How to CAD? Where to learn?

I want to make myself a custom chassis, with a lattice style structure, much like the Lightening Supermaxx chassis. The top plate will be lattice and the braces will be latice much like the Savage. Really I am wondering how to make a latice pattern, keeping the highest strength possible. So is there any "equation" to making an effective lattice design? Any help would be appreciated, as for I know some of you guys know about this stuff. Thanks

[Serum]

if you are a student, get a student version of solidworks, and work your way thru the tutorials.

That's the best tip i can give you.

they seem to have many products, can you direct me to which one has the tutoring thing?

thanks again

[Serum]

tutorials come with the software, it's part of SW.

I can sell you a copy of Solidworks 2006 Professional if you want:010: .

Look for my new thread I was just about to make before I saw this post, will include a few recent pictures I just finished up on Solidworks.

Ultra cheap way is to download the freeware version of Alibre Design and go through its tutorials. If it is too much for your first step, try start with emachineshop then go back to Alibre.

[jagboy]

I tried Alibre and found it a bit unintuitive, but I didn't spend much time on it so I can't say much. eMachineshop is awesome. For simple CAD work it's perfect. Nothing beats SW, though. If you go for SW Student make sure to get it with COSMOS so you can do full tests on it. I can't help you with the equation, but you can do FEA tests on the computer to help optimize your pattern.


JB

[zeropointbug]

Aragan is absolutely right, Alibre Design "Express" (free) is by far the best way to go. It's easy to use, and can do everything SolidWorks can do, and if you want to buy, it's FAR less cost than SolidWorks also.

Check my STIFFY chassis thread, I designed that chassis in Alibre Design Pro, and tested it with ALGOR FEA DesignCheck, it was super handy, although, "express" version does not come with this. I payed 50%, i got Professional for $750 ($1400 reg.), and i don't regret it for a second.

I also plan to purchase Rhino 4.0 now that it's released, as there is a plug-in for Alibre-Rhino, where you design different parts in Alibre and import them to Rhino, pretty cool, I won't go into too much detail though.

If you need any help with design tips, I'm here.

Zero

Thanks guys. I already have CAD programs, I just need to learn how to actually CAD a egronomic, efficient, strong, and lightweight design...not just what looks egronomic, efficient, strong, and lightweight design. I'll go with Solid Works with COSMO, for $149.

I found the emachineshop tutorials very good and easy to follow when I dived into CAD a couple months ago. The Alibre tuts aren't as easy to follow, but the software is pretty easy to use atleast.

I think the main limitation of the Express version is the limitation of 10 parts per assembly. If you're just making single parts or small assemblies, you can probably get by with the free version forever.

[Serum]

Emachine shop is a waste of time IMO. you can't make a decent DXF from your drawing, no assembly.. Too limited IMO.

Yep, but the knowledge and skills from it carries over to other apps to some extent.

Yes, start off with Emachineshop, that is great advice. That is what I did, and learned basic building of items to their exact measurement and then dove into solidworks and I was on my way in no time. Solidwork comes with a bunch of tutorials that are very helpful and most will cover anything you need to render a rc car.