3D Modeling

[mklotz70]

LOL. I just came across these as I was doing something else. I can't find an album in my photobucket, so I doubt I've posted these anywhere. I vaguely remember someone emailing/pm'ing me about something like this. They wanted to have the options for shoulder belts in their 510 wagon. I don't remember the details, but this is the idea I was playing around with. It swivels so that it won't bind and it's removable for when you want to drop the seat down and carry a load.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Tristin]

That's a pretty sweet idea. I need to get work to install the SolidWorks Toolbox. Right now there's no way to insert any types of premade fasteners for assemblies like that.

 

Cool stuff mike.

[]2eDeYe]

I get all my fasteners and pins and stuff from a couple places.

 

www.mcmaster.com

 

www.reidsupply.com

 

www.carrlane.com

 

I like to download .iges but you can get other file types as well. Pretty handy for my line of work. :)

[Tristin]

I remember mcmaster having them now that you mention it. Thanks again for the reminder!

[mklotz70]

So far, I've gotten all mine off McMaster-Carr....thanks for the other sources! :)

[mklotz70]

Still working on the ball joint mod. Did up this just this morning. The more you learn how to use it, the better you get, the better you get the more you enjoy it! :) I wasn't sure I could get all the blending done when I started, but I fingered it out :)

 

 

[flipsteresis]

hey - plese read my thread in Genl' technical re: drawing the rear subframe of the 83' maxima - Might y'all be able to help?

[mklotz70]

With the washers and bushings added. The second shot has the dimensions of the bushing adjusted for the control arm......basically, the "squish" is accounted for.

 

 

[Tristin]

So I'm trying to import vectors into SW and I'm running into an issue. Im using the option to import Adobe Illustrator files into SW, but since the computer doesn't have it installed, it can't translate it. I have AI only on my home computer and I only have SW on my work computer.

 

Is there any way to import vectors into SolidWorks that doesn't require a 3rd party translator.

 

And if not, does somebody here have both installed that would mind importing a couple vectors for me and just saving them as sldprt?

[]2eDeYe]

I think DXF might be the way to go. Not sure if AI allows you to save vectors that way or if you have to export.

[Josh K.]

MasterCam has a c-hook called rastvec. Not sure on the exact name. Not sure what your trying to do?

 

Josh-

[Tristin]

Well I do a lot of custom vector graphics in AI. Say I drew up the Datsun logo in Illustrator and wanted to cut it out of a piece of stock. Right now my option is to save that logo as a jpeg, insert the image, and then either try the shitty autotrace mode or redraw over the lines to get a SW sketch.

 

I can never get autotrace to function properly and it never comes out the same if I have to redraw it. Plus I already drew it once... Why should I do it again. SW allows you to import AI files in and automatically turns them into SW sketches (at least that's how I'm reading it).

 

That's what I want to do.

[]2eDeYe]

Can you just copy and paste the vectors into a SW sketch?

[Tristin]

I cant open the AI file to copy since Illustrator isn't on the work computer.

[]2eDeYe]

Forgot about that...

 

 

This is how to do it in Catia, which should be pretty much the same way as SW.

 

Create your image in AI, export it as a .dxf

 

Open the .dxf in SW.

 

You can then copy the linework and paste it into a sketch or 'print' it directly to your printer or cutter.

 

 

 

You really only need a .dxf to send out for cutting though. That's all I ever send to my plasma table guy, usually by email. :)

 

 

 

Edit: You can also use this to add text to your solid models. Create the text in a drawing, save it as a .dxf, then open the .dxf and copy and paste the lines into a part sketch.

[Tristin]

Awesome. Im not too familiar with all the file formats and their capabilities in SW. Ill check out DXF and see where that gets me. Thanks buddy.

[DatMo]

The ratsun emblem would be pretty dope. I'd buy one.

[Tristin]

Redeye wins 100 Internet points... DXF was exactly what I needed. AI was able to save that format and I was easily able to insert the DXF into a sketch. Thanks!

 

This opens up so much more for me now. So excited for future projects.

[]2eDeYe]

Glad to hear it worked. :)

[mklotz70]

So...it's not 3D, but I've wanted to figure out how to do this for several years now. The original drawing is a screen capture from the FSM (521). I converted that to dxf via WinTopo(freeware). That created huge drawing. The distance between the LCA pivots was about 389 inches. I scaled that down in CAD so that it's now the correct 13". I then figured out how to do layers in CAD. The drawing is on a separate layer from the lime green. The blue lines for the frame are on a 3rd layer. I need to try putting the original jpg on a layer. That might be easier to decipher than the converted dxf.

 

[mklotz70]

Funny.....if you use the help in the software, it answers a lot of questions! LOL (read the siggy!)

 

It won't open the jpg directly, but you can do a copy/paste from paint and it will take the jpg. I still need to look at the sizing and see where it's at.

 

 

.......just checked. It won't scale the jpg. It will scale the dxf file. So, I can trace everything on the jpg and scale it after the fact, but with the dxf, I can scale it before drawing everything. I guess it will just depend on which image is easier to work with.

[Tristin]

You can insert jpegs. You want to go to Sketch Tools and use the sketch from image selection. It will insert a picture into a new sketch. I then draw a line from two points that you know the distance of. Dimension it. Then scale the picture by dragging the corner of it until the line matches your two points again.

[mklotz70]

I wasn't sure it would work at first, or if this is exactly what you had in mind, but I did get the jpg into the CAD...in the 3D environment actually and I also got it scaled. I started with a straight on view to put some circles where some of the main pivots are. I did a quick outline of part of the frame. I then extruded each to semi-random lengths. In the second pic, I hid the sketch. Great info Tristin! Thanks!! :)

 

 

[Tristin]

Glad it worked!

[]2eDeYe]

Nice work Mike!