Online Bookmarking

| By Simon Martin

These days, CAD users have more educational resources at their fingertips than ever before with little more than a quick Google search. But while online community forums and indexed help guides are indispensable resources for the modern CAD user, few mediums are better for communicating new concepts than video, and for good reason; although pictures and diagrams are great for learning new principles or workflows, nothing beats watching a fellow CAD user get from A to B in real-time.

Unsurprisingly, the majority of these excellent (and free!) educational resources come from the software companies themselves –– whereas online learning hubs charge a premium to partake in more organized courses. That said, these free resources are invaluable in the designer's toolkit and serve as springboards for learning new concepts and staying on top of your CAD game –– regardless of which software is used.

If you find yourself wanting quick and snackable content to help level up your CAD hustle, we've rounded up the Top 10 free video providers here for you. While there are many additional resources out there from many different creators, these were chosen based on both the quality and quantity of material as well as the relevancy for today's CAD user.

The Official Onshape Channel (Onshape)

In this video: learn the process of creating and editing parts in Onshape.

Unsurprisingly, the best reference videos for this CAD newcomer come from none other than the company itself –– thanks in no small part to the team's understanding of the value of quality educational content. Whether you're a new user or have been using Onshape since beta, you won't go wrong with adding this one to your toolkit.

Cadjunkie (SolidWorks and MODO)

In this video: The first part of a semester-long industrial design SolidWorks class taught by O'Hern.

When it comes to creating content that's both informative AND entertaining, industrial designer Adam O'Hern is a master of delivery. With a solid background in both SolidWorks and MODO, he has a number of both paid and free content worth checking out –– even if it is a couple of years old.

SolidWorks Zen (SolidWorks)

In this video: An advanced SolidWorks tutorial teaching students how to model a disk brake.

The name of the channel says it all –– need we say more? With high-quality and insightful video content posted regularly for both beginners and masters, adding this one to your bookmark folder is a no-brainer for better navigating your path to SolidWorks enlightenment.

Lars Christensen (Autodesk Inventor and Fusion 360)

In this video: The 5 fundamental things that a beginner should know about Fusion 360

Lars is well-known in the Autodesk community and has shared his CAD know-how at dozens of industry events. As an award-winning design & manufacturing expert, his ability to quickly and clearly communicate concepts ranging from quick tips to more advanced in-depth guides is among the best out there for Autodesk CAD/CAM users.

The Official Autodesk Fusion 360 Channel (Fusion 360)

In this video: The Top 5 keyboard shortcuts for Fusion 360 users.

Like Onshape, the marketing and education teams at Autodesk are well-aware of the importance of high-quality educational content for today's CAD users. With a deep understanding of the design process as a whole, the Fusion 360 team has covered a myriad of topics here ranging from design stories (such as the story behind a folding kayak) to more snackable quick tips including keyboard shortcuts and workflow hacks.

GoEngineer (SolidWorks, 3D Printing & Simulations)

In this video: Using a Flow Simulation to keep electronics cool.

With one of the largest publicly available video learning libraries on the web for CAD users, GoEngineer is more than deserving of a place on this list. For those who have always wanted to learn how to get the most of simulation and analysis tools in SolidWorks, look no further.