[MechEng83]

I've found the biggest hurdle isn't teaching a specific function of your chosen CAD package, but getting the kids to create (and modify) geometry so it's got the most parametric features possible. Basic tutorials will get them trained adequately on how to sketch, constrain, extrude, etc.

I find students naturally tend to use CAD like it's a combination of Legos and a series of cutting dies.

Examples of modeling practices I've seen which are unconducive to fast design:

Piece is 10 inches long. Want to modify to make it 13 inches. Extend end face by 3 inches, rather than modify the extrusion to increase its length.

Individually model and dimension each hole rather than using a pattern, or at the very least using an equal constraint for the hole diameters.

Needing to increase or decrease the size of a cut, and using the extrude option rather than modifying the original cut.

Spending a lot of time trying to calculate a Cartesian coordinate for a hole center (that ends up not lining up in a hole to hole axis mating), rather than using geometric constraints. Alternatively, not using construction geometry.


All in all, it's conceptual design that eludes them. Use of the CAD functions comes with practice. I try to teach them by walking through how I would make a certain part while taking breaks to explain quirks or watch-outs of the tools I used to make the part.