Ever feel like you're wasting time and money overthinking/over-engineering something that should be MUCH simpler?
So I'm sitting here working on some engineering stuff.. Producing drawings for an engineering firm that they can send to the fabricator.
These parts are seemingly pretty simple at first.. 16 guage stainless steel with 4 bends..
Except that each one is slightly different from the next.. one of the bends varies in angle and each piece has a different length, and both ends are cut with a compound angle which also not only varies from part to part, but each end of each part is cut differently!
So, based on how things are going right now, they've managed to take a $100 stainless sheet and turn it into a $300 panel to have it engineered for shop fabrication instead of just bending and trimming the dang thing on the site.
On the plus side, at least it's faster for me to draw it full size and in 3D in AutoCAD to get the specs than it is for me (or any of the other guys) to try and figure out the trig. Posted by Alan Ackerson (Member # 3224) on :
How do you like the 3D-Cad? Can you animate with it? Ever try Studio Max? Works great for exporting to .swf for the web too.
Posted by George Perkins (Member # 156) on :
Mike, I take it you've never been in the miltary. Posted by Mike Pipes (Member # 1573) on :
George: Nope but I have heard some stories..
Alan, AutoCAD is limited in 3D functionality but what it *can* do is actually very useful for the project I'm involved in right now. No, AutoCAD doesnt have any animation features but the 3D Models can be brought into 3D Studio MAX without problems as the makers of 3DS MAX and AutoCAD are one in the same. Other 3D programs like Pro Engineer, Catia, and Unigraphics are far more flexible in 3D Design.
Been doing 3D Modeling and Animation about 10 years now. Started off animating with 3D Studio DOS (Before MAX was around) and got in on MAX at the ground floor when it first came out and have been growing with it since.
[ January 09, 2003, 03:24 PM: Message edited by: Mike Pipes ]
Posted by Alan Ackerson (Member # 3224) on :
Sounds like it's been a long strange one similar to how I started with Wavefront. I have tried to contact you by phone and e-mail a couple of times to ask a few questions about mass producing stickers. You in all day? 8pm eastern?
Posted by Mike Pipes (Member # 1573) on :
Alan, I got the one email about 3D work, were there others?
I'm in and out all day long but usually after 9 or 10pm Eastern I'm in for the night.
Posted by Alan Ackerson (Member # 3224) on :
I sent it again, check the e-mail.
Posted by Alan Ackerson (Member # 3224) on :
Thanks Mike, much appreciated.
Posted by Ernie&DianeBalch (Member # 1301) on :
Mike,
I just installed Inventor and Mechanical Desktop 6. I haven't had a need for 3D before, but now I want to input an Ascii list of xyz values and create a 3D surface then render it to highlight the surface variations.
It appears that Autocad mesh is the way to go, what do you think?
ernie
Posted by Mike Pipes (Member # 1573) on :
Ernie,
What, yer joking right?!?!
Come on man, find a challenge for me!
Here's the script you need at the end of this post, it's pretty simple. There's a couple things you need to know how AutoCAD reads this.
1. AutoCAD automatically assumes that a new line represents the <ENTER> key so you do not need any special characters to <Enter>. Also make sure after the last line in the text editor you hit enter and leave the next line blank, this is because in AutoCAD the <enter> key also ends commands when you reach the end of a list of values you must enter.
2. You see the two lines with just the "3" there? The 3DMESH command asks you for the "M" and "N" values for the mesh, which are basically just like "X" and "Y". I used 3 for this sample (which creates 4 panes) but you are going to use the highest values in your list of points for the X and Y coordinates. Enter your X number first (replacing the first "3", then your Y number replacing the second "3".
My coordinates are in the X,Y,Z format, I assume yours are too so you can just past them into place.
Copy and paste this sample into Notepad.exe or your favorite text editor, then replace my coordinates with your ASCII list.
Save the file with an .SCR extension, AutoCAD will read this as a script.
In AutoCAD, type in "SCRIPT" which envokes the script command (too logical, huh?) You will be able to find that *.SCR file you created and load it, AutoCAD will execute it immediately.
So.. "3dmesh" starts the mesh command, it enters 3 x values, 3 y values, then enters all the coordinates. Vio-la! Your surface should be drawn up pretty quickly and as long as the coordinates are right it should come up right.
If the script doesnt want to run for some reason, let me know and I'll send the test file I made.
Also, when you run the "script" command, depending on how AutoCAD is setup on your machine you may or may not get a pretty pop-up window to find the .SCR file. You'll notice this when you only have a prompt in the command line. If that happens, hit the ESCAPE key to cancel the command.. then type in "FILEDIA" (which stands for File Dialog Box) hit enter, and you will see a prompt that says "Enter new value for FILEDIA <0>:" Type in "1" (without the quotes) and hit enter. this turns the file dialog boxes back on. then run the SCRIPT command again.
Yes, this IS all off the top of my head! I have every obscure AutoCAD command and system variable tucked away into my mind and I am sick because of it!!
[ January 10, 2003, 05:20 PM: Message edited by: Mike Pipes ]
Posted by Ernie&DianeBalch (Member # 1301) on :
Wow, Mike This is fantastic..I never knew we had such an autocad expert. I'll try this out first thing monday.
Letterville is full of suprises!
I owe you one,
ernie
Posted by Del Badry (Member # 114) on :
Thats nothing Ernie,, you should ask for his 16 bean soup recipe.. its world famous!
![[Smile]](smile.gif)