Software modeling: Difference between revisions
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Vexcarbon3d (talk | contribs) →Poly file format for 2D sketch, dimensions, and importing: fix code section? |
Vexcarbon3d (talk | contribs) →Workflow examples: added typical openscad programmable workflow |
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* Fusion 360
* Inkscape - 2D sketching into .SVG files
* OpenSCAD (programmable)
===== Online learning and study =====
* Coursera (ex. Introduction to Mechanical Engineering Design and Manufacturing with Fusion 360)
===== File formats and alternatives =====
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* STEP format for 2D and 3D (may require some repair)
* Use or create plugins with an API
* Use the .scad programmable file format (OpenSCAD), then export to a .png rendering, or high quality .stl
===== Inkscape and SVG format for sketching (quick) =====
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A link to a basic conversion tool from .poly to .stl, useful for many sketches will be placed here.
===== Simpler .dat format =====
You could also define your points in a .dat file, which is a list of 2D points, line by line.
File: square.dat
<code>
50 -50
50 50
-50 50
-50 -50
</code>
This is useful for plotting with *gnuplot* and you can use the example.plot file to view the points.
[[File:Square plot defined with four points using gnuplot program.png|thumb]]
===== Create your STL model programmatically (Python, C, etc) =====
This is also known as '''parametric modeling''', and includes determining the important dimensions for your parts and using extrude, revolve and other operations to generate your model.
STL is a 3D format which is essentially a set of triangles. If you are just working with a set of 2D points, you can use the STEP format to import/export between programs. Alternatively to STEP format you could still use STL, if working programmatically you could:
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* Import into your software application (Blender, Fusion 360, Meshlab, Freecad, etc)
* Use the triangles as is, or just highlight the needed vertices in 2D and work with those.
In Blender, you can highlight a set of vertices in Edit mode and then use ALT-F to fill in (connect) corresponding faces.
===== Fusion 360 and mesh editing =====
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* Highlight a specific body and select 3D Print from the file menu creating an STL file
* Use Cura or IdeaMaker for slicing your model, often this means STL into gcode.
Alternative workflow (OpenSCAD)
* Create or update model in OpenSCAD
* Render (F6) and Export to STL (F7)
* Use a slicer program such as Cura, ensuring parameters are set such as filament size, nozzle size, layer height, temperature, etc.
* Heat up your 3d printer to working temperature, level the printer, and print the gcode file.
==== External Links ====
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