Free 3D design software options.

[peteski]

Ah, if you trace over plans in a bitmapped form it makes sense to keep the bitmap's size reasonably small.

[samusi01]

All of this re-sizing is just because of Sketchup.

Now this is making more sense. In Fusion, there is an option to 'calibrate' an image, i.e., specify a measurement on some portion of it. Accordingly, I tend to do all my work in scale as that helps me avoid designing details that will fail to print.

[sd80mac]

Now this is making more sense. In Fusion, there is an option to 'calibrate' an image, i.e., specify a measurement on some portion of it. Accordingly, I tend to do all my work in scale as that helps me avoid designing details that will fail to print.

I do this in Alibre as well. If you don't have scaled drawings, you could get relatively close with good front and side photos, and a few known dimensions.

Donnell

[JeffB]

Again AutoCAD don't care how small a circle I draw. 

Neither does Solid Works...  I also don't have to worry about whether or not a circle is a "circle", rather than a specified number of line segments (chords) to represent a circle (same could also be said of spherical 3D surfaces).

Not trying to rub it in...   Just surprised at how much of a compromise using Sketchup is, which makes what guys can do with it even more of an accomplishment.

Jeff

[sd80mac]

As with others here, I make my drawings in the scale that they will be printed. When adding this dimensions to the sketch, I use this formula:

prototype dimension/scale factor = scale dimension

I type it in the pop-up window, or whatever it is in your program, and the program automatically calculates the scale dimension. For instance, an EMD GP40 cab is approximately 10’, or 120” wide. So, when the program ask for a dimension number, I enter 120/87. Doing drawings this way still allows you to get all of the details as you would drawing at full scale, but also leaves room for allowances and limitations. Sometimes, 1:1 items when scaled down, become impractical.

Donnell

[GGNInNScale]

Hmmm.  I have used CAD programs for more than 30 years.  I just tried FreeCad Ver 0.21 to build models for my new resin 3D printer.  To say the least, unimpressed.  I even got so frustrated that i split the screen, ran a tutorial on the same version, entered the same keystrokes, and Nada.  It would jam on my version with lots of orange and complaints.  Back to AutoCad...

[GGNInNScale]

Hi to all   A follow-up.  I went online to check other programs for designing.  My son said he had had a poor experience with FreeCad also.  He uses Prusa FDM and resin printers.  He said "Try TinkerCad".  So, I downloaded it- it is an AutoDesk product- so it was kind of familiar.  Fired it up, watched a few minutes of a video, and started in.  In an hour, I had designed 10 different types of n-scale speaker cases- simple boxes, and larger volume internally-ported designs, then printed two sets in about 3 hours in the Anycubic Mono 2.  Another half hour to wash and bake the parts.  This is the way it should be....

[ednadolski]

how is it for things like say adding a raised wood grain pattern?  Those certainly can bring SketchUp to its knees....

Ed

[Chris333]

Isn't something like wood grain called 3D sculpting? I think programs like blender are for that.

[ednadolski]

I've used Blender to generate meshes for wood grains from photos, but they are so large that Sketchup cannot handle them.  Not just memory, I think that Sketchup's algorithms scale very poorly.  Sketchup also seems to have problems when importing .stl files. 

Blender is a PITA for doing most things wrt 3D modeling (JMHO)

Ed