If you have a free Linux OS on your computer you can get free 3D modelling
software. 3D modelling lets you design your engine installation to
make sure all the parts fit under the cowl. 3D modelling is what Boeing
and Airbus use to design their air planes. I have been using expensive Rhino
software for years that runs on Windows. It can also be used to
design things like water pumps and gear boxes.

It is a pain in the butt to take 2 notebooks
with me when I travel. One Windows and one Linux. Yes I know
there are dual boot systems. I feel they are too problematic for
my use. I have been looking for free 3D software that runs on Linux.

I would like to do away with Windows as it is too costly to maintain.
If your computer mother board or hard disk fails you have to buy a
new $100 windows OS from Microsoft to install it on the new
mother board. Linux OS is free.

The best thing I have come up so far is Linux Blender.
The trick is to put it in edit mode and then choose quad view
under the view menu. It then works like Rhino with 3 views,
on the screen in four windows. Top, front, right and perspective.

IMHO this is the easiest and quickest way to learn 3D software.
You draw your device in the old 2D way. Front, top and side views.
It then automatically appears in the perspective window.

I have a friend that teaches Rhino and Solid Works in college.
His students start having fun in Rhino in five minutes with Rhino.
In Solid Works it takes weeks.

More on Blender as I learn it.

https://www.blender.org/manual/modeling/meshes/introduction.html


Paul Lamar

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