Section for downloading CAD designs.

[silversurfer1947]

Presumably, the administrator could change the file types accepted in "Downloads" to include cad files.

[971wright]

Hi Thats good news about the files being able to download them to forum, I didn't know how big they were , so all that's needed is to alter file format to allow cad files to be downloaded don't think that will be a problem.

regards pete

[AlwynTurner]

The extension for Openscad files is .scad, I don't know about other cad programs.

Cheers
Alwyn

[wibblywobbly]

Excellent idea Alwyn, I have numerous parts though as to how useful they would be to anyone is anybody's guess. I use Openscad, so could upload the files. The format isn't a showstopper, as all that anyone needs to do with the text file is download it and change the .txt to .scad, it will change to an Openscad file as it is only text anyway. An interesting thing is that many heavy users of Openscad don't use the editor in the program, they use aftermarket text editors that allow them to autocomplete lines of code and that have better editing functionality.

That way instead of manually typing a line of code such as:

translate([x,y,z])rotate([x,y,z])cylinder(height,radiustop,radiusbottom,center=true);//description

they only need to type 'cube' and the whole line of text is inserted automatically. Then all that is needed is to insert the parameters.

I have a template that has all of the common commands at the top. I just copy and paste them to create a new line of code. It saves a lot of typing and syntax errors.

If you click on Help, it takes you to a Wiki that has examples and descriptions of every command, it is the goto place to see what all of the commands do.

[HERMAN BIX]

Yeah.............what he said

[tao]

.wav sound file download section would also be nice for anybody who needs or wants to make
custom sounds? (unless there is one already and I missed it

[971wright]

Hi Just down loaded the files ,copy and paste , it works great , its a start something to play with. Like the hinges .


regards pete

[AlwynTurner]

Hi Pete, yes that was how I started, just play with openscad and read the tutorials, they give a really good insight into how openscad works. It's basically adding and subtracting cylinders, cubes, spheres, rings. Then try combining using union and difference. The advantage I have is that I have done a lot of computer programming in my many years of IT experience and this works in exactly the same structured way. You also have the undo button at the top if you make a booboo. Just remember to keep saving when you achieve something, then you can go back to it.

A word of warning - it is very very addictive and results in an absolute compulsion to buy a 3d printer!

Have fun

Alwyn

[971wright]

Hi Alwyn loads of experience reading drawings , 1st angle and 3rd angle projection , some of the jobs I have built have had datums that start at the front of an aircraft with dimensions that are measured from the centre line of said aircraft .so you are building the thrust reverse which is mounted on the back end of the aircraft , the dimensions are all theoretical ,so calculating the centre of the earth gravity became second nature . Even when we had Cad drawings when it came down to making it out of metal and carbon fibre they didn't bear much resemblance to the drawings which were nearly all wrong in one way or another ( that's why we built prototypes) so the drawing office ended up copying our work rather than the other way round .One job had over 500 drawing changes between the first and second prototypes and another 500+ between this and production unit.
So this will be a novelty to me making a drawing that will make a part that should be right .

regards pete