> Ben Baltrusaitis wrote:
     >
     > I found a web site to order "one of" parts and they have free
     > 3D software to draw the part for ordering. I used the
     > software and it seems slick. I have never used any software
     > for
     drawing 3D objects
     > before.
     > Let me know what you think:
     >
     > http://www.emachineshop.com/
     >
     > Ben

I have tried it. I have no 3D drawing experience, (extensive 2D CAD,
however) and it took me a bit of effort to start working in 3D. Once
I got the hang of it, it was pretty easy but I was put off by my
inability to add sufficient details and tolerances. That said, I
thought it was very slick that you can get quotes "immediately"
(actually takes a good few minutes to get the quotes back) and I
guess just go ahead and place an order. Never actually had a part
made. A good resource, but for one-off's a local friendly machine
shop would be better.

Jon

I gave it a quick try but it runs on windows and my windows computer
is not hooked to the internet. So apparently I can't save the file and
send as email. I could be wrong.

I can draw a rectangle in it but how do I convert that to a box in 3D?

In Rhino you can extrude.

Can you extrude in this software? If so how?

Paul Lamar

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Hi Paul,

I looked at their software two or three months ago.  I wanted to make
some brackets that were bent up out of sheet stock.  The way it worked
was I drew the flat shape that I wanted, then added bend lines where I
wanted them.  It then generated a 3D model from my flat 2D picture.
There may be other options for machined parts, but I didn't investigate.

I ended up finding a shop here in Albuquerque that could make the
brackets the way I wanted for about the same price and shorter delivery
time.

Bob White

--
http://www.bob-white.com
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ACRE NL web site. http://home.earthlink.net/~rotaryeng/            
Copyright 1998-2004 All world wide rights reserved.