Worked as a draftsman for 40 years, drawing board, Autocad, ProEngineer and Solidworks. Do most things now in Solideworks.

Paul

I was weaned off using a drawing board at work and now use TurboCad. I would dearly like to use what we had at work. It was far better and more powerful than Autocad and TurboCad but I would not be able to afford it. Having retired eight years ago I can't even remember what it was called.

JA

With no formal training in either engineering or draughtsmanship, I do all my 3D designing in my head. It's far easier to scrub out and start again if you get it wrong! Once the general layout is straight (in my head), I then go to my 2D CAD program and put it down on screen. It goes through many iterations before I come up with what I want and then I start a new drawing, cutting/pasting/rotating the various individual parts within this new file to make sure everything "fits together" and, as far as possible, doesn't clash with other areas of the design.

Suits me and I expect you'll get as many different answers to the original question as there are respondents. Whatever feels right for you, with the resources at your disposal, is what you should use.

Here endeth this morning's lesson.

John

I usually start most ideas with pencil and paper, as there are lots of constraints that are too fluid for a formal drawing.

Once the idea is fleshed out a bit more, I may use SketchUp for simple shaped 3D designs, or Autodesk Fusion360 for those needing more definition and control.

I usually finalise things using Draftsight, as it is my 2D drawing package of choice.

The best part of all of these choices is that they are all free, which is the right price for me!

Initial ideas and thinking are done in my head, while sitting in my special engineering armchair. For simple jigs or parts, like studs, I just make a quick pen 'n' paper sketch with key dimensions. For more complex items where there are several possible arrangements I'll also make quick sketches with key dimensions to see if things wlll fit.

Once I've got a clear idea I use Geomagic (Alibre as was) to produce 3D parts and assemblies and then 2D drawings. But I also use Geomagic to try out ideas and make measurements for machining. For instance when making a worm wheel one question is how deep can I go with the gashing cutter while ensuring that the hob still has some material left to remove? It's an easy sketch on the computer. I am also exploring Fusion360, although my interest is primarily in the CAM facilities, and in particular HSM toolpaths.

I've been through the process of formal drawings to BS308 using drawing boards, with pen and pencil, but no longer use these, or 2D CAD systems.

I don't smoke, so backs of fag packets are out. I've learnt the hard way that trying to wing it in the workshop without having thought things through properly usually ends up with time and material being wasted.

Andrew

When helping a mate in the States via Skype, a pencil and pad, easy to hold in front of a camera. Stunned reaction was always "Have you just drawn that????" Easy to sketch while talking. Err, thirty years on a board helped although have a bit of paper telling me I can use AutoCAD. Have used "Doublecad" but regularly use Photoshop for tiffling and rescaling plans.

Regards Ian.

Pencil and A3 paper for me when designing my latest Stirling engine.

Pen and A4 lined writing pad for drawing up bits and pieces, tooling etc, out in the shed.

Not a complete luddite though. I do have a pocket calculator in the shed, and sometimes I even use it.

Like others I make sketches using pencil and paper. For most of the CAD work I do I use an old program called Intellicad 2000, and DoubleCAD because the drawings can be easily imported into my (old) word processor.

Thor

Catia V5. I have on my work laptop.

DraftSight 2D, it's free for hobby use and is dead easy to use. When I work up te enthusiasm I'll give Fusion 360 a go

I use a quite old copy of a 2D CAD program when needed as no one pays me for drawings so I need to spend as little time as possible on them, often they are skeletal in their finished form as long as there is enough for me.

It's all keyboard shortcuts, virtually never use icons or drop down menu's so it very very fast but I have been using it for years.

I know from teaching people that different people have different awareness levels as regards spatial awareness and 3D.

I am fortunate in that I can see things in my mind and actually design shapes that only needs scaling and dimensions when transferred to paper. I think a lot of people can do this but lack trust in themselves. I have seen folk asking for a drawing of a 4 turret tool post after seeing one on the net. Chances are it won't fit their lathe and whats hard about a square block of material with 4 slots in it and a few tapped holes.

If you measure your lathe up it will give you all the relevant dimensions for you to make your own.