Pushing the envelope

[Erock482]

I'd been considering a split down the middle print strategy, but hadn't jumped on it due to concerns with how the joint would look. Im impressed how clean it is on the side, I'm assuming you did a little touch up sanding to flatten both surfaces and make the match?

[narrowminded]

Let me add that doing a few of the beginner tutorials for the program you're trying to learn, following them through from start to finish, helps a LOT to grasping the concepts.  Sometimes it takes doing the same tutorial several times over but eventually it clicks.  What starts as confusion begins to make sense as you see how the program works with the information you've input.  If you could graph the learning curve it would be a very slightly rising slope line for quite a distance and then will turn a tight radius 90 heading vertical.  There's an aha moment and the rest becomes fun. 

[bbussey]

This is very helpful Bryan, but to the beginner it is still not very intuitive.  I guess visualizing what shapes to use, and how to manipulate them is something that has to be learned by experience.  I learned that especially with the simpler CAD programs (like TinkerCAD), you have to learn to make "tool objects' which you then use to "subtract" or remove areas from object you are designing in order to produce the specific shape you are designing.

I guess I wasn’t clear enough. By “seeing objects as geometric shapes” I mean that you shouldn’t look at the entire object as a whole as that is too daunting for anyone no matter how experienced. Break it down visually into a collection of geometric shapes (or more accurately, multiple collections of geometric shapes grouped together) and concentrate on each of those. Think of it as a large Lego project. My wife built the Lego two-foot tall Empire State Building last year and was having trouble starting (1,800 parts) until she started visualizing each sub-assembly instead of the entire building. Once she did that, she breezed through assembly. She later added the lighting which required some strategic disassembly and reassembly to install.

[peteski]

That is a beautiful model, and love the lighting!

I do understand that the object we are designgin needs to be broken down into simpler shapes which make up the  object.

What I was trying to say in my post was that the more basic CAD programs have very basic tools for creating complex shapes.  I've been following 3D printing posts here and on another forum and as I understand in programs such as TinkerCAD and even SketchUp, you need to start with some simple shape and in order to make it into what you need, you have to create other objects which you will then use to"take away" from the original simple object in order to arrive at the desired shape.  You use those secondary shapes to "chisel" or "trim" off parts of the original object (like sculptor who takes a piece of granite and chisels away all the unwanted rock, creating a scuplture).

[bbussey]

That's essentially true.  You start with your base part which will be an extrusion of a sketch on the starting plane of your choice.  Then you will continue to add extrusions from additional sketches, or "chip away" at the part with cut-extrusions based on additional sketches.  The general process is the same regardless of the CAD program you are using.  Some of the more advanced programs will include "shortcuts" to achieve desired features, but the end result usually can be achieved in all CAD programs but with additional effort.

I'll start another thread later tonight with a screenshots of a project starting, which will help clarify the process.

[John]

This is something I started tinkering with today ..  so far I used triangle shape, and square shape from tinkercad .. lots of work yet to do .. but it illustrates the point of geometric shapes

[Sumner]

I'm a huge fan of Fusion 360 since it can be had for free if you aren't using it to design prints you are going to make money off of.  If you are it is probably still worth looking into buying it.  At this point I would probably buy it if I had to since I'm so addicted to it. 

Lots of online tutorials also and fairly easy to use in my mind.  Within a month I was turning out projects worthy (for me) to print and use or save to use later.  I've got a lot of them up on thingiverse.com ( https://www.thingiverse.com/sumner/designs ).  I'm not where some of these guys are designing loco's and cars but still making useful stuff.  I got as much satisfaction out of some of my first simple projects as I do with some of my later designs. 

Don't think you need to start with a simple CAD program, just use the simple stuff with a better CAD program and move to the more advanced features over time.  Download it (free) use it for a bit and make up your mind.  I use to use Sketch-up and still do for 2 dimensional drawings but use Fusion for all my 3D printer stuff.

You do need to renew it each year but that only takes a few minutes and as long as you aren't using it commercially it remains free.  Here is a link to the renewal but think it has a link if you are downloading it for the first time....

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/fusion-360/learn-explore/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/How-to-renew-your-hobbyist-enthusiast-license-for-Fusion-360.html

Sumner

[peteski]

Thanks guys.  A basics tutorial will be most welcome Bryan.