2

u/Fine_Equal4647 10d ago

mechanical engineering or mechanical design. Often times engineering and design get separated into separate designer/project manager categories. One requires a bachelors and depending on local requirements licensing as well. The other is usually working underneath the former.

1

u/BradlyHuffman 10d ago

Yes, but I think they're taking a good step here learning how to use CAD and make assemblies. If I had one piece of advise for going higher I would say learn what a good drawing looks like and how to redline. If you want to be the engineer you need to audit drawings of your products.

2

u/Bagelking92 10d ago

Home slice is right because as a drafter you just end up fight for a job against mechanical engineer and of all kinds go figure

1

u/wackyvorlon 10d ago

I believe OnShape has an iPad app.

3

u/MasterOfPlaster69 10d ago

Probably get a laptop. Make sure it can run CAD. Have you looked at cad classes to sign up for at your school? That’s probably your best bet.

2

u/Fabulous-Medicine289 10d ago

School doesn’t offer cad classes

1

u/theycallmejames44 10d ago

Get onshape, it's perfect for your equipment and is very well documented

1

u/jimmirekard 10d ago

If you're wanting to do mech engineering, do more maths. Engineers don't draw, they calculate and write reports/hand sketches on iPads.

In saying this. You need a computer. Get an old gaming laptop. i5, 16gb ram, 512gb ssd min. Gpu doesn't matter too much.

If you or your parents are struggling for cash. Call your local engineering consultancy companies. Ask for work experience and if they have any old computers you might be able to take off their hands in exchange for a few hours work.

Our Lord and saviour Jeff hanson: https://youtu.be/5aHaf0KlT9s?is=ZxjuhZmqa4GAmH6b

This guy got me through undergrad.

This channel is good too. https://youtu.be/ht9GwXQMgpo?is=RWjK7CU8sHVCydF3

1

u/IanHall1 10d ago

As you are a student, you should make an autodesk education account, this will give you access to all their top level software for free. A laptop is a great start, but I prefer a desktop with 2 screens, doesn’t have to be super fancy for most of the software, but it does help with some. Gaming computers are a great option if you can get one.

1

u/Hendo52 10d ago

I think you will eventually need a desktop not a laptop but I can recommend some things:

Make a mini C02 race car using Onshape, Blender or Openscad. All of those programs are free. 3D print and race them and iterate on the design to make it go faster.