Free 3D CAD

[JimG]

I've just picked up this pointer to another free 3D CAD program.

http://www.ptc.com/products/creo-elemen ... g-express/

I haven't tried it yet but might download it and see how good it is for our purposes.  There's a comparison page showing the differences between the free version and the full blown version here...

http://www.ptc.com/WCMS/files/111643/en ... _TS_EN.pdf

...which will give you some idea of what is missing in the free version.  The limit of 60 unique parts might be the major limitation.

Jim.

 

[28ten]

I have had a little play and it looks quite good. As always the free version is meant to entice you into buying the full works. most of these packages will work reasonably well it is just a matter of sticking with one and learning it properly

 

[JimG]

I've just picked up a reference to another free 3D CAD - Blender.  I remember downloading this program a couple of years ago to have a look at it,  but decided at the time to persevere with learning Rhino.  You can download it from

http://www.blender.org/download/get-blender/

It is an open source program and is an fully functioning 3D package with no restrictions.  The manual is >1500 pages and seems to cover things very well,  with tutorial sections in it.  I usually like to print manuals and I might have to save up for a few sets of printer cartridges for this one.    The program appears to be geared towards creating animations,  which I think was why I passed it by earlier.  There are also many tutorials on Youtube.  I've also checked and it can import and export DXF and STL files so should interface nicely with 3D printing and CNC setups.  I actually got a reminder about the program when reading a thread on 3D printing on RMWEB where the program has been used to produce files for 3D printing.

It might be worth it for me to see if it can do all I want since it will be cheaper than upgrading Rhino. 

Jim.

 

[Pugsley]

I tried to use Blender, but didn't get very far.  I found the user interface hard to get to grips with, and I think that's partly because it's a surface modeller, rather than a solid modelling program.  I've got on much better with TurboCAD, but have found that the basic version that I've got won't do fillets and a few other things that are really rather useful.  I'm probably going to get myself a copy of the Alibre personal edition, which will do everything I want.  It's not free, but quite reasonably priced for what it is.

(Edit - spelling)

 

[28ten]

Blender confused me! For what we want, history based, parametric modelling is the way to go and Alibre is the cheapest option. 123d from autodesk looks promising for a freebie and it's worth a download. I could knock up a panelled coachside in half an hour or so using it.

 

[JimG]

I can't now remember exactly why I didn't go further with Blender a couple of years ago,  but seeing your responses maybe gives me a hint.    I might have a look at the Alibre product.  I think I downloaded the trial version some time ago,  but by that time I was getting reasonably conversant with Rhino and didn't go further - but its price is attractive compared with the circa £1000 for others like Rhino and the 3D TurboCAD.

Jim.

 

[JimG]

I spent the morning digging around on the Internet getting as much information as I could on the Alibre Personal edition.  The free trial download is of the full professional version and I was trying to find out whether any of the drawing commands were not covered in the cheaper edition,  or whether the differences were in the additional facilities you get in the more expensive ones.  It does look as thoough all the drawing commands are the same in all versions.

However,  I came across references to Autodesk 123D while doing my hunting around and had a look at that.  It's free at the moment since it's a beta test version that is available,  but it looks as though Autodesk are aiming at the hobbiest/personal market so the price when it finally comes out should,  I hope,  be in the very low hundreds,  or maybe even below one hundred.

So I decided to have a look at that.  With no time limit apparent on the beta release,  it will give me all the time I need to get my brain around it.  The Alibre trial download is limited to thirty days and from previous experience with Rhino,  that might not be enough for me. 

123D is available from this URL

http://www.123dapp.com/

It is over 500Mbs in size and that expands to over 700Mbs on installation.

There is a short document on this URL describing the basics and there are also pointers to Youtube vidoes as well

http://www.123dapp.com/support

One thing I notice on 123D and Alibre is the comparatively sparse menu system compared with traditional CAD systems.  If I remember correctly,  SketchUp is a bit like that as well.

Jim.

 

[Pugsley]

Thanks for the heads up on the 123D application - it's downloading as I type this    I've had a quick look at the site and it does seem pretty useful, and currently better priced than the Alibre software, which I think is very reasonably priced at £120.

Jim - I think the main drawing difference in the Alibre Personal Edition is the inability to resize and reshape items by pushing and pulling, but most other functions are the same.  One thing I did notice is they say that the Personal Edition only has the 'basic' 2D toolset, but I don't know what they classify that as.  I'm quite careful about what I buy at the moment after discovering that the Deluxe version of TurboCAD has several useful 3D functions, like fillets, missing.  I guess the one advantage that Alibre has is a clear upgrade path if I decide I need the more advanced functions at a later date.  Sketchup is a bit like that as well, and I didn't get on too well with that either!

Edit - Added TurboCAD to make my sentence make a little more sense...

 

[28ten]

Thanks for the heads up on the 123D application - it's downloading as I type this    I've had a quick look at the site and it does seem pretty useful, and currently better priced than the Alibre software, which I think is very reasonably priced at £120.

Jim - I think the main drawing difference in the Alibre Personal Edition is the inability to resize and reshape items by pushing and pulling, but most other functions are the same.  One thing I did notice is they say that the Personal Edition only has the 'basic' 2D toolset, but I don't know what they classify that as.  I'm quite careful about what I buy at the moment after discovering that the Deluxe version has several useful 3D functions, like fillets, missing.  I guess the one advantage that Alibre has is a clear upgrade path if I decide I need the more advanced functions at a later date.  Sketchup is a bit like that as well, and I didn't get on too well with that either!

