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There is a curicculum out called DIME from Spectrum Educational Supplies. It's pretty cheap, I think $15 for the master copy and reproduction costs after that.
It covers how to sketch orthogonal and isometric views of objects very simply and easily. My son went through it when he was 11 or so. It also helps you learn how to think in 3D.
The ability to do freehand sketches that look something like what you want to do is invaluable for mechanical engineers. I can't count the number of hours I've spent with a group of other engineers sketching out ideas for solving problems. It takes effort to learn but in the long run it's worth it.
Learning how to use isometric paper is a good idea too. It will help greatly in making intelligible sketches. Actually practice with the isopaper and you soon won't need it.
What ever you do DON'T get dependent on CAD. I've been a CAD jockey for close on 20 years, but professionally we rarely decide how to solve a problem at a tube. Generally the ideas flow faster than you can model them. Usually we sketch some stuff on the whiteboard and then go back and use the CAD tube to document the idea and make sure we haven't overlooked something. (Hey where did that frame come from? it wasn't in the sketch, get rid of it, it's in the way!)
Remember it doesn't have to look good, it just has to be understandable to other engineers.
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Christopher H Husmann, PE
"Who is John Galt?"
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