I need something simple that will alow me to make 3d drawing/blueprints/plans for a couple of different projects I have in mind - tube frames and the like. I need something thats above all easy to start using , basic functionality is all I need I'm guessing...any ideas? what do you guys use to plan stuff out?
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jinnan_tonnix
Member
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You could try Google Sketchup. It's aimed primarily at 3D work. I've seen some nice stuff done with it.
It's free so it's got to be worth a go...
http://sketchup.google.com/product_suf.html
It's free so it's got to be worth a go...
http://sketchup.google.com/product_suf.html
TonyWilk
2-Pint Welder
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- 114
ProgeCAD: it isn't simple or easy to use and it's not great at 3D... however, it is free and it is compatible with AutoCAD
If you've never used any CAD package before, I probably wouldn't recommend it because it does a lot of things in the age-old AutoCAD way.
I use an old version, but I see the ProgeCAD website now has progeCAD 2008, so it might be worth a download.
Yours,
Tony Wilk
If you've never used any CAD package before, I probably wouldn't recommend it because it does a lot of things in the age-old AutoCAD way.
I use an old version, but I see the ProgeCAD website now has progeCAD 2008, so it might be worth a download.
Yours,
Tony Wilk
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- 6,344
I use Autocad 2007, If you can use it its excellent, lucky I have a Friend who teaches in it, I also have Alibre installed on this computer, It's a full version free to download and evaluate FOC for a year, all the files will cross onto Autocad, IMHO the power of the packages makes them a near impossibility to learn alone and extremely frustrating.... If you can get someone who's clued up in 3D Cad then bite there hand off If there willing to teach you..........
But goggle Alibre, and It will link you to there download site, BTW the same software house makes Solidworks.....
But goggle Alibre, and It will link you to there download site, BTW the same software house makes Solidworks.....
restorer
Klaatu Barada Nikto
- Messages
- 270
Although not a cad program, Wings3d can be used to give an idea of what a finished project will look like. Don't think you'll be able to take dimensions from drawings though.
http://www.wings3d.com/
http://www.wings3d.com/
mcfearn
Member
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storm monkey
Cluless Expert!
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I am running a copy of Pro Engineer Wildfire 2, and it is very good. It isn't that difficult to use for the basics, although when you get into the integrated kinematic and finite element analysis stuff, and surfaces, then it gets really complicated. I am using to design and analyse my car project, at home, and design and analyse digger structures at work. Drawings are simple, as you basically model the parts in 3D, then place them on a sheet, in your preferred orientation. Additional views are drawn in seconds, and dimensions are made by clicking 2 points. If you change the model, the drawing updates it's self.
The package can be found for free, if you know where to look (torrent-reactor.net) but not with the most legitimate license. There are also online help pages and tutorials here. It's also a bit resource hungry once you get onto the more detailed models and rendering, but my home PC is only a Athlon 64X2 3800+, with 2 gb ram, and it copes pretty well, considering I have a complete car in session.
Phil
The package can be found for free, if you know where to look (torrent-reactor.net) but not with the most legitimate license. There are also online help pages and tutorials here. It's also a bit resource hungry once you get onto the more detailed models and rendering, but my home PC is only a Athlon 64X2 3800+, with 2 gb ram, and it copes pretty well, considering I have a complete car in session.
Phil
Snowcat - yeah, I was thinking the same about help/tuition offers 
MBconfuse - Thats very kind of you
I do fancy having solidworks...ive seen a movie type drawing where you can see parts moving done with that 
Tell me...can it simulate things like friction, momentum, gravity? I want to prototype a design for a peice of gym equiptment (revolutionary it is 
) and these variables are critical to finalizing the design. I could take the age old appraoch of vastly overengineering every aspect to safeguard against failure due to these factors but thats not ideal...thanks for the replies fellas I may checkout the google thing in the meantime
MBconfuse - Thats very kind of you
I do fancy having solidworks...ive seen a movie type drawing where you can see parts moving done with that Tell me...can it simulate things like friction, momentum, gravity? I want to prototype a design for a peice of gym equiptment (revolutionary it is ) and these variables are critical to finalizing the design. I could take the age old appraoch of vastly overengineering every aspect to safeguard against failure due to these factors but thats not ideal...thanks for the replies fellas I may checkout the google thing in the meantime
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Solidworks gets my vote too, here's an example of the sort of stuff you can do with it.
greyshirtguy
Persistent Learner
- Messages
- 150
I use Blender3D...
Now, before you read any further, I should warn that Blender does not meet the requirements of someone wanting a CAD application....
It is a 3D artists' modeler/animation/render/etc - not a CAD application (and it doesn't try to be).
Despite all that, some *other* people reading this thread might find it as useful as I have, because...