You will also find you need mates for assemblies which I think Alibre does - I havent had enough time playing with 123D to find out yet. The downfall with sketchup is that is not based on solid models, but for quick mockups you cant beat it. The other thing to bear in mind is that if you are designing in 3d with a view to making etched artwork you will still need to export to a dxf to get the geometry into your 2d cad application for laying out the phototool  tabs etc.
As an example in  a little job last week I was asked to take a rough sketch and turn it into a drawing for CNC routing and my workflow was - scan the sketch - shoot it into solidworks - model the piece - export each individual part to a dxf - produce cutlist and layout in Autocad LT- email to contractor for cutting.  The reason for using Autocad is the layering capabilities  for lasercutting/etching or routing, I believe Alibre can has an add on to drive CNC machines and  123D can export to .SAT and .STEP

there are some youtube clips for 123D http://autodesk.blogs.com/between_the_lines/2011/05/autodesk-123d-go-make-something.html

 

[Pugsley]

Everyone needs mates 

I'll be giving 123D a bit of a try over the next couple of days and let you all know how I get on.  I wasn't planning on using 3D modelling to generate etch artwork, although I can see the potential for that, wouldn't I need a sheet metal function for that though?  I think I'd have to get the Alibre Pro edition to get that, and that's near 600 quid.  Whilst I appreciate that's cheap for what it is, it's a lot of money to shell out.  With any luck, 123D will do that kind of thing.

You're right about Sketchup - I think I have a problem with surface modellers in general, I tend to think of solid objects rather than a set of faces.

 

[28ten]

You can use sheet metal folds, but it is not strictly necessary,  sometimes it is really handy to do an assembly of 'flat' parts, (brake gear would be a case in point) to check clearances etc.
looking at the specs I would say the Alibre personal edition is more than sufficient as long as you can export successfully, but I couldn't see a trial version on the site.

 

[Pugsley]

First impression of 123d is that is very good, more than capable of what I want to do, but pitifully slow.  I've got a 2.5GHz Core 2 Quad processor and 4 GB RAM, so it shouldn't be as slow as it is.  I'll give them some feedback about that.

Alibre PE will export to STL and DXF, so I guess it's OK in that regard.

 

[28ten]

I have just had a quick play and it is ok on my machine (3.3ghz i5 and 8gb ram) are you using 64 bit? and are the visual effects off? It does assemblies which is nice and I managed to knock this out in 10 minutes

 

[JimG]

I think the main drawing difference in the Alibre Personal Edition is the inability to resize and reshape items by pushing and pulling, but most other functions are the same.  One thing I did notice is they say that the Personal Edition only has the 'basic' 2D toolset, but I don't know what they classify that as.

I use AutoCAD LE for my 2D drafting - I got it many years ago and I'm used to the interface.  But for normal model railway work I don't use a huge range of facilities and the basic 2D functions in Alibre might be enough for me.  But if it imports DXF files,  I could use LT for 2D work and import to Alibre.

  I'm quite careful about what I buy at the moment after discovering that the Deluxe version of TurboCAD has several useful 3D functions, like fillets, missing.  I guess the one advantage that Alibre has is a clear upgrade path if I decide I need the more advanced functions at a later date.  Sketchup is a bit like that as well, and I didn't get on too well with that either!

I think it might have been digging around some time ago for TurboCAD which made me suspicious of what was in,  or more importantly what was not in, the stripped down personal versions.  I was looking for a fillet function which is quite flaky in the old version of Rhino I have and TurboCAD could have been an alternative.  I can't remember how I found out that it was missing in the cheap version - probably digging around in CAD forums.

I've just downloaded all the 123D PDF files and had a look at most of the videos on YouTube and will probably get my head into it on Friday - I've got to make some bits for a club layout for tomorrow evening which requires me slaving over a hot lathe during the day. 

Jim.

 

[JimG]

I have just had a quick play and it is ok on my machine (3.3ghz i5 and 8gb ram) are you using 64 bit? and are the visual effects off? It does assemblies which is nice and I managed to knock this out in 10 minutes.

I shall have to try to get somewhere near your CAD operational speed.

I've got a quad core 2.7G i5 with 4gB of RAM and a high speed graphics card (for grandson's PC games  ) so I might be OK.  I won't try it on my Netbook. 

Jim.

 

[28ten]

Jim, it is just a question of practice  the golden rule is to draw simple sketches and add features and not to try and do it all in one hit.

 

[JimG]

Don't want to muddy the investigative waters too much,  but just picked up note of another free 3D package on an Australian mailing list.  It's called Wings 3D and the site is here

http://www.wings3d.com/

I'm just posting this now while I remember it.    Back to looking at 123D 

Jim.

 

[28ten]

Don't want to muddy the investigative waters too much,  but just picked up note of another free 3D package on an Australian mailing list.  It's called Wings 3D and the site is here

http://www.wings3d.com/

I'm just posting this now while I remember it.    Back to looking at 123D 

Jim.

That has been round for a while, it looks as if it has a fairly small user base.
out of the freebies 123d looks the most promising although the interface is a bit confusing, but then im an old fart and I like a toolbar or even a ribbon 

 

[Pugsley]

I'm with you on that - I don't really like the 123D interface.  I have, therefore, made the possible mistake of downloading the Alibre trial, which is a mistake as I've found it a lot easier to use and the Pro version that I'm using is rather expensive.

I've managed to knock this up this evening though - the head and the start of the shank of an Oleo buffer for the tank projects:
[attachimg=1]

It's taken a little while, and this is the 3rd attempt, but that's more to do with my lack of experience in 3d design, rather than the program.  The program seems to be rather good, but I'd have to find out exactly what the Personal Edition didn't include compared to the Pro version before buying.  I like the price of the Autodesk program, but really don't like the interface, but may learn to live with it.

 

[28ten]

How have you made the buffer? Did you do a revolve?
Depending on what you wish to do, you end up having to balance ease of use and cost, if you intend doing a lot of modelling then it is worth the money.