SpaceClaim is a direct modelling 3D CAD (Computer Aided Design) software unlike SolidWorks and Autodesk Inventor which are parametric CAD software, it has been gaining popularity recently due to its flexibility, ease of learning and ease of use, SpaceClaim was acquired by Ansys in May 2014.

Learning SpaceClaim is very helpful for anyone working in the MCAD (Mechanical CAD) field as it can help them in either modifying existing designs created by other 3D CAD software or even create whole new designs from scratch.

This post is a road map for anyone willing to start learning SpaceClaim online for free from scratch, the post will present and compare between the best online sources where beginners can start from and follow along, the sources stated in this post are full structured courses so you won’t find a link to a single video or a group of unrelated tutorials.

If you just want the bottom line (the road map to learn SpaceClaim) and you don’t wish to read the entire article then go to the “Bottom Line” section at the end of the article.

Getting Started with SpaceClaim for Free from Scratch

SpaceClaim Website

SpaceClaim Website is the first free online outlet where beginners can start learning SpaceClaim for free through video tutorials, you’ve to register in order to have access to the training.

Structure: The training is divided into three sections, each section is divided into lessons and each of the lessons covers a certain topic in SpaceClaim.

Interface: The interface is very simple, just click on the lesson you’re interested in and a new window will pop-up starting the video.

Now, the pros and cons:

Pros

1. Free.
2. The training is well-structured and organized for beginners.
3. The training allows beginners to start using SpaceClaim quickly.

Cons

1. The training doesn’t cover the latest version of SpaceClaim, but that won’t be a problem for beginners.

Verdict: This is the best place for any beginner to start learning SpaceClaim through video tutorials.

Futurescape

Futurescape is the second free online outlet where beginners can start learning SpaceClaim through video tutorials, you don’t have to register in order to have access to the training.

Structure: The training is divided into two sections (beginners and intermediate) each section is divided into lessons (13 lesson) in total, each lesson covers a certain topic in SpaceClaim, the training is more of an overview about the software.

Interface: The interface is simple, just click on the lesson you’re interested in and a new window will pop-up starting the video.

Now, the pros and cons:

Pros

1. Free.
2. The training is well-organized for beginners.

Cons

1. The training covers an old release of SpaceClaim though that won’t be a problem for beginners.

Verdict: This outlet is one of the best outlets for anyone willing to have an overview about SpaceClaim.

DT Zone

DT Zone is the third free online outlet where beginners can start learning SpaceClaim through video tutorials, you don’t have to register in order to have access to the training.

Structure: The training is divided into 4 lessons, each lesson has a group of video tutorials (or a single video tutorial), each of the video tutorials covers certain topic in SpaceClaim.

Interface: The interface is quite simple, just select the lesson you’re interested in from the top menu and you’ll be directed to a new page where the lessons’ videos reside.

Now, the pros and cons:

Pros

1. Free.
2. The training is well-organized for beginners.

Cons

1. The training isn’t provided by the same instructor which makes the beginners’ learning experience inconsistent.

Verdict: The training on this outlet is well-organized for beginners, but it’s a collection of various YouTube videos provided by many instructors which make it hard for beginners to follow along.

DTSoftware YouTube Channel

DTSoftware YouTube channel is the fourth free online outlet where beginners can start learning SpaceClaim through video tutorials.

Structure: The tutorial is divided into 30 videos; each video covers certain topics in SpaceClaim.

Interface: The standard YouTube interface.

Now, the pros and cons:

Pros

1. Free.
2. The tutorial is well-organized for beginners.

Cons

1. The training covers an old release of SpaceClaim, though that won’t be a big problem for beginners.

Verdict: This is a good outlet for beginners to start learning SpaceClaim through video tutorials.

MxCAD

MxCAD is the fifth free online outlet where beginners can start learning SpaceClaim through a text-based tutorial, you don’t have to register in order to have access to the training.

Structure: The training is divided into 14 sections, each section is divided into text lessons that covers various topics in SpaceClaim.

Interface: The interface is simple, just select the section you’re interested in from the left menu, then select the lesson you’re interested in  from the list on the section’s page.

Now, the pros and cons:

Pros

1. Free.
2. The training covers the basics that beginners should be familiarized with in order to start using SpaceClaim.

Cons

1. The training is available as text only which might be a problem for beginners who prefer video tutorials.
2. The training isn’t well-organized and it’s not easy for beginners to follow along.

Verdict: This outlet is suitable for beginners who prefer text-based tutorials, though it’s worth noting that the training isn’t well-organized.

Bottom Line

The recipe for learning SpaceClaim for free

1. SpaceClaim Website and Futurescape are the best outlets for beginners who prefer video tutorials.
2. If you prefer books then the free PDF tutorials provided by the University of Twente is one of your best options.

Remember that the first step is always the toughest step, and the aim of this post is to provide you with resources that will help you take your first step in SpaceClaim.