1. The price is right. (Truly free - not a trial, or limited edition).
2. Amazingly powerful 3D-artist application, which has an typically steep learning curve. (No I don't have any motive for plugging it)
3. You can easily use it for (optionally photo-realistic) visualisation. Eg. model something, look at from every angle while making adjustments - until you like what you see (my main use)
4. Despite being primarily for artistic pursuits, you can actually do some CAD-like precision modeling. However, it is a very painful and slow compared to using a proper CAD application. (but there really aren't any "good" CAD options when you cannot afford big $$$ and rule out pirating)
Check out http://homepage.ntlworld.com/r.burke2/rab3d.html for another example of using Blender as a poor-man's CAD - and a fantastic PDF introduction/guide on doing so.
Example: When I decided to make my welder trolley, I looked at and modeled a few designs, I then picked the one I liked best and tweaked it's proportions until I was most happy and then made it...
Now, before you read any further, I should warn that Blender does not meet the requirements of someone wanting a CAD application....
It is a 3D artists' modeler/animation/render/etc - not a CAD application (and it doesn't try to be).
Despite all that, some *other* people reading this thread might find it as useful as I have, because...
1. The price is right. (Truly free - not a trial, or limited edition).
2. Amazingly powerful 3D-artist application, which has an typically steep learning curve. (No I don't have any motive for plugging it)
3. You can easily use it for (optionally photo-realistic) visualisation. Eg. model something, look at from every angle while making adjustments - until you like what you see (my main use)
4. Despite being primarily for artistic pursuits, you can actually do some CAD-like precision modeling. However, it is a very painful and slow compared to using a proper CAD application. (but there really aren't any "good" CAD options when you cannot afford big $$$ and rule out pirating)
Check out http://homepage.ntlworld.com/r.burke2/rab3d.html for another example of using Blender as a poor-man's CAD - and a fantastic PDF introduction/guide on doing so.
Example: When I decided to make my welder trolley, I looked at and modeled a few designs, I then picked the one I liked best and tweaked it's proportions until I was most happy and then made it...
greyshirtguy
Persistent Learner
- Messages
- 150
Fixer:
I feel compelled to suggest to you that Blender will not be "EXACTLY" what you need, however it may well be a good "do-able compromise".
That way you won't spend many hours climbing the steep learning curve just to discover that it is not a CAD program, and does lack the CAD features that make parametric design changes as easy as the proper CAD packages do.
If you can afford a proper CAD package (or are prepared to use alternatively licensed ones!) then you most likely will appreciate them much more.
That said, Blender may be a good choice if (like me) you lack $$$ and have (for some strange reason) decided not to pirate those wonderful pro packages.
If you do learn well how to use the program you then can kludge your way around the lack of CAD features and slowly (and sometimes painfully) perform "computer aided design" (mainly, visualisation).
If you do decide to give it a try, I would recommend the following guides to help you with the learning curve:
Engineers Guide to Precision Modeling in Blender:
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/r.burke2/precision_modelling2.html
(This has a good intro to Blender as well)
The free "Blender Basics" video series (set of 5) at:
http://blenderunderground.com/
The intro might be a bit corny - but watching good training videos is often easier than reading guides (especially when getting started), and the content and quality of these videos is as A++
I feel compelled to suggest to you that Blender will not be "EXACTLY" what you need, however it may well be a good "do-able compromise".
That way you won't spend many hours climbing the steep learning curve just to discover that it is not a CAD program, and does lack the CAD features that make parametric design changes as easy as the proper CAD packages do.
If you can afford a proper CAD package (or are prepared to use alternatively licensed ones!) then you most likely will appreciate them much more.
That said, Blender may be a good choice if (like me) you lack $$$ and have (for some strange reason) decided not to pirate those wonderful pro packages.
If you do learn well how to use the program you then can kludge your way around the lack of CAD features and slowly (and sometimes painfully) perform "computer aided design" (mainly, visualisation).
If you do decide to give it a try, I would recommend the following guides to help you with the learning curve:
Engineers Guide to Precision Modeling in Blender:
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/r.burke2/precision_modelling2.html
(This has a good intro to Blender as well)
The free "Blender Basics" video series (set of 5) at:
http://blenderunderground.com/
The intro might be a bit corny - but watching good training videos is often easier than reading guides (especially when getting started), and the content and quality of these videos is as A++
storm monkey
Cluless Expert!
- Messages
- 210
Thought I'd share some of my "hobby" project work, in Pro/E. It's a long way from finished, and too many unknowns to complete until I have space and a donor vehicle, so don't be too harsh just yet
Just wanted to show the sort of things you cab do. Take a look here for some of the more advanced functions.
Phil
Just wanted to show the sort of things you cab do. Take a look here for some of the more advanced functions.Phil
