Subject: online machine shop
From: ACRE
Date: 12/4/2004, 12:57 AM


     > 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


You select the line, in this case the rectangle, then drop down "Line",
select "machine".
Here you get all the machining options available, including "comment to the
machinist" for operations, that are not otherwise selectable.
In your case with the rectangle, choices like lathe shouldn't be selectable,
so you would try "3-axis mill", "blanking", "laser-cut", "water-jet"
Whatever you select, you will be asked for a relative and/or a absolute
height. Once you okay that selection, your design is 3-D.
You can change the view and/or look at it in a 3-D rendering - solid, wire
or transparent......

As mentioned, my oil-adapter was too complicated to even get a quote:)
I am not capableof making any complex designs in CAD yet
....................:)

Thomas J.

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