CAD

[josh]

yo

i'm back (:
working on something new for robot power but having trouble with my CAD i'm going to have the chassis n flipper 3d printed but the cads i've made in sketchup pro are not manifold due to sketchup being pretty much useless. does anybody know a program that will basically just connect anything that's touching so i can upload my files for printing or anybody be able to fix the model for me.

thanks
josh

[BeligerAnt]

I've only used Sketchup once and it was fairly rubbish!

Fixing up 3D models is a pain in the proverbial, you may be better off just redrawing it from scratch in something else - it may well be quicker!

This is especially true if the parts have not been drawn "correctly" in the first place, it can be almost impossible to generate a proper solid from a bunch of lines.

As to 3D cad, I use Alibre, there is a free version from http://www.alibre.com It's a full trial version for 30 days, then it reverts to a limited free forever version. You have to register and you get a couple of emails from the UK VAR, but they don't bother you if you tick the "hobby use" (or somesuch) box in the registration form.

It also outputs the .stl files needed for 3D printing 8)

[peterwaller]

I have for years used design cad and have just bought the newer version Designcad 3D Max ver18 which is 2D and 3D. I have also bought a package called ContourCam which installs over designcad giving you the ability to produce G code straight from a 2D drawing with a 3D display of the toolpaths.
2D Drawing
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n66/ ... 6/Arm1.jpg
3D Toolpath Simulator
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n66/ ... /CCarm.jpg
Machined Part
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n66/ ... MG0514.jpg

Both can be downloaded for a 15day free trial but then you buy them at.
Designcad Max Ver18....?78.42
ContourCam.................?87.44