There are lots of Computer-Aided Design software packages available. From the extremely professional ones like AutoCAD to multiple upstarts like Solidwords, Creo and even ProE. However, what many find as they try to get into CAD and learn the skill for a potential career path is that CAD packages are often only “free” to students for a limited time, and then a cost has to be paid for the full license to continue using the program. No surprise, some of these packages are extremely expensive and have price tickets only companies can easily afford. So, the individual trying to get a personal start in CAD who doesn’t have time for college or formal classes often finds him or herself out in the cold.
Going Back to School
The student path is a typical method many find their exposure to CAD with. One signs up for a college class, the syllabus directs the student to acquire a copy of a working CAD program or provides one in a school lab, and the student is able to use the program for as long as he or she maintains enrollment with the given school. Status is checked annually, and life goes on until graduation. However, once out in the regular world, the sticker shock of the real CAD price often drives folks away from the software and the skill gets forgotten unless one is lucky enough to get hired in a company with the tool in place.
There are plenty of low cost and free classes where one can learn the principles of CAD from, as well as a number of well-written books on the topic as well. But at the end of the day, a person needs a working, usable CAD program to actually develop skills. And, even more important, that tool often times needs to be similar to what is being used by the industry for those skills to be relevant and applicable on day one of being hired.
Focus on the Best Package Possible
The key to developing a good approach to CAD training is to find a free program that emulates or is very similar to AutoCAD or TurboCAD, the two leading packages used in the design industry the most. Once one has a working copy that can do the job, then the next step is go into full immersion mode. The only way one really gets a good understanding of how CAD works and can be used is by practicing it. Nothing fancy is needed to do this. CAD training can start with a simple frame approach and then move onto more and more complex steps trying out different tools and understanding how they work in practice. Believe it or not, this approach of hands-on learning is far better than any book method, which barely gives one the requisite time before moving onto the next chapter. Training comes with repetition, and repetition builds motor memory and quick recall skills.
Work the Shareware Angle
One approach to learning CAD and doing so with little or not cost is to take advantage of shareware offers. These are benefits that provide users the ability to try a software for a limited amount of time, usually 30 days, without any cost or license fee. However, at the end of 30 days, one has to obtain a license before the program will work again. So, what many folks have done in these situations is to install the program, use it for 30 days, delete the program completely, and reinstall it. This re-upping of the package essentially reboots the program for a another 30 days. However, software producers are not dumb; they need to make money off their product. So many are now designing their program to look for keys in a computer’s registry that show previous installation. If found, the program nullifies it’s 30-day window and requires the license. So, one has to be pretty savvy at knowing how to purge the computer operating system registry as well which is not an easy task to do. However, if one knows their OS really well, it’s doable.
If You Volunteer, Ask for Support
Another method some have used is to rely on their volunteering or work to obtain a free or very low-cost copy of CAD. If you work for a non-profit or humanitarian organization, you can always ask the company offering the CAD package for a free or low-cost package in exchange for allowing them to use you in their PR campaign. It really is a fair trade as you get a tool that benefits your non-profit work, and the company gets some goodwill advertising to boost their name with customers and new prospects. Believe it or not, many companies are receptive to this idea and will respond.
Go Cheap With Used Copies or Surplus
Looking for older copies and versions of CAD can also be a way to get free software. Software programs are regularly being updated and improved. So older CAD programs start to get thrown out or sold for cheap as surplus. In many cases they work just fine, and you can learn the principles of CAD with them extensively. If you can find a copy via an only auction or classified site, you may very well get an older copy of AutoCAD or TurboCAD for peanuts. It may not have the latest bells and whistles, but it will be a robust CAD program that works. Some packages are still sealed in factory shrinkwrap and never opened.
Go to the Cloud
If you can afford a cloud subscription, you may find you can afford access to prime CAD tools for a lot cheaper than buying a full license. For example, AutoCAD gives folks a 30-day free trial and then charges $210/month for access. It’s a lot less than a full package ownership and gives prime use of Autodesk’s product. It could even be somewhat tax deductible for school or work but consult a tax consultant to be sure. Autodesk’s cloud cost goes down if you commit to a year or longer ($127/month for one year and $102/month for 3 years, but you would have to pay the full amount up front which can be a block for many).Not every avenue one finds with CAD will be entirely free, but there are ways to bring your practical CAD training costs down considerably or make them very affordable. You just have to be creative and practice some sleuthing to find opportunities.
