Cad Program for cylindrical shapes.

Comments

• LoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537

  2008-07-02 10:20 edited 2008-07-02 10:20

  With CAD, you pretty much get what you pay for. Unless you really are into reprograming the software to do what you want. AutoCAD seems to remain at the top of the list.
  
  The real question is do you want to pay or do you want free software?
  
  If this is a simple cylinder, without a lot of complex appendages, I imagine you can get this done fairly easily.
  
  When it come to CAD, I keep having to ask if I really need to do this with a computer or can I simply get the task done faster with a sheet of paper and a pencil. There is always the scanner to allow me to store it in digital form.
  
  One can often use a CAD program to overlay a scaned image and trace it with nice crisp, clean lines. Then just print out the overlay as a presentation image.
  
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  PLEASE CONSIDER the following:
  
  Do you want a quickly operational black box solution or the knowledge included therein?······
  

  ···················· Tropically,····· G. Herzog [noparse][[/noparse]·黃鶴 ]·in Taiwan
• Dgswaner Posts: 795

  2008-07-02 12:39 edited 2008-07-02 12:39

  I was actually hoping for an expensive program with a free trial. That's a good Idea about doing it on paper. I know there is a program out there that can do it, but I might have to settle for more conventional methods.
  
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  "A complex design is the sign of an inferior designer." - Jamie Hyneman, Myth Buster
  
  DGSwaner
• Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514

  2008-07-02 16:29 edited 2008-07-02 16:29

  Take a look at Rhino. It has an UnrollSrf command that will do what you want. You can download a fully-functional trial version for free.
  
  -Phil
  
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  'Still some PropSTICK Kit bare PCBs left!
• skylight Posts: 1,915

  2008-07-02 19:15 edited 2008-07-02 19:15

  A 3d shape unfolding program
  
  http://www.crocodile-clips.com/Our_Products/Mathematics/Yenka__3D_Shapes/
• John Bond Posts: 369

  2008-07-03 10:00 edited 2008-07-03 10:00

  Alibra offers a free trial but it has a very steep learning curve...
  http://www.alibre.com/
  
  It also has a sheet metal design option.
  
  Good luck
  
  John Bond
  
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• LoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537

  2008-07-04 13:26 edited 2008-07-04 13:26

  I studied architecture before personal computers existed, and the steep learning curve is still a barrier.
  
  CAD programs are really useful as front end software for CNC production or really big team design projects. But I still can get more done with a T-square and a triangle if it is a one time project.
  
  Still, I really love Eagle for circuit boards and schematics. It is definitely solid software for such.
  
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  PLEASE CONSIDER the following:
  
  Do you want a quickly operational black box solution or the knowledge included therein?······
  

  ···················· Tropically,····· G. Herzog [noparse][[/noparse]·黃鶴 ]·in Taiwan
• Dgswaner Posts: 795

  2008-07-06 05:43 edited 2008-07-06 05:43

  I use autocad on a daily basis, I find it hard not to draw up every thing before I start a project. my intern hooked me up with a copy of Rhino so now I just need to finish the design. thanks for all the input.
  
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  "A complex design is the sign of an inferior designer." - Jamie Hyneman, Myth Buster
  
  DGSwaner
• LoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537

  2008-07-06 15:56 edited 2008-07-06 15:56

  Thanks, I'll take a look at Rhino.
  
  There just tends to be a lot of professional software that has a huge learning curve before you get productive. People tend to consider it first because it is so powerful.
  
  ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
  PLEASE CONSIDER the following:
  
  Do you want a quickly operational black box solution or the knowledge included therein?······
  

  ···················· Tropically,····· G. Herzog [noparse][[/noparse]·黃鶴 ]·in Taiwan