Virtual modelling can have place here ?

This virtual model of Stowe loco is made fully from drawings published in Model Engineer.

Attached pictures show progress on this task (model still is under construction - modelling)

for other pictures check photo album Stowe

Ditto Andrzej.

Also from the Model Engineer, c.1972. This was compiled in CadKey (now KeyCreator).

Best regards to all.

Sam

Nice work, gents

... and the finished models take up much less room than all that metal.

MichaelG.

Thanks Michael,

The virtual reality (CAD) is a great help when testing the geometry of (say) an English escapement.

By the way, although my clock is now very real (see my avatar), and has been running for about two and a half years, it was only possible with the help of a lot of chaps via this ME Forum and other places.

Regards to all,

Sam

G'day Andrzej and Sam.

Yes, virtual modelling does have a place here in this forum.

In this day and age is is a beautiful way to see a design concept before cutting parts, and indeed, the finished design may serve as inspiration to finish the job with cutting, grinding and sweat.

Andrzej, I am always interested in 3D modelling software, what did you use for the locomotive?

Also, as a next step, who will use a 3D printer to take it to the next stage before the metal is cut?

Fascinating!

Regards from the land of the kangaroo

* Danny M *

Or building a new shed or home from router cut plywood panels.

Note the list of files.... If your cad system has the ability to use inserted drawings learn this feature well. it will save a huge amount of time. The drawing below is made entirely from inserted parts being each panel drawn separately.

I have also put a partial list of some of my drawn parts for inclusion in other designs in my album there is no point in drawing items you will use again and again more than once.

http://www.model-engineer.co.uk/albums/member_photo.asp?a=29877&p=483004

If you cannot insert drawings then use blocks most CAD programs allow you to save a set of line objects as a block.

Learning CAD is not an insurmountable hurdle if you have not tried it. The hard part is starting... The first few weeks will be pretty boring, frustrating, irritating and unrewarding, however once you have got over the steep hill at the start you will wonder how you lived without it.

For conceptualising a design I can think of no better way. The building design concept above is a good example, No it is not an engineered ready to build design. When I drew it, it showed up some of the hurdles that you would face were you to refine the design and actually build. In particular in this case the cost verses a conventional frame method. In this case not ideal. But that is what CAD is all about, a few hours drawing and a lot of questions are answered.

Regards
John

Edited By John McNamara on 22/12/2013 02:33:00

If we were allowed to attach pdf files to our posts, we would be able to attach 3D pdf files of virtual models that the viewers would be able to rotate and thus see them from all angles. You can also make individual parts invisible so that you can see otherwise obscured detail.

John

Very nice work Andrzej and Sam. I too would be interested to know what programme was used to get the final renderings.

This is the best I can get out of my Alibre, should start making swarf on that in the new year. I have the crankcase as semi transparent so I can see whats going on inside.

Edited By JasonB on 22/12/2013 08:07:22

Much easier (and less expensive) to fix mistakes on a computer than on a lathe or mill. The supplied drawings for the traction engine which I am building are not completely correct and I also have to modify components to suite available materials. Everything which I make is modeled on the computer first. I am using Solidworks to create the models and a new set of drawings.

Another one here:-

I use Solidworks in my day job as a design engineer, so it makes sense to build all my models in 3D first.

I very rarely have any problems once I start cutting metal.

Here is the unfinished 3D model of my Pollit & Wigzell mill engine "Agnes"

I think he used Blender Cycles as his renderer. I don't know if it was all done in Blender or just imported for rendering.

Nice engine you have there, Jason!

Martin.

I knew a guy some years ago, sadly dead now who had to sell up through health issues and go into a nursing home.

He got someone to teach him 3D CAD, no mean feat and then started building in 3D .

Now this is where it got interesting in that he built full size !! His friends were building a loco in 7 1/4" gauge scaled from original plans, he was building full size. 67 tonnes in a little one room flat.

There are some beautiful renders here of a 1934 Citroen Traction.

Also, rendering is a great way of deciding upon final colours, textures and other finishes.

Martin.

Well, recalling KWILL's recent thread , this really IS armchair engineering! It seems to me that proficiency with such software would be almost essential for the would be designer but, as posted, a very useful aid to the constructor which might save time and expensive errors. The only issue I would have with it would be the time it would take to learn how to use it and it would prove yet another distraction to keep me in front of the computer and out of the workshop! John - your post is encouraging. Whilst I'm not quite there yet it is good to think that here is an outlet should workshop activities become impossible.

So, going back to the OP and question " Virtual modelling - can it have a place here?" - sure it can! ( I must just finish off a few outstanding project before I get involved!)

Now then - away from the computer and out to the workshop.

Norman

I missed this bit out the first post to keep it relevant but this guy was a dry old bugger and the first job he did on the 3D program was Minnie in it's original 1" ? scale as he still had the drawings from a model he's build years ago.

Quality was very good, even had shadows from the spokes [ think he used Solid Edge - not sure ] but the crowing glory was when he said to me

"Do you know what the best part of building this was ? "

I never broke one tap or drill...........................

I also use Solidworks in ym day job, but this is my latest project in 12" to the foot scale.

can anyone tell which side my mates Triumph was parked

.

Brilliant !!!

MichaelG.

I bought a physical version of 'Angry Birds' as a Christmas present.

Now as the original was a computer game, I have to ask - which is the reality....?

There's one for the philosophers!

Neil

I've played with Realsoft 3D over the years, a raytracer which can give photo-realistic renderings from imported models and scenes or modelled in the package itself. It used to be called Real 3D when I used it on the Amiga computer back in the 80's/90's.

**LINK**

Povray is still free, also photo-realistic.

**LINK**

Looking at the Alibre (Geomagic) website there is an addon called Keyshot enabling the modeller to add materials etc.

**LINK**

This is a great thread! More please...

Diane