can any of you point me in the direction of a basic tutorial of 3d modeling?

I'm using "T-flex parametric CAD student edition" if that helps you out at all.

Thanks-

Eric

 

http://www.cadtutor.net/

Ive never heard of that program, but youtube it and see what you find. Some of the guys on that site know more than I do about advanced 3D so use them if you get stuck

If you have a question about AutoCAD 3D, Id be glad to help

 

Ugh...never heard of it. Like mentioned, there's a few of us 3D literate. I've worked over the last 18years in:

ACADr10 through r2010
3DStudios R2-R4
3DSMax r1.2 through r8
All Solidworks releases
PDMS 12
Adobe Photoshop r2 through CS4
Adobe Illustrator 9 through CS3
Unigraphics r10 through NX6
ProE Wildfire

So if you need help, like mentioned youtube, google, or keep posting here.

 

Also never heard of it. I've used:

Solidworks
Pro/E Wildfire
Autodesk Inventor

Like other have said Google/Youtube it and see what you find.

 

That's new to me too. I've only worked with the Autodesk programs and Solidworks

 

well, since nobody has heard of the program I'm currently using(it was the free edition), is there a particular program you would recommend for someone trying to learn how to use it in their spare time?


Thanks-

Eric

 

Solidworks is pretty user friendly and follows the common 3D modeling methods used by most programs

 

how much does solidworks cost? I've tried looking on their website and can't find a price.

Thanks-

Eric

 

I get 24/7 access to it for free thanks to the school I'm attending. Then again, the tuition probably makes up for that. lol

I'm actually using SW right now.

 

You can try Google Sketchup. I haven't really used it very much but it will work for basic modeling.

 

solidworks will typically set you back about $3000 per licence

 

Student edition is around $90

 

Google Sketchup is ok, I find it hard to work with but then again it is free. My vote would be to get Autodesk Inventor. I got an old edition I grabbed from my high school. I love it but then again I was trained on it but yes it's big money. If you’re not using this in a profession I wound stick with free programs. So my 2nd vote would be Blender.

I have a Linux computer that I have built and I use GIMP for Image editing and Blender for 3D CAD both are FREE. Will note that Blender is kind seen more as a "3D game/animation developer" not as a CAD though I have used it as a effective 3D modeling, just uses the game/animation developer to gain more popularity.
Blender is pretty good and they have videos and stuff to help you learn on their website and youtube. ALSO they do work on windows so you would be set.
http://www.blender.org/
http://www.gimp.org/

What are you going to be doing with it? That may help decide what you need.

 

Ive used AutoCAD and Inventor and they both work really well but it probably depends what you're using it for. They also have some pretty good tutorials but the cost isn't worth it unless you're using it for business, i get it free through school.

 

I met the R&D guy behind Google's sketchup. After I heard how / why they came to develop that offering I wanted to tell him 1) He should do us all a favor and throw himself off a cliff 2) I thing his goal personally is physcotic at best and 3) I wouldn'g give his program the time of day, nor give away any model I developed. His response "Oh".

 

I was able to get on the phone with someone at solidworks today, and their base package starts at about $4000! that kicks out solidworks. I just have an array of ideas I would like to get down on paper in detail, and I thought it would be nice way to be able to share ideas and see how things would come together.

 

PM me some .jpg scans, pdf's of your work, powerpoints (.ppt's) and I'll work with you to get you a 3D and 2D file you can take off with. I enjoy designing anything really, especially our cars.

 

Google's sketchup is not that bad of a program plus it is young. While by reading your post I would guess you know CAD, I can tell your not and know nothing about being a programmer. Software even that basic could still run around a $100 on the shelf. Programming is expensive, that is why all these CAD programs cost big money. To tell him to throw himself off a cliff for making the program is pure stupidity. His responds should have been a look of amusement at someone that is so blind of what it takes to get the program he loves so much. Will sketchup be better then AutoCAD? Not likely, it's freeware and doesn’t have the support to be or money. Could it? It’s possible; Linux has shown that with the amount of servers that run it over windows.

 

I'll keep this in mind, but at the same time, I would like nothing more than to be able to change things on the fly, and to be able to say "I did that" If you know what I'm saying.

What did the guy at Google say he devoloped the progam for that was so extreme?

 

i dont know, but google sketchup is a terrible excuse for a program.
i have a student licence of autocad that still works somehow... it should have run out 2 years ago, but im not complaining.
i also have a corporate version of solid works with most of the goodies
i also would be more than happy to help you get some ideas down.

if you download e-drawings, you can view solidworks and other files in 3d and rotate them and zoom just like you would in solidworks. i believe its free, but i may be wrong.

try inventor... its a good program and much less than solid works.
solid works is $4000 for a reason.
it can literally do just about anything, including stress tests, mold flow simulations, air flow simulations... its that good.
inventor is basically just like solidworks, but without all the simulation capabilities.
it does all the modeling and assembling, and you can easily do cool videos of your projects, but its a lot cheaper.
i want to say a year licence is $300 or something like that.
a perpetual licence (doesnt expire) is big bucks though.


you could also try older programs like catia
parametric programs are the best IMO.
stay away from surface modeling or vector based programs...
unless you just want to do simple things, they are a lot of work to do something simple...
then again, it may suit you better. who knows, i am just used to parametric style programs.
AUTOcad can also do modeling, but its sort of a tack-on feature and is a bit clumsy IMO

you might also take a look at BRL-CAD... its free and lots of people say its good.
ive never tried it, so i cant comment, but give it a shot


http://friendzetta.blogspot.com/2009...ions-free.html

heres a bunch of ideas
look at alibra design express near the bottom...
looks promising

 

I second the use of Inventor. If you can get AutoCAD as well, it really helps out in Inventor. You can do all the quick 2D stuff in AutoCAD and then import it into Inventor to do the 3D stuff. And Inventor can do some basic FEA as well.

I've used AutoCAD, Inventor, ProE and several BIM programs and I liked the AutoCAD Inventor combo the best.

Now if could just figure out Mastercam...

 

Check ebay for low cost higher end programs. Full versions of 08 AutoCAD can be had for under $500

AutoCAD drawing of freeform modeling preference is mostly user opinion. Most people like the true 3D modeling over absolutes though, but great results can be had from either

 

This program is free. Been using it for a couple years now.

http://www.alibre.com/

 

I've also never heard of that program. I generally use AutoCAD 08, SW04 and MasterCAMX. Takes some getting used to, but favor the CAM program since it will allow me to create toolpaths and models just like SolidWorks (files can be easily transferred between them as well).