Author Topic: 3D cad learning  (Read 3790 times)

Offline bobh

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Re: 3D cad learning
« Reply #15 on: March 31, 2026, 12:53:20 PM »
Chris, Alibre is installed on the only windows box i have which is in the office. That's part of the problem. All the other computers are MACs. It's much more enticing to work on a lesson when sitting in the living room or kitchen and run some lesson or practice with a program than go and spend more time sitting in the office. In the end I do want to use Alibre but I feel like Im starting in high school without going through the lower grades first. I started watching the lessons again but watching without doing the lesson work myself it doesn't seem to stick. The general feeling seems to be keep plugging along with Alibre and hope some small lights come on and then combine into the big bulb when I get it. Thank's for the inspiration and support, it really means a lot. Bob

Offline CI

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Re: 3D cad learning
« Reply #16 on: March 31, 2026, 02:56:14 PM »
One approach may be to create a simple shape in Alibre, and write down the steps.
Do that several times, until you don't have to reference what you wrote down previously.

Then expand what you are doing to something more complex.
Write that down.

Writing out the steps helped me learn 3D modeling.

There were points where I would get stuck for days with a problem, and could not make any further progress.
Getting away from 3D model learning was where I tended to start forgetting what I had previosly learned, and thus the reason for writing out your lessons as you learn them; you can quickly review what you have already studied, and come up to speed with what you have previously learned.

And you can post questions here about what may be causing difficulties/confusion.
Many here have been there, done that, exactly what you are experiencing.

I wrote out a simple tutorial (link below); perhaps it could help you with the general conceptualization.
The conceptualization of what I was trying to do with 3D modeling was the greatest difficulty I had.
Using 3D modeling is simple in my opinion, once you understand the concepts.

The initial conceptualization of how to use 3D modeling was not simple for me.
For me, learning 3D modeling without having some sort of game plan was like trying to travel across the country (US) on a road trip, but with no map, so you just wander around in circles.
One needs to get the map conceptualized so as to know where they are going.

https://www.modelenginemaker.com/index.php/topic,12821.0.html

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Edit:
I recall when I was trying to learn 3D modeling, I would watch videos, and not have any concept of how the techniques in that video could be applied to what I was actually trying to build in 3D.
Watching videos for me was wasted time.

The point when I finally learned 3D modeling was when I defined an actual objective (Model a simple model engine), select some drawings, and model one part at a time.
I recall getting stuck trying to do simple things.
I would recommend asking questions when you get stuck, which is what I did with folks who had experience with Solidworks.
They can easily get your car out of the ditch and back on the road again, moving in the right direction.

Each part that I created used a sightly different approach, and a 3D model completed for each part, I gained practical experience, with a well defined objective (create 3D models for each engine part, and then create an assembly where all the various parts are assembled).
Once 3D models and assembly were created, then I could drag and drop those parts and assembly into a 2D sheet to create 2D drawings.

By selecting a simple engine design, and focusing on that, you build your kit of tools, and add more and more tools to your toolbox as you go.
This is what worked for me, because it had a defined starting and ending point, and a path that had to be followed to model the engine.
I modelled one simple engine, using somewhat crude 3D modeling methods, building one part at a time, and then making an assembly.
I then modelled that same engine again using better techniques, and that was a much more refined 3D design.
The next thing I modeled was a slightly more complex engine, and so on.
So I did not "learn 3D modeling" per se, but learned 3D engine building, and so indirectly learned 3D modeling.

Good luck.

There is an immense knowledge base of 3D design here on this forum, specifically oriented towards using 3D modeling to build engines.
There are quite a few folks who are willing to help.
I would take full advantage of that; it is a rare opportunity.
When I started learning 3D modeling in 2012, there were just a few on the hobby forums using 3D modeling, and Rob Wilson was the only individual I recall who offered help with learning 3D modeling (I am sure there were a few others).

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« Last Edit: March 31, 2026, 05:00:27 PM by CI »
Without pushing the boundaries, one never knows what can be achieved.

Offline Jasonb

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Re: 3D cad learning
« Reply #17 on: March 31, 2026, 04:54:22 PM »
Chris, Alibre is installed on the only windows box i have which is in the office. That's part of the problem. All the other computers are MACs. It's much more enticing to work on a lesson when sitting in the living room or kitchen and run some lesson or practice with a program than go and spend more time sitting in the office. In the end I do want to use Alibre but I feel like Im starting in high school without going through the lower grades first. I started watching the lessons again but watching without doing the lesson work myself it doesn't seem to stick. The general feeling seems to be keep plugging along with Alibre and hope some small lights come on and then combine into the big bulb when I get it. Thank's for the inspiration and support, it really means a lot. Bob

Bob as I said it is possible to run Alibre on a Mac but not officially approved. Also allows you to be working on one machine while following a video or tutorial on another.

You can install Alibre on more than one device but can only run it on one at a time. Simple job to effectively sighn out on one machine and in on another when you want to change.

If you watch this playlist it accompanies the latest article in Model Engineer Mag and shows the basics of Atom to produce a nut and bolt. Robert speaks quite slowly unlike a lot of Youtubers and has his own business offering training for various CAD and scanning sofware as well as a 3D design service.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLL0K5YcPFJGTFmNN9X0OhJ49JNMhYC95P

 

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