3D CAD Designer Secrets

Becoming an efficient 3D CAD designer takes time and understanding how to manipulate the commands available to you within CAD software. Using a few of my own trade secrets, I can help you design 3D models in less than half the time it takes most CAD designers. With these tips and a good understanding of CAD software commands, your designs can be professional, accurate, and developed in a matter of minutes. However, don’t forget that accuracy and precision are more important in design than speed.

When starting a 3D model, the most important trick is to start designing at the right point. In most current CAD programs, there is a space within the 3D scope called the origin. The origin is the point where the drawing planes intersect within model space. The three planes are known as the XY, XZ, and YZ planes. Right in the middle of where everyone meets is the origin of the 3D environment, and where any professional designer should start first. The advantage of doing this is that it allows him to draw a sketch in the direction he wants, which makes the process of using the commands much easier. Planes are not only used for drawing, but can also be used in conjunction with commands to perform the task required to create 3D models.

Before any CAD designer starts working on a 3D drawing, they should ask themselves what is the most efficient way to design this model. What makes a good CAD draftsman is the way he designs the project. The fewer commands executed, the better. Always try to think of how you can use commands like mirror and copy to lessen the amount of design work. For example, if a drawing is exactly the same from some center point, you only have to draw half and then use the mirror to create the other half. Ideally, CAD draftsmen would draw half from the origin extending outward so that the edge of the mirrors would lie in one plane. This would allow the command to run correctly, as well as center the design at the origin, which is exactly where you want it to be.

With several years of experience designing 3D models with CAD, I have realized that keeping the design centered at the origin is the most important decision you can make. While in the environment for creating 3D features, the origin allows you to have an axis of rotation for commands like revolve and circular pattern. If you’re extruding an object that lies in the XY plane, for example, there’s an option within extrude that allows the object to extrude in both directions, placing your 3D object directly at the center of the origin. By taking advantage of all the commands built into CAD programs, you can save minutes, hours, and even days of work.

The secret to becoming a great 3D CAD designer is to use all the tools available and design your features with the fewest steps. Just be sure to take a few minutes before each design to study the features and dimensions that make up the 3D model. After practicing these techniques over time, you should be able to identify the most direct path to achieving your 3D drawing. Also be sure to familiarize yourself with all of the CAD software commands, because if you don’t know the power at your fingertips, how are you going to harness it?