Model Boat Mayhem
Technical, Techniques, Hints, and Tips => 3D CAD Design & Printing => Topic started by: mermod on June 10, 2013, 01:38:30 am
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Hi all, I currently design my models in 2D in CorelDraw but would really like to do some 3d modelling so I could put the model together on screen, any suggestions for 3d software that doesn't cost the earth and will export parts to CorelDraw?
Phill
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i been using google sketchup. its free. easy to use. just need to see if anyone has made a plugin to export a model to what you want.
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Export from CorelDraw as .dxf or .dwg, then import [/size]the 2D outline into SU.[/color]
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Turbocad aint bad either. Theres a reasonable amount of online tutorials for it.
Not that i condone it, but it can also be downloaded for free <*<
Dan
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if you have an open university email address you can get a 'student' version of autoCAD.
Grendel
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autoCAD is a horrible 3D software in my opinion. Its a 2D package with a 3D bit added in. Not a true 3D software.
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I'll second that. There are even better 2D programs as well, and I,ve been using it since v2.8
:-))
vnkiwi
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used very basic 3d for autocad when creating sections from a 3d model in order to then make a 2d shape. Worked ok but never really explored autocad.
Turbocad is ok, could be better but seems to do what i want it.
What you really want is rhino with a few addons such as t-splines
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true, I tend to prefer Bentley microstation for 3D, the rendering is easier for a start, but as a trained draughtsman autocad does the job, 90% of 3D is knowing how to use the software to do what you want, autocad isnt intuitive here, but it can be done.
Grendel
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I've used TurboCAD 2D/3D and hated it, I then found FreeCAD, as the name suggests its free and can be downloaded from here -
http://www.freecadweb.org/ (http://www.freecadweb.org/)
You can draw 2D shapes and then extrude or rotate them to produce 3D objects. Alternately, and I find easier, you can work with 3D shapes.
The photo below shows the dan buoys I drew in FreeCAD and had printed by Shapeways -
Photo missing - admin
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Friend of mine has just bought a new 3d printer: Flashforge® 3D Printer Finder Single Extruder Printer
He's recommended TinkerCad .... good enough to start with?
https://www.tinkercad.com/
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Hi All,
I am lucky enough to use SolidWorks 2016 for work, which means I can also use it at home for boats :-))
But proving very popular in the 3D printing community is this offering from AutoDesk: http://www.123dapp.com/design, free to use as far as I know and many people say good things about it.
Alex
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Friend of mine has just bought a new 3d printer: Flashforge® 3D Printer Finder Single Extruder Printer
He's recommended TinkerCad .... good enough to start with?
https://www.tinkercad.com/ (https://www.tinkercad.com/)
Tinkercad is good
I use it for quick bits on the 3d printer. It has limitations but still very useable and more importantly very quick to pick up
Have a look at my how to in the 3d printing section
http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,54247.0.html
reminds me I must move on to Part 2 :embarrassed:
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Hello
Have a look Fusion 360 by Autodesk its probably the best 3d modelling program and theres plenty of youtube videos to get you learning....
I've designed a trawler hull for printing see my post...
http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,59547.0.html
Cheers
Marty
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I use Draftsight its free you download it and just have to register it once a year, only downside is the emails offering the full version >>:-( its only 2d but then I import it into sketchup.
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autoCAD is a horrible 3D software in my opinion. Its a 2D package with a 3D bit added in. Not a true 3D software.
When I did the 3d cormorant for another member, it was using AutoCAD - its referred to as solids, I find it easy to use but I am simple, it's expensive but I used it for a previous employer, not the last one, for the best one I did 17 years for.
Just ask 'alan' if it printed ok and what he had to do to adjust it to fit.
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As a time served draughtsman from the 1960's I grew up with pencil and draughting machines of various sorts. Come the 80's I moved to the old AutoCAD11 an early 2d only package. Gradually upgraded and spent my last couple of years using AutoCAD Inventor suite 2009. A full 3d package (Mechanical Desktop being the 2d) and used this to design many parts and also plastic injection mould tools and this was very satisfactory. Although now retired I keep my hand in and am using Inventor 2017
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Well my home use licence for Bently microstation has expired, so I spent 2 1/2 hours last night downloading and installing autoCAD 2018 - once I got into it the 3d capabilities in there seem to do what I want. within 20 minutes I had produced a solid cylinder as a test piece and saved it to stl, then printed it overnight. yes it all works. yet to see if I can inset text into items, once I can do that it will be able to do everything i need really, this morning a screw thread was produced, not too bad after less than 45 minutes practice. the advantage is I have used both microstation and autocad for 2d work for maybe 20 years now - 3d up to now has generally been done in microstation. I guess a couple of hours practice will see me up to speed.
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I'm using fusion 360, not knowing much about cad i find it very easy to learn and follow the video on youtube.
its a very good program and free. :)
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To add text etc in AutoCAD Inventor, start a 2d sketch and put in the text. Close sketch and use Emboss command to apply to 3d model.
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Well the challenge I set myself was a helical gear, using AutoCAD.
I have 2d dxf files for meccano gears which is where I started on a 19 tooth gear, I am pleased to say after an hour or two of tinkering and looking up commands I managed to produce a set of neat helical gears (in left and right hand versions to mesh together straight, If I want a right angle drive I may need to adjust the tooth angle a little (at present it offsets one tooth spacing top to bottom).
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picture -
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After a lot of tests I´m using Fusion 360 now.
It´s free for Hobbyists, you just have to sign up once a year or renew your "hobbyist licence".
Perfect, since it´s a professional product and also has a CAM package included.
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just downloading it using my educational login and I get a 3 year licence. once it finishes installing I will give it a go.
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I had intended just sticking with using Microsoft Visio, a 2D drawing program, which is fine for the hard chined hulls I've drawn up so far. Didn't really want to learn another program.
But I've recently started drawing up plans that has a hull like a ship's life boat and I don't have any lines, just one cross-section. I'm sure I could come up with something but this seems like an ideal time to get into 3D.
Grendel - how did you get on with Fusion 360?
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to be honest as a full blown CAD jockey, I found fusion 360 too limiting for what i want to be able to do, I would much rather do the job properly in full CAD than use tools that almost give me the control I want, but dont.
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Thanks Grendel.
I just want to do enough to draw up the frames, so perhaps something like Sketchup will do the job.
I was an experienced draughtsman (architectural) but then became a project manager so it wasn't worthwhile learning CAD for the few drawings I was doing.
Chris
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Dont get me wrong, you can do the job in fusion 360, its just that I am used to the ways of full CAD and find that easier to achieve what I want.