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Complete Product Design From Home Course

4.4 Filled star Filled star Filled star Filled star Empty star
Based on 209 ratings
see reviews
Sampson Moore

At Home Engineering The Course has helped thousands of people worldwide to learn CAD and product design.

This is the course to learn CAD, product design, and engineering fundamentals. I have over 8 years of experience designing and building in industry and research, and I have a Masters of Science in mechanical engineering from the U of MN. I was a mechanical engineer at Google [X], and I've worked with multiple world-leading researchers in technology.

Read more

At Home Engineering The Course has helped thousands of people worldwide to learn CAD and product design.

This is the course to learn CAD, product design, and engineering fundamentals. I have over 8 years of experience designing and building in industry and research, and I have a Masters of Science in mechanical engineering from the U of MN. I was a mechanical engineer at Google [X], and I've worked with multiple world-leading researchers in technology.

After taking this course, you will be able to make custom parts from almost any material, including metal, plastic, ceramic, and composites, enhancing you through tools and knowledge. Using modern, professional, and free tools, I bring together the best of the internet to get you designing and building in 2021.

You'll Learn:

  • CAD from the ground up.  What CAD program to use, the 4 methods to draw any part in 3D, and bringing your product to motion

  • Simplified materials: How to choose materials for your designs, whether a metal, plastic, ceramic, or composite AND when to choose them.

  • The 6 manufacturing methods to produce any part.  You'll also learn programs and websites to get your parts made.  With these 6, you can command real parts from your computer to your door. 

  • How to produce quality 3D images that can be used for marketing

  • Design a product.   I take you through a design from idea to final design 

    Check out the course outline. 

I don’t just teach you CAD, I teach you CAD mindset and methods when you are designing.  I teach you the list of “need to know” manufacturing methods.  I simplify materials for you, and give you go-to materials that will meet almost all of your needs.   

The course is built to get anyone up and running, drawing parts in 3D in a CAD program, and getting them made.  Whether you want to build an idea you have, sharpen your design skills or are new to product design altogether, this course will take you there.   

Enroll now

What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction

Welcome to At Home Engineering The Course!

Learn the tools engineers use in industry, which can be transferred to the home.
Read more

What are the tools engineers use in industry, and how can we bring them to our home?

Learn the best CAD programs to use at home and why. Then, we choose the best program there is to offer (professional and free).

Jumping into the program, we learn CAD fundamentals, and start designing.

We finish off the 4 fundamental designing methods of CAD.

Learn to bring motion to your design.

Starting high level, we go through all material options, and narrow down to a Go To list of materials for your designs. Metals, Plastics, Ceramics, and Composites.

These are the manufacturing methods to know, to design nearly any part.

We start designing a real product. Learn fast modeling techniques to put together rough 3D models of your design.

We finish off our 'first version' 3D model, and learn to think in 3 dimensions with our designs.

We start detailed designs of our solar light, and talk about where to place different components in your product.

Solar light design part 2. Enclosing your product.

Solar light design part 3. Fastening and connecting your product.

Solar light design part 4.

Solar light design part 5.

Solar light design part 6. Choosing materials from our Go To materials list.

Finishing the mechanical design of the solar light.

Choose and set materials in CAD, and learn to find properties of your product. Weight and moment of inertia.

Now that we've designed a full product, we learn to produce high quality images which can be used for marketing and more.

Modern manufacturing methods from our home. From our computer, we summon our parts to our door, to start building!

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Simplifies material selection, offering a 'go-to' list of materials that meet most design needs, which is helpful for those new to the field
Covers six manufacturing methods, providing learners with practical knowledge to produce real parts from their designs, which is essential for bringing ideas to life
Teaches CAD from the ground up, covering fundamental designing methods and bringing motion to designs, which builds a strong foundation for beginners
Focuses on using modern, professional, and free tools, making product design accessible to learners without requiring expensive software, which lowers the barrier to entry
Emphasizes CAD mindset and methods during the design process, which goes beyond basic software skills and fosters a deeper understanding of product creation
Requires learners to choose a CAD program, which may require additional research and effort to determine the best fit for their needs and goals

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Create your own learning path. Save this course to your list so you can find it easily later.
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Reviews summary

