Rediscovering CAD

My first real drafting project was for my senior project in college. I designed an anti-backlash wormgear for a large telescope and drafted all the machine drawings and assemblies by hand. I was quite proud of that work and wish I still had it to look back on. But in my professional career as a research engineer, I developed into a reasonably advanced AutoCAD user for designing experimental equipment and customer 'specials'. But I left that career, time passed, and I only intermittently used various free CAD tools for small projects around the house until I started teaching 3D-printing technology in my role as a makerspace specialist for a local public library system. Patrons needed simple software to get started learning the basics of 3D CAD, and one of the most popular (and free) tools used for instruction is TinkerCAD, now part of the AutoDesk family of products. I got pretty good with TinkerCAD and have used it to design many parts - even some with complex geometries, though they are usually limited to rectilinear elements with simple curves. Dimensional control can be problematic, but I've seen some amazing parts come out of that tool. Not having experience with anything better, it's what I used to design the rail clips and pivot pillar for my "Ping Pong Balance" project.

But to keep up with the times, it's clear that I need to learn a modern parametric 3D modeling tool. There are several popular packages - including ones like OnShape and AutoDesk's Fusion 360 with free subscription options. A few weeks ago re:3D, a local 3D-printer manufacturing company, offered a short introductory course in OnShape, which I attended and modeled everyone's favorite first 3D part: a customized key fob.

I had some hiccups navigating the menus and keeping up during that first introduction, but I decided to keep at it. Following online tutorials, I have learned to create more intricate features and am becoming comfortable developing simple assemblies with multiple parts. However, there are so many sketching, modeling, and assembling options to learn about that it will take time to gain exposure to them all. Finally, I need to get past thinking about OnShape (or any modern CAD tool, really) as something as simple as a drafting or part-modeling tool; it's a design tool with capabilities that I'm sure I don't yet fully appreciate.

Next up is to move beyond the online tutorials and start designing parts of my own. I want to 3D-print an enclosure for one of my current projects, and modeling it might be just right to test out my newly developed skills. Now my concern is: am I learning the right tool? Anyone have a suggestion or recommendation about Fusion 360 versus OnShape as the tool I should be learning now? I guess the correct answer might be both! Let me know in the comments or send me a tweet with your thoughts.