CAD packages

Oh no, Rhino is fine, I use an extension on 3DS MAX called PWR Nurbs, which is exellent and has a NURBS as its base. In my experience I just thought box modelling was much easier than sub d modelling or NURBS.

No intention to insult you, my apolagies.

My post was aimed more at the topic starter :)

Ah, no harm done, good sir. :)

CAD is differnt then Computer Modelling. We make real things with CAD. Im a mechanical draughtsman and I dont like people using the wrong programs.
Find someone wholl lend you a copy of Autodesk Inventor or SolidWorks. Much quicker and easier then Rhino. The version of Inventor Im currently using has dynamic modelling and FEA which have come in rather handy and Im sure SolidWork will have the same as they both copy each other. With these programs you dont ever have to worry about NURBS or that sort of junk. You build the parts and assemble them together, not draw lines and calculate surfaces so they look right.

Thanks Daniel no the info was very helpful ill try those other downloads as they sound a bit easier to start with

thanks alex

Just gone onto the blender site i have got to this page

http://www.blender.org/download/get-blender/http://www.blender.org/download/get-blender/

do i need both downloads or just the left hand one?

(i use windows XP)

Thanks

They are both the same, just one is the executable installer, the other is a zip file.

@ Daniel, I think that depends on what he wants to do and upon the person.

If using other applications that are not CAD oreintated he can always export them to a DWG/DXF formats for importing to Autocad.

I would reccommend using CAD at a later date, but it would be better to grasp the basics of something like blender. Trials can be downloaded of the others so that he can test them out.

@ Starter, you can find CAD programs here:

__________________AUTODESK__________________
http://www.autodesk.co.uk/adsk/servlet/item?siteID=452932&id=9549668http://www.autodesk.co.uk/adsk/servl...932&id=9549668

Useful ones to pay more attention to are
AutoCAD [Trial version available][Handles DWG/DXF]
Autodesk 3ds Max [Handles DWG/DXF]
Autodesk Design Review [Exellent tool for viewing models]
Autodesk DWF Toolkit
Autodesk DWF Viewer
Autodesk DWF Writer

Autodesk Freewheel will let you show ther people on the net what you are designing, its like a hosting service for 3d models. (DWF only)

__________________SOLIDWORKS__________________

http://www.solidworks.com/pages/products/freesoftware.htmlhttp://www.solidworks.com/pages/prod...esoftware.html

DWG Gateway might proove useful for exporting to AutoCAD.

It doesnt seem that there is a trial for Solidworks, and I know nothing about it, nor will I pretend to. I use 3DS Max and have used AutoCAD.
_____________________________________

Try the above, the two programs have exellent intercompatibility.

Its your choice, the CADs are useful for machining your parts with becuase they can read the formats. Media based software such as MAX and Blender allow you to learn to draught ideas easily and simulate physics and you should be able to export/import AutoCAD file types into both packages (May require some additional plugins, they usually float around for free) (long time since I used Blender.

Have a go at both kinds to see what you like best.

:)

NURBS isnt junk either, NURBS is used in CAD today as an actual basis for many products. NURBS frames and usages are more related to Solid working than vertex modelling is, but your the proffessional so whatever. Its anything but junk, but whatever your opinion is....

(Message edited by david b on May 29, 2008)

Ive seen a dxf from one of those programs and it took me an hour and a half to clean it up so that it was usable, then took me 5 minutes to redraw it in Inventor. Doesnt seem quick and easy to me.

One thing Ive noticed is that CAD packages can tend to be expensive. Talking from the point of view that I am so good at CAD the guys at work have taken it off my machine and left me with a viewer, there are some cheaper systems on the market.

One that stood out when we were evaluating these was Turbocad. It does a lot of the more expensive versions do but retails at $130 (about £70). We didnt go for it at work because it meant we had a bit of file conversion to do when we received drawings.

http://www.turbocad.comwww.turbocad.com

Andy