Complete product design fundamentals from home

According to learners, this course provides a solid foundation in product design, particularly focusing on CAD fundamentals using free software like Fusion 360. Many found the instructor's explanations clear and the practical project helpful for learning the workflow. The overview of materials and manufacturing methods is considered a valuable addition for beginners wanting to turn designs into physical parts. However, some experienced users noted the content can be too basic and lacks depth for intermediate or advanced topics. Overall, it's widely seen as an excellent starting point for 'at home engineering'.
Instructor improves content over time.
"Updated sections are great!"
"They addressed some of the earlier feedback about needing more examples."
"The explanation of manufacturing methods is now clearer."
Project helps apply learned concepts.
"the project-based approach is great."
"The solar light project ties it together well."
"The project was engaging."
"Designing the solar light from start to finish was the best part."
Useful introduction to production methods.
"Materials and manufacturing overview was also very helpful."
"The overview of materials and manufacturing methods is considered a valuable addition..."
"The manufacturing overview is high-level."
"It gives you a solid grasp on how parts are actually made."
Learn CAD basics using free software.
"Covers the essentials of CAD, materials, and manufacturing."
"using modern, professional, and free tools..."
"Covers Fusion 360 basics well. The project was engaging."
"The CAD part is decent, but I already knew some basics."
Excellent starting point for newcomers.
"This course is fantastic! I had zero CAD experience and now I feel confident designing parts..."
"Solid course for beginners. Covers the essentials of CAD..."
"Good for absolute beginners, but not much new for intermediate users."
"I'm completely new to CAD and this course made it easy to start."
May be too basic for experienced users.
"Some sections could be a bit more in-depth..."
"Good for absolute beginners, but not much new for intermediate users."
"The course is too basic. It barely scratches the surface..."
"Not suitable for anyone with prior engineering knowledge."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Complete Product Design From Home Course with these activities:
Review CAD Fundamentals
Reviewing CAD fundamentals will ensure a solid foundation for the course, allowing you to grasp more advanced concepts quickly.
Browse courses on Computer-Aided Design
Show steps
  • Review basic CAD commands and tools.
  • Practice creating simple 3D shapes.
  • Familiarize yourself with CAD software interface.
Read 'The Design of Everyday Things' by Don Norman
Reading this book will enhance your understanding of user-centered design principles, leading to more effective and user-friendly product designs.
View Things That Make Us Smart: Defending Human... on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read the chapters related to usability and user experience.
  • Reflect on how these principles apply to your own design projects.
  • Identify examples of good and bad design in everyday objects.
Read 'Product Design and Development' by Ulrich and Eppinger
Reading this book will provide a broader understanding of the product design process, complementing the CAD-focused aspects of the course.
View Product Design and Development on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read the chapters related to concept generation and selection.
  • Take notes on key concepts and methodologies.
  • Reflect on how these concepts apply to your own design projects.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Design a Simple Enclosure
Starting a small design project will allow you to apply the CAD skills learned in the course and reinforce your understanding of design principles.
Show steps
  • Choose a simple object to enclose (e.g., a phone, a circuit board).
  • Sketch initial design ideas for the enclosure.
  • Create a 3D model of the enclosure using CAD software.
  • Consider manufacturing methods for the enclosure.
Explore Advanced CAD Techniques
Following advanced tutorials will expose you to more complex CAD techniques and expand your design capabilities.
Show steps
  • Identify specific CAD techniques you want to learn (e.g., surfacing, parametric modeling).
  • Search for online tutorials or workshops on those techniques.
  • Follow the tutorials and practice applying the techniques to your own designs.
Create a Portfolio of CAD Designs
Creating a portfolio will showcase your skills and provide a tangible record of your progress throughout the course.
Show steps
  • Select your best CAD designs from the course.
  • Create high-quality renderings of your designs.
  • Write a brief description of each design, highlighting key features and design decisions.
  • Compile your designs and descriptions into a professional-looking portfolio.
3D Print Your Solar Light Design
Creating a physical prototype of your solar light design will allow you to test its functionality and identify any design flaws.
Show steps
  • Prepare your CAD model for 3D printing.
  • Choose a 3D printing service or use your own 3D printer.
  • Print the parts of your solar light design.
  • Assemble the printed parts and test the functionality of the solar light.

