When I first started last year I searched for a free CAD program. I found the usual TinkerCAD, Meshmixer, FreeCAD and Blender. Played with them and got lost. Keep in mind i run an old gaming rig from 12 years ago that is reloaded with Linux so my program options are limited (next upgrade is a new video card but any nerd knows how that market is, poor card is struggling right now).
TinkerCAD made the most since and thats what I went with. Basic shapes that are aligned and added or subtracted. I found it lacking in making precise mechanical parts. Also uploading and adjusting stls sucked and was 50/50 if it rendered right. I did learn and eventually make some parts and published some projects. They are crude and lack refinement though. It was nice though being able to work on projects from anywhere or anytime. Plus its all backed up and you csn publish easily to their community.
Beginning of this month i decided i would finnaly learn a CAD program. I want to start making precise parts and refined looking. I also have a project I wanted to start. Plus i feel like I practiced enough with training wheel. I was going to use Blender blender and found some tutorials but i couldn't lock in precise measurements for mechanical parts. It felt to free hand and ment more for models and figurines. So i dedicated a week to tutorials on FreeCAD and thanks to prior experience it made way more sense. Its been a week now and I am finnaly making parts and objects like I wanted.
Its pretty cool how like how i can make a database of measurements. Draw everything and assign constraints. Takes a while but when it comes to adjusting afterwards it makes it quick and easy. The time limit is the amount of time it takes to print another test print. My objects look way more professional now. Side note I have learned some geometry also, my wife made the mistake of asking the issue i was having. I said i need to calculate the linear distance between two points on a circle and all i could find was arc distance. Her eyes glazed over and smoke came out of ears and she backed away quickly. Then i discovered i could just lock in angle measurements and problem solved easy.
I am just excited. Finnaly making positive progress after a year. Gotta staying learning, discovering and tinkering. Keeps the mind young.
Sent from my SM-N970U using Tapatalk