It's been some time since I made a contribution to the forum so thought I might talk about my latest venture into design software.
For the true DIY anoraks the process of project follows a pretty continuous line.
The thought....this is that stage when you have a moment of inspiration and that deep seated feeling you must manufacturer, replenish, refurbish or build.
The design....for years I used the fag packet approach, after all it worked for my forefathers, and though the outcomes of their efforts had that hand crafted DIY look, something which was never fully appreciated by their wives or partners, the thing they built worked. What more could you ask for?
Today our wives or partners are not satisfied with mere function. No, our creations must meet their strict criteria of design, that is, our creation must not just do the job but must be a unique work of art.
Fine. But I'm not an artist, while I take pride in my efforts, like my forefathers, years of experience and on the job training has left me ill equipped for the concept of design.
However, for the likes of me, there are software packages available that make being a Frank Lloyd Wright (hope I've got his name correct), easier.
I say 'easier', not easy. Most CAD programs use a language that would challenge a structural engineer or architect. When you first install and open TurboCad this is true. The tutorials are written in Swahili, at least that was my first impression. Still if you are persistent you will eventually overcome the language barrier. Little by little terms like, Vertex or X, Y, Z positions will become clear. Soon you will understand why that irritating error chime keeps sounding when you try and draw a straight line.
Then one day you will be in a position to draw out your entire project, you will be able to make your build mistakes on paper instead of when using your saw. You will be able to astonish your local timber merchant with your cut lists and drawings. Of course the timber merchant will want nothing to do with you at this point, after all, he/she won't be able to blame you when he carves up your expensive piece of veneered MDF incorrectly, without a drawing any cut he makes is your fault, with a drawing he has no excuse, besides where's the adventure in having a drawing?
So back to TurboCad. My impression is you will need persistence, lots of it. Particularly if you've not used a CAD package before. I've been using Floorplan for years now and find it extremely useful for the large projects. This has been only slightly helpful while learning TurboCad, even though the Software company, IMSI manufacture/supply both FloorPlan and TurboCad.
If I were to have one piece of advice about the program it would be, come to understand where you are in the virtual world. It's easier if I explain this by example;
Imagine you are in a room 10x10x10, in the middle of this room there is a cube 1x1x1. You are standing in the north east corner, if you were to draw this out on paper which corner would you be? This is the crux of the program, you need to be able to draw in 2D while understanding where your drawing will appear in 3D.
If this description has put you off learning CAD, then I have saved you about £80. On the other hand, if you recognise the value of a well planned project and are determined, TurboCad is an affordable and very useful program once understood. With it you can design everything from a walking stick to a house, you can view your designs in 2D and 3D. Once learned you can turn out a full set of plans in hours, saving you days of guess work and mis-cuts. Beyond this, your wife or partner will elevate you to the position of DIY god, your words will by the last word on the subject of DIY, you will be the Man!.....
If you interested to learn more you can visit here
......if you are using another type of CAD program I'd be interested to hear about it
For the true DIY anoraks the process of project follows a pretty continuous line.
The thought....this is that stage when you have a moment of inspiration and that deep seated feeling you must manufacturer, replenish, refurbish or build.
The design....for years I used the fag packet approach, after all it worked for my forefathers, and though the outcomes of their efforts had that hand crafted DIY look, something which was never fully appreciated by their wives or partners, the thing they built worked. What more could you ask for?
Today our wives or partners are not satisfied with mere function. No, our creations must meet their strict criteria of design, that is, our creation must not just do the job but must be a unique work of art.
Fine. But I'm not an artist, while I take pride in my efforts, like my forefathers, years of experience and on the job training has left me ill equipped for the concept of design.
However, for the likes of me, there are software packages available that make being a Frank Lloyd Wright (hope I've got his name correct), easier.
I say 'easier', not easy. Most CAD programs use a language that would challenge a structural engineer or architect. When you first install and open TurboCad this is true. The tutorials are written in Swahili, at least that was my first impression. Still if you are persistent you will eventually overcome the language barrier. Little by little terms like, Vertex or X, Y, Z positions will become clear. Soon you will understand why that irritating error chime keeps sounding when you try and draw a straight line.
Then one day you will be in a position to draw out your entire project, you will be able to make your build mistakes on paper instead of when using your saw. You will be able to astonish your local timber merchant with your cut lists and drawings. Of course the timber merchant will want nothing to do with you at this point, after all, he/she won't be able to blame you when he carves up your expensive piece of veneered MDF incorrectly, without a drawing any cut he makes is your fault, with a drawing he has no excuse, besides where's the adventure in having a drawing?
So back to TurboCad. My impression is you will need persistence, lots of it. Particularly if you've not used a CAD package before. I've been using Floorplan for years now and find it extremely useful for the large projects. This has been only slightly helpful while learning TurboCad, even though the Software company, IMSI manufacture/supply both FloorPlan and TurboCad.
If I were to have one piece of advice about the program it would be, come to understand where you are in the virtual world. It's easier if I explain this by example;
Imagine you are in a room 10x10x10, in the middle of this room there is a cube 1x1x1. You are standing in the north east corner, if you were to draw this out on paper which corner would you be? This is the crux of the program, you need to be able to draw in 2D while understanding where your drawing will appear in 3D.
If this description has put you off learning CAD, then I have saved you about £80. On the other hand, if you recognise the value of a well planned project and are determined, TurboCad is an affordable and very useful program once understood. With it you can design everything from a walking stick to a house, you can view your designs in 2D and 3D. Once learned you can turn out a full set of plans in hours, saving you days of guess work and mis-cuts. Beyond this, your wife or partner will elevate you to the position of DIY god, your words will by the last word on the subject of DIY, you will be the Man!.....
If you interested to learn more you can visit here
......if you are using another type of CAD program I'd be interested to hear about it
