ASSIGNMENT 2.

CAD Tutorials.
2D design tools.
3D design tools.

GENERAL IDEAS TO START THE THING!

I've been worked with CAD software many years. So I expected this assignment to be a calm one. Buton the contrary, I discovered a few interesting tools to explore. Some of them will be incorporated to my toolbox; others will give me a wider perspective but I'll probably skip them.
That's mainly becuase you get used to some tools, and in regular use, you will focus on the ones your work better with, or the ones that make you feel more comfortable.
Some of them I already knew. Some of them not. These are my thoughts about them. I mixed up a bit all the software, since I developed some exercices with some of them. I will comment about them when i get to the item.

BLENDER

Very intersting. and very inspiring. I had already explore a bit this open source 3D software years ago.
I like having every tool on screen. But when I started working, AutoCAD at work and 3DMax were the chosen ones. And now it would take a while to change my mind and feel comfortable with Blender.
I decided to step aside and continue with the new sotware we were up to discover.

FREECAD

As a parametric 3D modelling open source software, FreeCAD took my atention, no doubt.
But I knew we were going to explore Rhino-Grasshopper, Antimony, and i had some previos experience with Autodesk Inventor (back in the days!)
So I booked some time in the future to explore the software calmly. It's worth to spend some time to explore it!

RHINO

This was a very nice encounter. As I said, I had some previous experience with AutoCAD and it's been a few years of expectation about Rhino.
I think Rhino is a powerfull tool, and some dinamics are very similar to Autodesk software. Besides that, its way of doing things and capabilities of import/export are a great value.
I'm using it to develope my project right now. And i eager to continue and finish the work and the academy with a wide knowledge of the tool. It's the one I want to focus in, mainly.

GRASSHOPPER

Also very excited about this parametric tool! Actually I was on the edge to join a master of parametric design in the Polytechnic University. I think this can be very usefull to go one step beyond in many areas where design is critical.
I don't think this method will substitute the tradicional crafts, but it's a must to find the way to combine both expertises.
Aldo's session was absolutely overwhelming. I followed all the steps easily, but there was a point when I was completely overloaded.
We have the recording of the session, and I'm absolutely sure that i will take it back with a cup of coffee and plenty of time to spend in front of the computer.

SOLIDWORKS

SolidWorks was very familiar to me. It's a very powerfull mechanical design tool for designers, in the style of Catia an Autodesk Inventor. It's surely one of the tools I will use the most.
Even though, for the assignment 3 I used Fusion 360. Also in the same group of software, maybe less technical baut with very interestng features on version control protocols.
I don't want to extend more in this software, beacuse the day by day uses will give me more oportunities to develope my book of knowledege about it.

INKSCAPE

I'm using Inkscape for the next assignments. And I'm still trying to feel comfortable. It takes some time and the deadlines have "no mercy".
I'll get back to this comments when i have some more experience with the software.
It has some very interesting features, but an interface you need to get acustomed to. I'm pretty sure that I will manage to like, in part because I'm not an Illustrator user (i'm focused on 3D) and it doesn't disturb me with "different ways of doing teh same thing"