CAD tips, tricks, and tutorials from a veteran CAD instructor/trainer, when he is not in class
In this video tutorial I will take you through each step to create a 3D model of the part shown in AutoCAD using two methods. First I show you how to create it with multiple extrusions. Then I show you how to create it using the Revolve command.
If you would like to try this tutorial yourself, the detail drawing for this part can be downloaded below:
In this video tutorial I will take you through each step to create a 3D model of the part shown in Autodesk Fusion 360 using two methods. First I show you how to create it with multiple extrusions. Then I show you how to create it using the Revolve command.
If you would like to try this tutorial yourself, the detail drawing for this part can be downloaded below:
In this video tutorial I will take you through each step to create a 3D model of the part shown in Autodesk Inventor using two methods. First I show you how to create it with multiple extrusions. Then I show you how to create it using the Revolve command.
If you would like to try this tutorial yourself, the detail drawing for this part can be downloaded below:
In this video tutorial, I take you through the creation of another 3D solid part in AutoCAD. I use the Press/Pull command in this one to create the solid shapes, instead of the Extrude command. Press/Pull works faster because you can apply it to several shapes at once, and it will cut holes automatically instead of having to come back with the Subtract command.
The detail drawing is below. Enjoy!
In this video tutorial, I walk you through the creation of the part shown below using Autodesk Fusion 360. The features used in this tutorial include extrusions, holes, chamfers, and mirror. The video uses one of many workflows that would result in the same part.
The detail drawing is available below in case you would like to try this yourself!
In this video tutorial I will take you through each step to create a 3D model of the part shown in Autodesk Inventor.
The following tools are used in this tutorial: Extrude, Hole, Project Geometry, Tangent constraints, Colinear constraints, Chamfer, and Mirror.
Each sketch is fully dimensioned and constrained before creating the features.
The detail drawing for this part can be downloaded below:
I must admit, I often ignore updates to Autodesk software. I am always reluctant to make changes to the computers in our CAD lab if everything is running smoothly.
However, after learning of a new feature in Autodesk Inventor 2023, I had to download and install the latest update immediately! This update actually happened in Inventor 2023.1, but you can simply install the most recent update, 2023.2, which includes the previous updates as well.
The scenario: I am in the sketch mode, and I have some geometry that I would like to add the horizontal or vertical constraint to. In the example below, I want to make this line horizontal.
I select the Horizontal constraint:
I hover over the line, but it appears to be trying to make it vertical. Hopefully I catch this before I click. Unfortunately I often click first before I realize the issue.
Why is this happening? More often than not, it is because the view has been rotated. Take a closer look at the ViewCube:
The view has been rotated. Rarely this is because I changed it myself. Instead, I started a sketch on a surface, and that is the way it was oriented.
The old solution: click the Vertical constraint instead, since that is technically the correct constraint.
The new solution: With Inventor 2023.1, you can now hold the [Shift] key at the keyboard, and the horizontal constraint will change to the vertical constraint! Of course, this works the opposite way (hold [Shift] while in the vertical constraint to switch to horizontal).
This is such a great time saver! It works really well when placing multiple constraints. I can hold [Shift] to cycle back and forth. The workflow reminds me a lot of Trim/Extend in AutoCAD.
Check out the short video to see it in action!
Where do you get the update? Just run the Autodesk Desktop App from your desktop, then look for the Inventor update!
In this video tutorial, I take you through the creation of another 3D solid part in AutoCAD. You will learn to sketch each shape, join them into a polyline, then extrude them into solid shapes. Along the way you will learn about rotating the UCS. Finally, you will use the Union and Subtract commands to make one solid part.
The detail drawing is below. Enjoy!
In this video tutorial, I walk you through the creation of the part shown below using Autodesk Fusion 360. The features used in this tutorial include extrusions, holes, chamfers, and fillets. The video uses one of many workflows that would result in the same part.
The detail drawing of the part is available as a PDF below. Have fun!
In this video tutorial I will take you through each step to create a 3D model of the part shown in Autodesk Inventor.
The following tools are used in this tutorial: Extrude, Fillet, Hole, and Chamfer. Each sketch is fully dimensioned and constrained before creating the features.
The detail drawing for this part can be downloaded below. Happy modeling!
Between CAD Classes