The Ship Model Forum

DrPR wrote:Rusty,

They are beautiful instructions! I'm sure the kit builders will really appreciate all of the time you put into them.

I know what you mean about drawing rigging. Rigging blocks and tying knots with 3D CAD can be very frustrating! Can you imaging drawing a square-rigger in 3D CAD?

I sometimes use the "Extrude along a curve" function to create pretty good looking ropes and wires, but I build up block and tackle one section at a time.

Phil

DrPR wrote:Rusty,

The license I have for AccuTrans is perpetual. I have been using it for several years. I haven't upgraded in a while so I don't know about costs there.

The leak patch programs are another thing. All I have seen are associated with the 3D printer software, and they are very expensive. I don't recall any names now. I found them a few years ago on sites that discuss STL and 3D printing.

Maybe there are cheaper programs now.

Phil

DrPR wrote:Rusty,

As of now DesignCAD doesn't export STLs. However, it can be done. I have an inexpensive ($20) program called AccuTrans that is only slightly short of amazing. It will import a R12 DXF file and perform magic to turn it into many different file formats, including STL. The resulting STLs are beautiful! AccuTrans will allow you to select single layers or combinations of layers to export in a STL file. It also translates the other file types into DXF for import into DesignCAD.

I don't know why it only accepts the fairly old R12 DXF format, and not something newer, or DWGs, but it does an excellent job of translating the DXF file. I have prepared STLs for another company and they have used them to make parts for preparing molds.

This is not a pain free process. You must be very careful to have no "leaks" in solids (gaps between surfaces). Many 3D printer drivers will reject a file if surfaces are not joined perfectly. With DesignCAD if you build up solids surface by surface* you must ensure adjoining grids have exactly the same number of facets per side, and common grid points. This takes a bit of practice.

If you create complex solids by subtracting "tool" solids from a "work" piece you will always have a leak-free part.

* For those not familiar with DesignCAD it was originally created by a mechanical engineer who played rather loose with the rules. You can construct solids surface by surface, and then combine the bunch into a single solid. Sometimes this is a lot easier than trying to slice away bits and pieces from an existing solid. You can explode solids, fiddle with the pieces, and then put them back together again. You can mix 1D, 2D and 3D objects to create just about anything you can imagine, including all sorts of impossible objects like solids with missing sides, etc. (Escher and Dali would have loved it!). These things will play havoc with NC machines and stereolith printers.


Phil

Fritz wrote:Rusty

I'm not too familiar with Design Cad. However if you check your file export menu, and you have the ability to export a *.stl file, then you have the technology to do so. The .stl file is a polygonal shell format that is standard for most forms of CNC and SLA. There are several 3d print companies that have websites, do small order projects, and have online quoting using the .stl file. Maybe a more expensive, but definitely less time consuming, method for master patterns. Especially where you are making 3D files for the instructions anyhow. It may be worth it to use that work to cut down on the master pattern making as well.