"Robinson, Chad" wrote:

Paul, what 3D modeling tool do you use? If you've mentioned it
in the past I'm sorry, but I don't see any archives function and
haven't seen it mentioned.

I use Rhinoceros 3D. Easy to learn. If you can do three view drawings
you can do Rhino. A lot like early ACAD.I also use the Flamingo rendering.

http://www.rhino3d.com/
http://www.flamingo3d.com/


Paul Lamar

HarrisonYoung wrote:

Chad:

    I have just recently been through the process of comparing 
several (many) different 3d CAD packages for hobby use with a CNC
mill. After buying a student version of PTC's Pro/Engineer 
(AKA ProE, an otherwise $20,000 CAD program), I discovered that PTC
offers a FREE CAD program called Pro/Desktop Express (AKA ProD). 
It is great! I had spent more than 20 hours going through the
tutorial for ProE, and got to the point of being able to enter designs, 
but found the interface to be awkward, non-standard, and
inconsistent. I spent 3 hours with ProD and was designing with 
some proficiency. It is intuitive, has many amazing features, and
most of all IT'S FREE! There is a pay version of the program, 
but it doesn't really add much to the package. The free version is
essentially unlimited. I  prefer and use ProD even though I bought 
a copy of ProE. ProD files will not be directly compatible with
any other CAD package, but it can import and export many formats 
including .STL, .VRM, .DWG, and .DXF. Most CAD packages can
import/export one or more of these formats. I have attached an 
image of a design I'm working on in ProD. You can get ProD at:

http://www.ptc.com/appserver/it/icm/cda/template_lib/product/icm01_product_v.jsp?&im_dbkey=2295&im_language=en&tab=try

You will be amazed at what this program will do for free.

Harrison Young

 
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