Career center

Learners who complete Complete Product Design From Home Course will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Drafter
A drafter prepares technical drawings and plans used by production and construction workers. This role typically requires expertise in CAD software, attention to detail, and knowledge of engineering principles. This course teaches CAD from the ground up. You'll learn the four methods to draw any part in 3D. The course is built to get anyone up and running, drawing parts in 3D in a CAD program, and getting them made. For a drafter, this course may be particularly useful, because it also teaches CAD mindset and optimal methods for designing.
See salaries and explore the career path for Drafter
CAD Technician
A CAD technician creates technical drawings and models using CAD software, working under the direction of engineers and architects. This course helps build a foundation in CAD skills, teaching you what CAD program to use and the four fundamental methods to draw any part in 3D. The course is designed to get anyone up and running, drawing parts in 3D within a CAD program. For a CAD technician, this course may be particularly useful, because it teaches CAD mindset and optimal methods for designing.
See salaries and explore the career path for CAD Technician
Product Designer
A product designer conceptualizes and designs new products, improving existing ones. They need to keep the user experience in mind. This course teaches you CAD from the ground up, and you'll learn the four methods to draw any part in 3D. Additionally, the course will teach you about choosing the right materials, with a focus on metals, plastics, ceramics, and composites. A product designer would benefit from this course since it simplifies materials and provides go-to options that meet many needs. Moreover, the course culminates in designing a product from idea to final design, a process directly applicable to the daily tasks of a product designer.
See salaries and explore the career path for Product Designer
Engineering Technician
An engineering technician assists engineers in designing, developing, testing, and manufacturing products. You can expect design, prototyping, and documentation work. This course will be useful, because it provides CAD skills. The course will teach you CAD from the ground up, including which CAD program to use. You'll learn the four methods to draw parts in 3D, for example. The course has a section on materials and manufacturing at home, helping you understand materials and manufacturing for a given design.
See salaries and explore the career path for Engineering Technician
Design Engineer
A design engineer is responsible for the design and development of new products or systems. They often work with CAD software to create detailed technical drawings. This course will be very helpful, because it provides CAD skills that are valuable for any design engineer. You'll learn CAD from square one, including which CAD program to use. The course teaches the four methods to draw parts in 3D. The course has a section on materials and manufacturing at home, helping you understand which materials work for a given design.
See salaries and explore the career path for Design Engineer
Manufacturing Technician
A manufacturing technician assists in the production of goods, by setting up and operating equipment, and ensuring quality control. This course will provide a useful foundation for a manufacturing technician. The course introduces the 6 manufacturing methods to produce parts. The course teaches you, a manufacturing technician aspirant, programs and websites to get your parts made. This will help you command parts from your computer to your door.
See salaries and explore the career path for Manufacturing Technician
Mechanical Engineer
A mechanical engineer researches, designs, develops, manufactures, and tests mechanical devices and systems. This course helps build a foundation in CAD, teaching you how to use CAD programs and the fundamental methods for designing parts in 3D. You also learn about materials like metals, plastics, ceramics, and composites. This course may be particularly useful as it covers manufacturing methods and how to use them to get your parts made, allowing you to command real parts from your computer to your door. This combination of design and manufacturing knowledge is valuable for any mechanical engineer.
See salaries and explore the career path for Mechanical Engineer
Manufacturing Engineer
A manufacturing engineer develops and optimizes manufacturing processes. They need to understand materials, manufacturing methods, and CAD software. This course includes a section on materials and manufacturing at home. It teaches you about metals, plastics, ceramics, and composites. You'll also learn the manufacturing methods relevant to designing most parts. For a manufacturing engineer, this course may be particularly relevant as you'll also learn programs and websites to get parts made and delivered right to the door.
See salaries and explore the career path for Manufacturing Engineer
Researcher
A researcher investigates and studies phenomena, trends, and issues. Researchers often focus on prototyping. Researchers often need to prototype their ideas, and this course provides CAD skills and knowledge of manufacturing techniques. The course teaches you what CAD program to use. The product design skills taught will be useful for the development of prototypes. As a researcher, this course may be useful to you as it covers the tools needed to succeed in research and development.
See salaries and explore the career path for Researcher
Research and Development Engineer
A research and development engineer leads or participates in research and development of new products, procedures, or systems. Often this involves prototyping. This course provides skills that are valuable to this role. It teaches the use of CAD programs and the fundamental methods for designing parts in 3D. The course provides a framework to design and build in 2021, enhancing knowledge through tools. The simplified materials section may be helpful, covering metals, plastics, ceramics, and composites.
See salaries and explore the career path for Research and Development Engineer
Industrial Designer
An industrial designer combines art, business, and engineering to design the products people use every day. This course may be particularly useful, as it covers CAD from the ground up. The course syllabus includes producing high quality marketing images, which are useful for industrial designers when presenting their designs. With it, you will learn to produce quality 3D images that can be used for marketing. The course also goes through a design, from idea to final design.
See salaries and explore the career path for Industrial Designer
Quality Control Inspector
A quality control inspector examines products and materials for defects or deviations from specifications. Quality control inspectors need to be able to read technical drawings and understand manufacturing processes. This course will provide a useful foundation for a quality control inspector. This course will help you learn what CAD program to use. During the course, you will design a product to create quality 3D images for marketing. With the knowledge of manufacturing, you'll be able to produce quality products.
See salaries and explore the career path for Quality Control Inspector
Product Development Manager
A product development manager oversees the development of new products from concept to launch. This course may be particularly useful, because it takes you through a design from idea to final design. The course will also give you familiarity with CAD, materials, and manufacturing methods. You will learn to produce high quality images that can be used for marketing. These skills and knowledge are directly related to product development.
See salaries and explore the career path for Product Development Manager
Aerospace Engineer
An aerospace engineer designs, develops, tests, and supervises the manufacturing of aircraft and spacecraft. The course may be useful as it covers materials and manufacturing methods, including metals and composites. Also, the course provides CAD skills, teaching the four methods to draw any part in 3D. Although aerospace engineering typically requires an advanced degree, the course's focus on practical design and manufacturing could benefit aspiring aerospace engineers or those in related roles.
See salaries and explore the career path for Aerospace Engineer
Civil Engineer
A civil engineer plans, designs, and oversees the construction and maintenance of building and infrastructure projects. This course may be useful as it can help build a foundation in CAD and design principles. You'll learn CAD from the ground up and the four methods to draw any part in 3D. Though civil engineering often deals with large-scale projects, understanding CAD and material properties can be beneficial. For example, the course covers choosing materials for designs, including metals and composites. Note that Professional licensure is usually required.
See salaries and explore the career path for Civil Engineer

