Please educate me about 3d modelling

Wrecked944 · 03-19-2005, 08:05 AM

I want to waste some serious time (i.e. to fill that "waiting" period between driving events described by Steve McQueen

). And after downloading and toying with Blender3d, I am thinking it would be real fun to use some 3d/cad sorts of programs to model and design fantasy cars, imaginary prototypes, body kits for my 911 and 944...so can anyone tell me how to get started? Maybe what good programs to use or not use...where to find sample wireframes...good books or web tutorials? I have no intention of trying to build these imags in real life...just wanna have some fun and maybe make a few cool screensaver images...

island911 · 03-19-2005, 08:26 AM

CAD pakages fall into two major camps; one for making images (think Pixar/toyStory) and the other for designing highly defined/controlled engineered products.

It sounds like you are looking for the former. check out http://www.rhino3d.com/ . . they have a 30 day/try demo

bryanthompson · bryanthompson's Garage

Blender is damn awesome! Check out:
http://www.3dcafe.com/asp/platinumdefault.asp
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Blender_3D:_Noob_to_Pro

stomachmonkey · 03-19-2005, 08:53 AM

There's a whole slew of stuff out there.

Products that I'm fond of in order of simplicity,
Carrera (gotta love the name)
Cinema 4d
Lightwave
3DS Max

Blender ranks right up there but I have never been a major fan of it's interface. Not as intuitive as I'd like but it's got power and it's free.

Scott

Jared at Pelican Parts · 03-19-2005, 09:11 AM

www.gibbscam.com

I used to work for them.. good stuff

Yellowbird RS · 03-19-2005, 01:13 PM

The best 3D software is 3D Max 5.0.9
use the search engine in the tech forum to look some of my work
I don't have any in this HD because they use a lot of MB.

also you will need a lot of blueprints something like this ones

to get somthing like this

Eric Coffey · 03-19-2005, 07:34 PM

You probably get what you pay for but these free programs seem fairly capable:

http://www.povray.org/
http://www.stmuc.com/moray/index.html

Steve Carlton · 03-20-2005, 07:54 AM

Geez, you guys. I've barely scratched the suface of Photoshop and now you go and do this...

john70t · 03-20-2005, 09:44 AM

Please correct this if wrong. I'm a newby looking into this now, but from what I can tell so far, the catagorys are:
1)CAD(computer aided design) software that are made to be translated directly to robotics/machining(but are a little difficult to use for quick free hand drawing with custom curves),
2)software made for designers but are imprecise(won't correct overlaps) and can't handle thermo or stress analysis, and
3)renderers that make final beautiful life-like pictures/movies and have tons of textures for skining and premade objects for arrainging(like trees and people), and tons of lighting effects.

All of the above are quickly adding features from other catagorys. Examples I can think of(there are probably hundred) are:
1) AutoDesk, ProEngineer, Solidworks, Catia, many others
2) FormZ
3) ???

(that's purdy Yellowbird RS)

island911 · 03-20-2005, 10:11 AM

Yep. I can tell you that you are right,; ProEngineer, Solidworks, Catia, . . have all incorporated the cool photorealistic and animation stuff. (kinematic & dynamic modeling)

However I don't believe that too much of the engineering type tools are in the other "just look" software packages.

I say this because, I often get good-looking swoopy part files from ID guys (Industrial Designers). When I bring those part-files into solidworks, I quickly find all sorts of little "cracks" and mis-matched edges, which are unacceptable for a production part model.

"Clean" . . ."Water-tight" models are absolutly required for machining say a mold (for production parts).
Imagine, a few swoopy surfaces to be milled by a CNC cutter. THe program knows to cut, by simply following the surface. If there is an open sliver, from one surface to another, the cutter, at the edge of one surface, may start plunge, over the edge, down, down, down. . .. looking for the bottom.

--oooooooppppps-

IROC · IROC's Garage

I think you'll find that "real" CAD packages are going to be difficult enought to use to discourage a "casual" user. I've used Unigraphics for about 15 years and learned Pro/E last year and although they are packed with powerful features and parametrics, those powerful features and parametrics are going to drive you mad if you just want to make some pretty pictures.

It would take me the rest of my career to model the bodywork of a 911 in UG... :>(

Mike

Yellowbird RS · 03-20-2005, 10:39 AM

You can see some of my work in pg. 1&2 of this thread RUF wheels

island911 · 03-20-2005, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Yellowbird RS
You can see some of my work in pg. 1&2 of this thread RUF wheels

cool . . nice work.

What type of geometry is underlying? . . dxf, polygon mesh?

bryanthompson · bryanthompson's Garage

Yellowbird, do you have any favorite 3d modeling sites, forums, or tutorial links for newbies? I have access to Maya and 3d Max (from school) and really want to learn how to do cars. Yours look awesome.

BGCarrera32 · 03-20-2005, 04:58 PM

[QUOTE]Originally posted by john70t
Please correct this if wrong. I'm a newby looking into this now, but from what I can tell so far, the catagorys are:
1)CAD(computer aided design) software...

Yup, and that can be broken into 2 more categories: (and I've really trivialized this mind you)

1) CAD (computer aided design)
Most commerical systems are 3d parametric modelers, which create 3d solid or surface objects from 2d sketches and operations (extrudes, cuts, sweeps, lofts, etc.). Parametric refers to the solid model being driven by user defined dimensions. Your parts drive 2d drawings and assemblies. If a part feature must change, changes are made typically to the model only and cascade (or reference through) to related drawing and assembly files updating them automatically. Good commericial packages like the ones island911 mentions begin around $5k and go from there.

and

2) Cad/Cam (computer aided machining)
Unless you own a CNC milling machine or a CNC lathe, a CAM package is pretty much useless and generally not an optimzed tool for designing parts. CAM packages take CAD files either native or translated which the operator uses to select geometry (surfaces, edges, holes, pockets, etc.) that the software then writes a toolpath to. Through a series of menus you might select an operation, cutting tool, feeds/speeds, etc. and the operation is recorded. When the part is fully programmed and verified the user then "posts out G-Code" which is what a typical machine tool control uses to run itself. Good CAM packages start at around $10k and go up from there quick.

M.D. Holloway · 03-21-2005, 05:06 AM

Once you get past the drawing part, look into rapid prototyping. They have machines now that can produce a physical item out of a polymer. It needs a few views but is wild to see. Some of them build it layer by layer, others by laser. Real sci-fi stuff. Do a Goggle search you won't believe it...

Wrecked944 · 08:03 AM

Brilliant!! Thanks very much. But I need to ask a question: Can projects be moved easily from one package to another or do I need to pick one platform and stick with it? In other words, is there a common format for wireframes and such?

And using google, I found a couple of wingnuts (oops, I mean, "ambitious automotive entrepreneurs") using 3d software to design and build their own cars. Here's a guy who used 3d Studio Max

http://www.grabercars.com/Mambosite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15&Itemid=42

Seems he was able to convert the models to cross sections and then cut those sections out of wood. Then line up the wood bits and smooth out the bumps to form a plug. Way beyond me.

Here's a guy who used Rhino

http://www.statikdesign.com/scratchbuilt/design/models.html