Cad software for mod designs

[shorty_f0rty]

Hey all,

Just wondering if anyone out there uses some sort of cad software to plan, size up and develop any future mods? I'm looking at creating some sliders outta box steel and would like to play with it vitually before I get anywhere near sourcing materials, etc.

Also, if you dont use cad, how to you do this step of the process? do you just sketch it out on paper, size it up on your rig, count up some lengths and go from there?

any feedback would be appreciated..

[elgordomuygrande]

If you're used to building cad models it's a superb way of playing with materials and designs. I used autocad alot and it was ok for doing some complex drawing.

for most slider designs (etc.) some paper drawing will be enough, especially when you're gonna build it yourself

What I often do is make a mock up from cardboard, wood and pvc piping, just to give a visual representation. Then transfer it back to paper to get the right sizes and source materials.

O yeah, a basic material book with the available sizes wil be of great help to get a drawing right the first time.

cheers,
Ron

[Nev62]

I just used powerpoint and sliders are real basic. Once I had things how I wanted it, printed out the pic, brought the steel and started bending and cutting with my pretty powerpoint pic still sitting on the bench

[Slayer]

have been playin around usin cad a bit latly.. draw up some spring hangers and stuff.. its good fun to give u a visual representation of what yr tryin to draw.. i just use my drawings for my own guidlines but theirs no reason u couldnt get the sliders built exactly to ur drawings as long as u give em enough detail.. i recon is a good thing..
im drawin up a tray and tube rollbar atm.. easy to chop and change to see how things look.
i use PTC prodesktop..

[stuee]

If you can try and get hold of a copy of solidworks. For something like sliders or most accessories for fourbies I prefer it over autocad. My opinion is its also easier to use compared to autocad.

[Mytqik]

Who can justify paying $8,000 for Autocad, to draw up a $500 pair of sliders?

Solidworks is now nudging $13,000 per copy. As a registered owner of both, plus a few other software programs that have cost me more than the value of my house 2x over.

I would honestly say that the difference between the two are chalk & cheese. Autocad is basically a computer version of a drafting board, it can still be quite powerful when used correctly.

With Solidworks on the other hand, you model everything up in 3D and then transfer the model onto a 2D sheet of paper. I would say that for a first time user with no CAD experiance, say away from Solidworks. To create your basic model, it may easy, however, transferring that onto paper & putting dimensions on can be tricky to get right. At least with autocad, what you draw is what you get.

I would have thought that sketching what you want to do is your first port of call. This would be done anyway, even if you are drawing it up in CAD. From there use the material data, you down load this off the net & hey presto you have a layout & weights.

I would then go & get an refridgerator box from an electrical retailer & draw accurately your new design out full size. This will give you a much better idea of the final shape. If you are happy with you shape I would cut it out with a knife & then mount it onto your 4x4. Once again it will gice you a better idea. You can now add/subtract cardboard as required until you get a shape you are happy with.

Then place your cut out back onto the remaining cardboard box & trace the outline. Hey presto, you know have a fabrication jig. I would use that to accurately get my cutting sizes and actually clamp & tack weld the steel together onthe cardboard. This will ensure your sliders are they exact shape you want. Trial fitt your sliders & if happy, fully weld out the first one. Then you can use the first one as a clamping jig for the second one.

Job done & you have just saved 8,000 cool ones & alot of time stuffing around, learning to use a piece of software that may/may not use again. Plus this method above would be much quicker than using cad, for a first time user.

[elgordomuygrande]

Who can justify paying $8,000 for Autocad, to draw up a $500 pair of sliders?.

Totally agree with that. ummm.. Let's just say I still got a student license version of it

Cardboard rulez!

Cheers Ron

[80UTE]

I use AutoCad at work, went to School to learn it and i also have AutoCad at home. I don't use pen and paper any more as Cad makes is better and so accurate ( provided what you put in is good ) and then you have a permanant record of all the custom stuff you have done/made if you need to make up a replacement. For One set sliders use pen and paper as it would take you longer to draw it up than to make it if you have never used a Cad drawing system before.

Wally.

[-Richo-]

Are you talking about making rock sliders? I just spent the weekend making some myself, did some basic structural designs on paper but mostly in my head, went out to the truck and did some measurements based on the basic design i came up with and went off the the metal shop and got it all cut to size.

I have taken lots of pics of the build up and i am planing on posting up a thread with a step by step run through, all for under $150 (plus a weekend or 2).

Its very easy, just takes time, i think you would only need something like CAD if you want to design custom engine parts or something like that. Its a bit overkill for this kind of work.

[morkz]

i here there is market out near scoresby way that sells any software for $10 per copy and have seen autocad and solidworks also unigraphics is avialable..

then again you can also download it. however all illegal and at your own risk.

[Mudzuki]

i here there is market out near scoresby way that sells any software for $10 per copy and have seen autocad and solidworks also unigraphics is avialable..

then again you can also download it. however all illegal and at your own risk.

Thats why genuine copies are so expensive?

[YankeeDave]

i used solid edge and autocad to design my bull bar, made it real easy. I do however already know how to use both, and have copies at work.

about 5 hours on the computer made for only 3 hours to put the bar together.

[shorty_f0rty]

Thanks for your feedback guys. I'd like to think I'm pretty savvy with CAD programs n computers,etc (used 3D Studio max for ages) so I'm not too stressed about the learning curve.

It might seem like sliders are pretty easy to do on paper but I have a design I want to try and copy from ih8mud.com/armour/index.php and I figured that it would be easier to play with this complex design on the pc rather than on paper first.

Keep em coming guys.. always interested on how people round here mockup/design their mods.

[HeathGQ]

i use AutoSketch at work - $250 from Harvey Norman. Its produced by AutoDesk (who produce AutoCAD), can produce 3d effects, user friendly.....

Obviously not as powerful as AutoCAD, but you can open .DWG and .DXF files...

[bazzle]

I went on a club tour of ARB's head office. The design guys there all use Solidworks.
3d on screen then programs for lasers and benders straight off it.

Bazzle

[shorty_f0rty]

welll last night with no net I was motivated to try out some ideas.

I loaded up 3D studio Max and proceeded to mock up my ideas without any measurements (yet). For me this is the first step. I have noticed I can export the 3d files from 3DS to .DWG (autocad) so I'm hoping this is something I can give to a shop once I have my measurements all correct.

I'll try and get some net later on to post my 3D images.

[Slayer]

the price of the program is a huge issue... i got a copy of ptc prodesktop just for payin my $30 dollar volitary contributions in my cad class at school!