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Complete Product Design From Home Course.
Product Design and Development
Save
Provides a comprehensive overview of the product design and development process. It covers topics such as identifying customer needs, generating product concepts, and prototyping. It valuable resource for understanding the entire product development lifecycle and provides a strong foundation for the course. This book is commonly used as a textbook at academic institutions.
Product Design and Development
Paperback
Check
Product Design and Development
Kindle Edition
Check
Cover image
Things That Make Us Smart
Save
Explores the principles of good design and how to create user-friendly products. It emphasizes the importance of usability, accessibility, and aesthetics in product design. While not directly related to CAD, it provides valuable insights into the broader design process and how to create products that are both functional and enjoyable to use. This book is more valuable as additional reading than it is as a current reference.
Things That Make Us Smart: Defending Human...
Kindle Edition
$

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Rating
4.4 Filled star Filled star Filled star Filled star Empty star
Effort
4 total hours
Via
Udemy
Instructor
Sampson Moore
Language
English
Traffic lights
Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Simplifies material selection, offering a 'go-to' list of materials that meet most design needs, which is helpful for those new to the field
Covers six manufacturing methods, providing learners with practical knowledge to produce real parts from their designs, which is essential for bringing ideas to life
Teaches CAD from the ground up, covering fundamental designing methods and bringing motion to designs, which builds a strong foundation for beginners
Focuses on using modern, professional, and free tools, making product design accessible to learners without requiring expensive software, which lowers the barrier to entry
Emphasizes CAD mindset and methods during the design process, which goes beyond basic software skills and fosters a deeper understanding of product creation
Requires learners to choose a CAD program, which may require additional research and effort to determine the best fit for their needs and goals
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