Thread: Free 3D CAD

Originally Posted by Scissors

EDIT: Oh, and Sketchup deals with dimensions perfectly well.

I've had some fun with this last night and must say its easy to use. Now the only way I can see that you can use dimensions is to keep using the tape measure which seems to be a real hassle.

Is there an easier way?

Originally Posted by boban

I've had some fun with this last night and must say its easy to use. Now the only way I can see that you can use dimensions is to keep using the tape measure which seems to be a real hassle.

Is there an easier way?

Immediately after you draw a line or object, enter the dimension, for example after drawing a line type 80 and the line will be 80 long (depending on what you set your default unit to)

In the case of a rectangle enter 80,40 for the two sides.

Cheers

Dave

Originally Posted by boban

I've had some fun with this last night and must say its easy to use. Now the only way I can see that you can use dimensions is to keep using the tape measure which seems to be a real hassle.

Is there an easier way?

Click on Tools and Dimensions. This lets you place dimension lines adjacent to any part of the object. Like this (excuse the imperial dimensions , I drew this before I learned how to set it for metric). Is this what you meant?

Every now and then, I look at this thread and wonder what a can of worms I've unleashed. (or jow or anyone else who found this stuff before me)

This seems like it's fired the imagination of everyone really, finally one that's easy to use!

Cheers,

P

Originally Posted by bitingmidge

Every now and then, I look at this thread and wonder what a can of worms I've unleashed. (or jow or anyone else who found this stuff before me)

This seems like it's fired the imagination of everyone really, finally one that's easy to use!

Cheers,

P

My head is spinning, I think I will get out my grandsons leggo kit, I'm a more practical person.

yeah Midge, what have you done ???

I've only used one commercial 3D CAD package but seem many more and from my limited experience I must say this one seems pretty good. Ease of use is very high on my list. And this ones free !

I haven't had a much of a play with it yet, been checking out the videos but Driver has already solved one of my questions, thanks Driver

I'll have to D/L the full blown version and give that a try. Be interested to see if it can do auto fillet on edge selection etc, and to see how it compares with the solid works/ solid edge of the world.

Lots of good stuff to play with when i'm not in the shed (like when the rest of the family's watching my pet hate - big brother)

Cheers
Tony

Midge,

I have downloaded the free version, and will get into it, since it is so much easier for 3D representation than TurboCAD.

Before the free version appeared, I didn't think it was worthwhile to learn from the free eight hours of Sketchup 5 Pro, since it seemed too expensive to buy the program for almost $500.

I still prefer TurboCAD for 2D stuff though. Anyway, I think you will love Google Sketchup when the Mac version appears, which should be 'real soon now'.

Rocker

Originally Posted by Rocker

Anyway, I think you will love Google Sketchup when the Mac version appears, which should be 'real soon now'.r

I think it took two years for Google Earth to make the transition, so maybe by the time it happens I'll have the time to play!

P

Originally Posted by davo453

I am a long term Sketchup lover (I have version 5) it's ideal for quickly designing woodworking projects etc.

It can be very accurate but is not a a Turbo cad type design package but can export in various formats to that type of program.

I've used it for many things including an extremely accurate model of my house to the point that I can take measurements from the model instead of from the actual house.

In fact I initially found it a bit addictive and spent many hours modeling an assortment of objects, a prime example is the attached photo of my MP3 player, I've no idea why I did it but it's spot on (I'm a very sad case).

Cheers

Dave

I modelled my house - not to scale using Sketch on Saturday and despite a few finicky details liked it. It kept on filling in rectangles (drawn as individual lines) occasionally but not on others. Whilst I did not bother specifying widths and lengths of rooms, the tip to getting the heights the same was to of course specify them with the keypad.

Ok; so, if Sketchup is ideal for woodworking projects, I challenge the gurus to draw a reasonably accurate representation of my rocking chair, using Google Sketchup. The first person to succeed, and send me the file containing the drawing, will receive a free copy of my rocker plans, which, incidentally are in 2D, and were drawn using Autosketch. I have attempted to draw a 3D representation of my rocker in TurboCAD, but was defeated by the complexities involved, although I am sure it would be feasible for a TurboCAD guru.

So put up, or shut up about Sketchup being 'ideal' for woodwork plans.

Photos of my rocker are in my avatar, and in this thread http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...899#post300899 .

Rocker

Interesting challenge, I feel confident I can make a sketchup 3d model to look like that. Sketchup is a design tool though really and accuracy is secondary but possible.

Your chair has a lot of organic curves, which are always tough with any 3D digital modeling software.

I'll give it a go tonight (hopefully)

Cheers



Dave

Talk about the butterfly effect.
All this can of worms because I asked Midge (the architect) if he knew of an easy drawing program for a cripple to use. I suppose he found this sent the link to me, then posted this thread to share it with the rest of our "virtual family".
I'm about to download it. Usually I can't use such things, what with learning curves etc. But I'm buggered if I can turn my thoughts into pictures anyone else can understand using a pencil. So here goes nothing.
It's not like I've got anything else to do for the next month except gain weight.

Whoever wins Rockers offer should assign him all rights to the image

Originally Posted by Caliban

Talk about the butterfly effect.

Blame Caliban, I'm completely CAD illiterate, so it was a case of the blind looking for something the blinder could use!


Let this be a lesson to all those who respond "do a search" (although I havent' noticed too many of them around.

If I had done that, Caliban would still be looking, and you blokes would have had to follow jow's thread!

Cheers,

P