Top products from r/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

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.

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.

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)

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.

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.

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.

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

• AutoCAD 2014 Essentials
  
• Mastering AutoCAD 2014
  
• Autodesk Inventor 2014 Essentials
  
• Mastering Autodesk Inventor 2014
  
  Amazon
  
  
• AutoCAD 2014 Essentials
  
• Mastering AutoCAD 2014
  
• Autodesk Inventor 2014 Essentials
  
• Mastering Autodesk Inventor 2014
  
  Most of the 2014 version of the books are going to be publised during July, you could tinker around with the programs until then; Autodesk has some tutorials and learning materials available, specially if you're registered as a student.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Metric-Handbook-Planning-Design-Data/dp/1856178064/ref=dp_ob_title_bk


pdf version below


http://www.pdfbook.co.ke/details.php?title=Metric%20Handbook&author=David%20Adler&category=Architecture&eid=641&type=Book

good luck dude

If you try AutoCAD 2012 and you're looking for a good and thorough tutorial, I recommend Tutorial Guide to AutoCAD 2012, by Shawna Lockhart.

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

I got a cheapo 10 key from amazon to do the same thing... It's worked fine so far..

Jelly Comb 16 key

If you're willing to purchase a book, try this one

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

You should purchase this book

the cook book

http://www.amazon.com/Pro-ENGINEER-Wildfire-Designers-Textbook/dp/1932709800/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1456804905&sr=1-1&keywords=pro%2Fe+wildfire+book

This is the one that was required for one of my classes. I actually really really regret selling it.