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  #1  
Old 09-11-2014, 05:49 AM
gpoehlein's Avatar
gpoehlein gpoehlein is offline
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Location: Evansville, Indiana
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Default 3D design software

Well, I just got my new 3D printer (Deezmaker Bukito) and finished putting it together. Next I have to power it up and run it throught its paces and calibrate it, then I can start printing with it! I know I can download project files from Thingiverse (Doug Holverson posted a BT-50 version of the Stine/Carlile Mark nose cone - might be my first real print), but I ultimately want to design my own parts. Anyone here have experience with 3D CAD programs for designing pieces and have any recommendations. So far, the best I have found is AutoDesk's 123D Design, but is this the best for doing precision design work? (These have to be precise enough to fit body tubes and other parts.)

Recommendations, please?
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  #2  
Old 09-12-2014, 10:22 AM
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JumpJet JumpJet is offline
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I use Auto Cad at Estes for all my rocket 3D stuff. I rapid prototype everything before it is sent off for tooling. Other really good software is ProE or Solid Works which I also use. These three packages are high end in price. Unless you need to do easily transition from say a square cross section to a round cross section any of the less expensive cad software packages out there that lets you create a solid model will work for you. Most Rapid prototype and CNC router machines use STL files to make the parts from so as long as your software can export STL files you should be ok.



John Boren
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Old 09-12-2014, 11:21 AM
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I use Lightwave 3D.
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Old 01-10-2015, 10:46 PM
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Quasar Quasar is offline
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Blender can export to an stl file and best of all, it's free. Would be worth a shot.

www.blender.org
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  #5  
Old 01-10-2015, 11:05 PM
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ghrocketman ghrocketman is offline
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BOOTLEGS are 'highly illegal'

I HONESTLY don't think I have ever seen a legally purchased copy of AutoCad or PhotoShop for that matter on anyone's personal (non business) home computer, but they must be out there.

I think it would behoove the major design software companies to offer a 'lite' version with say 75% functional equivalency of their programs for home/hobbyist (non commercial) use only for say 5 to 10 cents on the dollar compared to the full 'commercial/business' versions.

It would be beneficial two-fold:
1) It would cut way down on software piracy 'Bootlegs'
2) It would generate positive revenue for the companies as a whole
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  #6  
Old 02-11-2015, 05:48 AM
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gpoehlein gpoehlein is offline
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For what it is worth, I've settled on OpenSCAD - there is a bit of a learning curve since it is more of a programming language rather than a CAD or draw style program, but is pretty powerful once you get the hang of it. I've designed a couple nose cones, the reducer for the Black Brant II, and just finished a wing dihedral cutting jig that looks promising. If an object can be described as a series of cylinders, spheres and cubes (and stretched, rotated, and even distorted) built upon and subtracted from each other, you can make the shape in OpenSCAD. And the program is totally free and open source.
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  #7  
Old 02-11-2015, 09:26 PM
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rocketguy101 rocketguy101 is online now
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Another freebie, called FreeCAD will allow drawing arcs, circles, lines, etc. You can extrude and revolve the shapes and export STL files. I just played with drawing a cone, exported to STL, and then opened it up with SolidWorks. Not sure if you can adjust the mesh setting, as I have not played with it beyond the 5min to create this part, but it looks promising. Available here
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  #8  
Old 02-11-2015, 11:33 PM
DavidQ DavidQ is offline
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I use FreeCAD to design my parts for the 3D printer. It's pretty cool that you don't need to make the nose cones hollow. All you need to do is design a solid model, and then use the slicing software (which likely came with your 3D printer) to adjust the wall thickness. As rocketguy101 mentions, that makes it pretty easy to make cones with simple drawing operations.
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