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CLASSES ON 3D SOFTWARE

2K views 8 replies 5 participants last post by  oldnovice 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
I'm wondering if there are any classes out there that teach 3d software for CNC woodworking such as Rhino.
 
#3 · (Edited by Moderator)
Some community colleges have non-credit evening classes that offer CNC Woodworking as part of the advanced Woodworking Class. It is doubtful they would teach anything other than the systems they have in place.

Most CNC software companies also offer turtorials, or, training classes (for a hefty fee), or, sometimes they have online classes (again for a fee).
Some offer training when you buy the machine, or the software, though, you usually have to fly to the headquarters, hotel, rental car, etc.

Most all software comes with a user's guide, or help menu, that will typically have everything you need to know about the particulars of that program. Of course, that requires you to read and study the manual/guide.
 
#4 ·
Then there is on the job training.
Go to work somewhere that uses the systems you are interested in, (entry level of course - intern maybe?), and get trained on the job over time.
Best education out there, most likely, but won't pay much.
 
#5 ·
Sounds like I expected, now I'm thinking that VCarve can probably perform about 90% of what I need it for. So before I invest too deeply into 3d software, I need to see what it can do for me, that 2d can't. After all, I'm not doing sculpture. Thanks for your input. And your right…................"Hard work is not defined by the difficulty of the task as much as a person's desire to perform it.", DS251
 
#6 ·
To my knowledge there is nothing out there-- that is generic. That is meaning to say one class fits all.

The software market is spread very W I D E - and broad ranged.

The student base would be even W I D E R - as the students will be at very different levels of learning. Some are very basic, some are in need of 2D, some want 5 axis training, some on basic BAS relief, some on 4 axis rotary.

The machines are also all on a very wide and broad range with very different operating systems.

Then there are software packages that are also very broad and wide and all different.

Most of the software packages have user forums - some are great - some are good - some are not good - and some leave you hanging.

Some will charge you a heavy fee for training - some not.

There are a few people out there offering some on site training that you travel to. Some are very expensive, some are---- and so on.

YOUTUBE - is hard, because you don't know who is experienced and who is not, but they think they are. Even so, there IS a lot of really good stuff on YOUTUBE.

VCarve is a Vectric product and they have an excellent user forum as well as excellent tutorials.

It has been said-- Practice Makes Perfect. It has also been said, you need to put in your 10,000 hours to get good.
 
#7 ·
Re-reading these posts, I realize that I actually have done, to one degree or another, all of the suggestions I provided for you.

I don't think it will be something that you can take one class, or watch one tutorial video and come away knowing everything you will ever need to know. It is a process of accumulating information over time. And just when you think you've found your cheese, you realize there is something new and interesting to learn and you start over again.

The longer you stick at it, the more likely someone may call you an expert, or a guru, or some other title, but, in all truth, the more you learn, the more you realize how much more there is to learn and how little you actually know.

My recommendation would be to glean all the information you can, whenever and wherever, you can.
 
#9 · (Edited by Moderator)
In my opinion the best 3D CAD available is Fusion 360 from Autodesk which is free for hobbyists and students.
There are literally hundreds of tutorial videos on YouTube and there also many books available. I have subscribed to the videos by Las Christensen who also streams live seminars.
And, if you are not happy with the videos by Lars, there are others directly from Autodesk and other contributors.

I started learning Fusion 360 on a part time basis after using Creo Elements Direct, the free version, from Parametric Technology Corporation. The free version of Creo is a limited version of the full application but it was useful enough for my purposes. The full application of Creo cost is out of reach for even some small businesses.

The free version of Fusion 360 is not a limited version and is extremely powerful from 3D models all the way to CNC toolpath creation, CAM!

My son, at one time was a graphics designer, used a number of different 3D applications as part of his work. He is now a certified CNC machinist group leader and started using Fusion 360 about 2 months ago just for his own edification because his company does not Fusion 360. He created a collapsible chair from 3D model, creation of the toolpaths, and machined it on Shopbot two weeks ago.
 
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