Best products from r/cad

We found 24 comments on r/cad discussing the most recommended products. We ran sentiment analysis on each of these comments to determine how redditors feel about different products. We found 46 products and ranked them based on the amount of positive reactions they received. Here are the top 20.

Top comments mentioning products on r/cad:

u/jkabance · 1 pointr/cad

I deleted it bc it more in line with BIM management than strictly revit, but you should check out this book.

https://www.amazon.com/BIM-Handbook-Information-Designers-Contractors/dp/0470541377

It won't teach you how to use revit, per se, but it is great for making sense of the moving BIM parts

As for learning revit, I completely understand not wanting to fall behind. You might mess around with google sketchup(it's a free and easier software) and move to revit after you've got a handle on it. I will say it is pretty easy to learn how to do any one specific thing in revit via Internet, though learning the interface and where everything is can be tricky. Anyhow, hopefully some of this was helpful.

u/ItsADanThing · 2 pointsr/cad

I have very large hands and have used a few high(er) end mice over the last couple years. I would also recommend a wrist pad, either as part of the mousepad or something like this.

My favorite mouse for every day use is the SteelSeries Rival 300 (I have the original rival which appears to be the same as the 300). It is quite large and has grippy rubber on either side. You can also disable the lighting easily with the software and it won't scream "gaming mouse". I have used it at work for a the better part of 4 years now and have no complaints, the rubber under my thumb has worn quite a bit but otherwise it is just fine.

For home I have the logitech g502 which I like quite a bit but it is distinctly a gaming mouse. It is pretty big but still a lot smaller than the Rival, I have to claw grip it still. I am actually considering replacing it with another Rival.

The g502 replaced a Corsair m65 for me which I never loved, it was solid but was a bit too small and never felt quite right for me.

The m65 had replaced my old Logitech g9x which I loved but was discontinued and demands too much for a good condition one these days.

u/[deleted] · 2 pointsr/cad

Microsoft makes good ones. You would not believe it from their other products. Light yet sturdy, ambidextrous but ergonomic and they have good feel even when they are not pricey. And there is nothing extra that you only mess up with.

I'm using "comfort mouse 3000". I used to have one that was slightly bigger and it did fit my hand better, but other than that I could not wish for better.

Ironically only mouse that I never had problems with in Linux was made by Microsoft.

Edit: found the old perfect one: http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-D66-00029-Wheel-Mouse-Optical/dp/B00006B7HB/ref=sr_1_24?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1370475659&sr=1-24&keywords=microsoft+mouse

u/Ottobawt · 1 pointr/cad

> keyboard with the number pad on the left,

I have one of those(still getting used to it)
But it's bloody fantastic! One of the best bits of hardware I've ever invested in, the keys/switches are a dream, get the orange switches.

Call me out again, but ... I feel like the spacemouse works in conjunction with a normal mouse, one in each hand.
And hey... maybe their much more devolved product holds more water than the ancient spaceball?
They do seem overpriced, I wont debate that.
Not at all arguing, just food for thought.

Trust me on that keyboard tho, you wont regret it.

u/Bornity · 1 pointr/cad

I use a Red Dragon Perdition Gaming mouse. It has 5 programmable profiles which I have configured for different programs (Inventor, Rhino, Solidworks, Illustrator, CorelDraw). I have the 12 button programmed to switch profiles and each profile can have a different color from the internal LEDs (Helps tell which profile I'm in)

I also have a Logitech G13 Gamepad. It has awesome software which automatically switches profiles based on which program is active. It has 3 quick swap buttons to completely change the layouts in each program, 25 keys per layout. I've programmed keys/macros for all my commonly used tools.

I still have a regular keyboard. Ctrl+Z/Ctrl+Shit+Z (Undo/Redo) is too natural to me, plus other basic commands but I can quickly jump over to the G13 for commands that would require 2 hands on the keyboard and keep my right hand on the mouse.

I have a Waccom Bamboo pen tablet and I've found that touch is in as accurate as a mouse for 3D manipulation. With LClick+Drag, RClick+Drag, MiddleMouseButton+Drag, LRClick+Drag & Scroll Wheel and control all your major 3D view manipulations. A touch pad requires a second hand button press to achieve the same results. Believe me I've tried and mouse + keyboard + gamepad beats the socks off of anything I've found. It's great never having to click drop down menus.

Add in AutoHotKey to run macros/automate and you can model/draft w/o ever looking from the screen.

I'd be interested to hear other people's setups.

u/Arduino87 · 1 pointr/cad

I know I'm late to the thread and this type of mouse isn't specifically related to your question but I wanted to post my mouse because I have made good use of it with CAD and gaming:

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/516sbjhsHdL._SL1000_.jpg

https://www.amazon.com/Redragon-Programmable-Precision-Buttons-Windows/dp/B00GU8W5AE/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=perdition+red+dragon+mouse&qid=1559089700&s=gateway&sr=8-3

12 side buttons is kinda overkill but I just wanted to recommend a mouse that has custom keys because it is super useful.

u/PinkPearMartini · 2 pointsr/cad

I was put in a class that expected me to already be proficient in the software... but I'd never even opened the program before. Oops...

I bought this book: Autodesk Inventor 2017 and Engineering Graphics An Integrated Approach https://www.amazon.com/dp/1630570443/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_CUIKAbGKK5S66

I like all the books by SDC publications, and I've used them for AutoCAD as well. My school doesn't teach CREO, and I plan to buy the one for it as well.

