noplate,
You can ask
ANY question on the DesignCAD Forum. There are several "newbies" on the forum right now who are asking basic questions. No question is too simple or obvious!
http://forum.designcadcommunity.com/index.phpYou can get the V21 User Manual here if you don't already have it:
http://www.magicsystems.com/usa/DesignCAD_downloads.phpIt has a pretty good introduction to program features.
One of the forum members ("the scud") has a collection of tutorials. Also, there is a basic "how to" tutorial for V17 available on the Forum. Just ask.
With 3D modeling you are creating an object, and not a drawing. You work with planes (polygons) and solids. You rarely use lines for anything other than construction frameworks that are discarded later.
You build a house in 3D CAD just like you would build the real thing, but you get fewer smashed fingers.* You also get to create the pieces instead of making do with whatever materials you have laying around.
There are two basic 3D methods:
1. Subtractive. This works just like machining a part out of a block of metal on a milling machine, or chiseling a sculpture out of a block of granite. You start with a large "working" solid and cut away parts you don't want until what remains is what you do want. For this you create "tool" solids and then subtract them from your working solid. Of course, in CAD you can create any shape tools, so you aren't limited to a few basic tool shapes like you are in the real world.
2. Additive. For this you create individual planes and grid surfaces and then piece them together to make all of the sides of a solid. Then you define the collection to be a solid. After that it behaves just like any of the solid primatives (spheres, cubes, etc.).
You will use both methods, depending upon which achieves the desired results fastest or easiest.
* Actually, you can do things that are impossible in the real world, like building a house starting with the roof and working down. CAUTION: CAD modeling is addictive!
Phil