3D CAD Stuff

  • Thread starter Thread starter Michael Jones
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Michael Jones

Michael Jones

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I thought this was pretty cool.
3D rendering of my framing plan.

Exterior walls have been deleted for clarity.
 

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Looks good. What program are you using? I have yet to see a CAD program really handle wood framing well with all the parametric goodies that the solid modellers have.
 
Thats weird. Not the drawing thats very cool. But I just told frederic to give you a holler
cause he needs some input on 3D as he just got r2002, and I told him about you. And bam, you post a file. Ha!
fitz:D
 
That's AutoCad 2002.
The good thing about modeling in 3D with it is it lets you check for interferences that you wouldn't normally see in 2D.
 
Hi Michael, I know its autocad, but isn't it another release/version, or a whole new program? I've never used it so I wouldn't know. I can only afford to stay with 14. Besides, it fits my needs. I have thought about Solidworks, as I'm interested in Rapid Prototyping. But thats another story.
fitz:)
 
2002 comes with the solid modeling that used to be an add on option for previous releases. It also has rendering capabilities and texture maps.
3D Studio is the only other 3D/modeling s/w I'm familiar with and it is insanely expensive.

R14 is a damn good cad program! No B.S., no "kittens and flowers" just a good stable cad platform.
 
Michael Jones said:
2002 comes with the solid modeling that used to be an add on option for previous releases. It also has rendering capabilities and texture maps.
3D Studio is the only other 3D/modeling s/w I'm familiar with and it is insanely expensive.

R14 is a damn good cad program! No B.S., no "kittens and flowers" just a good stable cad platform.
Click to expand...


I like your drawing a lot, and Rick did suggest I contact you for recommendations of "3d acad 2002 for monkeys" type of resources where I can learn how to use 3d more effectively. Right now I can make 3d dots that are in the wrong place :)

For floorplans, I use visio because its easy, it works, and exports to DXF. However for automotive projects, I have to go 3D because our CNC machine speaks 3D and can make machined parts on the x/y/Z axis. Right now I can only make 2d parts and deliberately design the parts so I can heat them, bend them, and have a 3D part. Clearly not the best way :)

Know of any good books for a beginner? I understand the concept of Cad, just not the 3d how-to part.

Thanks if you can toss me a bone/lead, it would be appreciated.
 
Frederic- for 3D mechanical engineering it's hard to beat SolidWorks. Especially if you need to do a lot of kinematic checks.

If you need to do complex surfacing check out Thinkdesign by Think3. They work off a yearly subscription for around $2k but it is one of the coolest surfacing programs out there.
 
Federic - Have you looked into any of the "_____ for dummies" books? Seriously.

Tex is right. Using Autocad for complex 3D mechanical parts is... well, it can be done, but there's better programs out there that will work within AutoCad. I hear "SolidWorks" is top notch for that kind of stuff.
 
Hi frederic, just a note here, I don't know what kind of CNC or CAM software you have, but the CNC we use at work has to be programed after we draw the parts. They do import the cad file, but still have to manipulate it. Once its in the system, the CNC operator still has to manipulate the machine to set it up. Once done, it can cut, route, drill etc in 4 axis I beleive. What I am trying to say, maybe it would be easier to sketch or draft the parts with your dimensions, and let the CNC person interpret them. He still has to look at the part or parts your machining, and you can give him reference points.
Or in the case of new parts, could you find someone or a company close by to interprete them for you? It would seem to me, maybe just take your sketches to a metal fabrication or machine shop? I recently had the fortune of seeing a machine at our machining vendors shop, that did 50 or so operations and could whip out 1 to 1000 parts, (depending on size and complexity) very quickly, right from our cad drawings. But they still had to be interpreted and manipulated by the operator. Anyway, might beat 6 months of learning to wear another hat:D You must have a closet full now anyway!;) But good luck just the same. I drew a steel console frame in 3D and it blew me away. It takes time when your a novice though.
fitz:)
 
Hi frederic, just a note here, I don't know what kind of CNC or CAM software you have, but the CNC we use at work has to be programed after we draw the parts. They do import the cad file, but still have to manipulate it. Once its in the system, the
Click to expand...

A giant bridgeport. When we were racing, blocks and heads would be machined with it.

CNC operator still has to manipulate the machine to set it up. Once done, it can cut, route, drill etc in 4 axis I beleive. What I am trying to say, maybe it would be easier to sketch or draft the parts with your dimensions, and let the CNC person interpret them. He still has to look at the part or parts your
Click to expand...

Supposively, and I have no way of instantly confirming this, the machine will take 3D DXF files and "interpret" itself with the software that runs on the PC thats on the side cart, attached. I should know because I used to co-own the racing team. Actually, I shouldn't know, because my job was to steer while screaming.

Problem is we don't have machining staff anymore so I have no one to tell the machine to do something specific :) I'll have to learn this I guess. The software came from Bridgeport.

Or in the case of new parts, could you find someone or a company close by to interprete them for you? It would seem to me, maybe just take your sketches to a metal fabrication or machine shop? I recently had the fortune of seeing a machine at
Click to expand...

thats a good idea, and an obvious one too. Thanks for the suggestion, I'll look around locally and see what I find. There is some industrial parks around here I should find someone with this capability/skill. Prolly right next to my new building!

might beat 6 months of learning to wear another hat:D You must have a closet full now anyway!;) But good luck just the same. I drew a steel console frame in 3D and it blew me away. It takes time when your a novice though.
Click to expand...

Heh-heh I have too many hats on my head at any given moment you can't see my eyes anymore :) Unfortunately, most of them are cone-shaped like a dunce cap.
 
Just to jump in here, I use a acad-clone myself that's called IntelliCAD. It is completely ACAD compatible: files, menus, commands, it can even run autolisp applications and such. It's dead cheap at around USD 185,- or someting like that.
It has solid modelling features too.

But for 3D design I use a free copy of SoftCAD, completely functional, that you can pick up from their website at www.softcad.com
 
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