Get that book, start from page one, and do all of the examples it tells you to. When it discusses a menu or tool, go through it on your screen. It really works.

Later, I met a new instructor who has having to teach inventor, but he did he just want familiar with it. I recommended the same book to him. He's using it to teach the class and now he's great at it. (the students don't buy books for these classes, they just throw an instructor at you)

u/OutOfTime007 · 3 pointsr/cad

I realize that this is way out of your budget but this is the one I used to use at work. I can not find the one I currently use(I switched to a corded Logitech one) but I would say that any mouse with this kind of shape will be way more comfortable for your hand than the one you have a picture of in your post.

I would also recommend getting a corded mouse. Since I have experienced that in an office environment the signals of a lot of similar mice will get crossed.

For some reason when I see someone working with a small mouse like yours I always think that that person is gonna get carpal tunnel from working with it or something. I do not know why since I do not have enough knowledge of ergonomics to draw that conclusion. :) It just looks really uncomfortable.

u/childofmalcav · 2 pointsr/cad

I bought a book called The Metric Handbook which is fantastic for all kinds of stuff. I've mainly used it to design car parks and toilets (how exciting). It's been really amazing for that.

It seems to be available here for free at an earlier edition

There is probably an imperial version if meters are not as useful to you. Frankly for design purposes, feet and inches are a better measurement due to historic standards, the many factor of 12 and the ease of distance estimation.

u/azhillbilly · 2 pointsr/cad

The parametric drawing class is light. Maybe the worst thing is swept cuts till the end where you learn to do assemblies but its focus is to do demensioning and making drawings with all the correct views and dimensions.

Solid works 1 you basically get a lesson on how to most efficiently draw a part then a couple practices on the technique. Then on and on till at the end of the book you have made a small 4 stroke motor and a gear box from all the parts.

Solid works 2 is where things get interesting. Mold designs, sheet metal, surfacing, welds, 3D design, going to push you a little bit.

3 is advanced, you have simulation, different kinds of molds, everything is about assemblies. Honestly 2 was the harder jump, this is just refining skills and teaches you to look at the big picture.

Creo I have not received my book yet so not sure but from the description it seems to be on the solid works 2 level.

I would say if you just buy the books and go at it, in a year you should be proficient in solid works to do damn near anything.


start here

You should see all the other books from the publisher in the suggestions.

u/flyingbuttwhat · 2 pointsr/cad

As you said a drawing mouse should be wired, big, easy to change dpi and a good scroll. I have been using this one for 4 years:

http://www.amazon.com/Ideazon-Reaper-Edge-Gaming-Mouse/dp/B000VZJA78

Even my professor bought himself a new one after trying mine. I can't tell some of my friends the difference between a cordless laptop mouse and a real mouse.

u/Oilfan94 · 3 pointsr/cad

You can use CAD (which software are you talking about) with practically any mouse.

Similar to gaming, some people will find it useful to have a mouse with a higher sensitivity and more/programmable buttons.

As a professional tool, I also want something that is robust, durable, and consistent. But that tends to drive up the price.

For a cheap mouse, I've been using THIS at home. Very good, for the price.

u/OddJackdaw · 1 pointr/cad

Personally I am a huge fan of the Logitech M570 trackball. I use one with CAD all the time. You use your thumb rather than your fingers for the ball. It works very well in situations like you describe. It is definitely a love-it-or-hate-it thing, but I strongly prefer them to mice.

u/indianadarren · 4 pointsr/cad

I teach CAD. Personally I think learning via youtube is treacherous; you are not getting any formal structure, there is no one to answer questions when something goes awry, and worst of all, stringing along random videos is a surefire way to miss BIG pieces of the picture that are often super-important. If there are no community college classes in your area that teach the software, why not call the local Autodesk training people and see if they do a 1 or 2 day training for AutoCAD Electrical? If not, try CADLearning.com. It's video-based, but THOROUGH. IT'S LESS THAN $100 A YEAR FOR "STUDENTS." A last-choice option is a book like this one: https://www.amazon.com/AutoCAD-Electrical-2017-Control-Designers/dp/1942689462 Again, it's got all the important elements in logical, structured order so you are not missing the big picture things, like how to set up a "Project," which is important in ACAD Electrical. Youtube, IMHO, should be a last-resort, or a way to get a single specific question answered occasionally.

u/RarelyActiveUser · 1 pointr/cad

I wouldn't know because I'm not from the US; always bought them online and had them delivered here.

Sybex has two main learning series: Essentials and Mastering. The first being more focused on exercises and examples for quickly making you productive and the latter is a much more comprehensive book (but also covers the basics). Also Essentials books are about 400 pages long while Mastering don't go below the 1000 pages.

Sybex

u/PurdyCrafty · 1 pointr/cad

I use a Redragon M901 PERDITION 16400 DPI High-Precision Programmable Laser Gaming Mouse for mine.

I use the side buttons to program custom macros (TEDIT, MOVE, Copy w/ anchor, delete etc).

It has a ton of useful features and its only 32.00 bucks

u/Christopher109 · 1 pointr/cad

I've had this for years and wouldn't change it for any other mice. I've tried but always go back to it

https://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-D66-00029-Wheel-Mouse-Optical/dp/B00006B7HB