I learn pretty quickly, and if I'm gonna use CAD I want to use a platform that is full featured, so I won't outgrow it. I've experimented with Synchronous Tech and it makes sense to me. I'm trying Solid Edge now, and I like it better than than F360 and Onshape, but the mouse driven UI is a little cumbersome. It has a strong user community and will do pretty much all the same things as Inventor/SolidWorks/Rhino/Etc. My research into Solid Edge shows it has a decent market share and uses a fairly typical workflow. I understand the power and logic of creating parametric designs, but I've already run into situations where the process has made changing things difficult.įrom what I've been able to determine, Solid Edge and IronCAD have stronger direct editing features which provide many of the benefits of parametric modeling without the restrictions. I've been through some tutorials for Fusion 360 and OnShape and decided I didn't like them. Everybody is kinda doing their own CAD thing. There also isn't anybody who could train or mentor me on CAD through the makerspace. DesignSpark/OnShape/Fusion 360/SolidWorks are all used and touted as the answer.

There isn't one CAD platform that is popular at our makerspace. I'll probably do some 3D printing and I'd like to design bicycles and other simple contraptions.

I'm a maker and I want mostly to cut stuff out using the CNC router, laser, and plasma cutters at the makerspace I've joined. You've both hit on my concerns, u/Mjothnitvir and u/SeaworthyKaiser.

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