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Thanks Monty. Alibre was the tool I was thinking of.
Never seen Rhino but I will take a look. Building an airplane is sort of an
excuse to learn the tool. I suspect that I could design/build what I want
without it. But it might help me visualize the end result before I go to far
down the wrong path. Clearly I'm not going to invest huge $ in a cad package to
build a one off.
Mike
Sent: Monday, February 08, 2010 7:07 AM
Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: CAD program
Mike,
If you are going to design an airplane I would go
with Rhino http://www.rhino3d.com/. Not
free. Not parametric. But you will have an easier time transitioning to it with
your experience. It is capable of doing the surfaces necessary for an aircraft.
Autocad experience translates nicely into Rhino. The solid modeling is pretty
crappy in Rhino, but I never use it.
It is a very good and cost effective package for
doing parametric solid modeling. It also has a sheet metal module. The free
version is not the most capable thing in the world. I think you can upgrade to
the hobby version for very little money. I have the full blown professional
package. I like it. It will do 95% of what Solid Works will do for much less
money.
If you need to be able to do real parametric
surfacing for something like an aircraft, forget all the mid range packages
and ProE, nothing short of Catia or Unigraphics is going to work
satisfactorily. For either of these you will be spending $20K+ and about
$4K/year on maintenance.
Makes Rhino look REALLY GOOD.
Parametrics can be more trouble than they are worth
with complex models.
If I really must have a complex surface with
parametric detail, I create surfaces in Rhino and import them to Alibre. I add
all the parametric detail there.
Try everything else first, but you won't regret
spending the money on Rhino. I've been using it since Rhino 1.0.
Monty
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Sunday, February 07, 2010 11:41
AM
Subject: [FlyRotary] CAD program
Some time back I think it was Monty Roberts who posted
about a free parametric modeling software package. I lost the link (and name
of the software) when my last PC died. I didn’t grab the software at the time
because didn’t feel I had the time to learn to use it. But I'm interested in
learning now. Monty (or anyone else for that matter) do you still have a link?
Did anyone dive in at the time and try it? If so, I'd like a little feedback.
I have lots of experience with 2D Autocad and a little experience with both
ProE and Solidworks.
I'm starting to think seriously about my next project.
I've given up waiting for Van to finish his RV-11 motorglider and I've just
about convinced myself that I can design and build my own version. Would like
to do some doodling in a 3D cad program.
Mike Wills
RV-4 N144MW
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