3. Computer Aided design¶

This week I worked on defining my final project idea and started to getting used to the documentation process.

2D, 2.5D Design¶

In computer graphics, they are two types of image design:

- Raster
- Vector

Raster images are created with pixel-based programs or captured with a camera or scanner. A pixel is a single point, you may noticed, once you zoom the image you are able to see a lot of tiny squares.

Meanwhile Vector graphics are created by a vector program. These image have a math calculation from one point to another. You may noticed once you zoom a vector graphic it will always look the same.

Example of a raster image¶

Example of a vector image¶

Examples of images and designs with 2D and 2.5D SW¶

On these practice I have chosen the following programs:

    - [GIMP](http://www.gimp.org)
    - [Krita](http://www.krita.org)
    - [ImageMagick](http://www.imagemagick.org)
    - [Inkscape](http://www.inkscape.org)

Here is a brief description of them:

GIMP¶

I like these program, since it has powerful tools for render, grey scale, handle layers. It is available at almost all the know OS. Definitely it was easy to learn. However I consider it is more useful for drawing and painting if you have a magic pen. Otherwise you will not use all the tools available on these GNU software.

Krita¶

It is GNU SW also. I consider it is the best approach to the Adobe Photoshop software. Once you open it you feel and it very familiar. Although working with text it is not simple. It has a lot of tools to discover. However the documentation is not easy to handle. If you have an artistical vein it may be useful due to its tools.

ImageMagick¶

These tool is really useful to resize the image with just a click. Even though it does not have all tools in comparison of the previous software listed above in the report, the ones it has are really powerful such as: Flip, Flop, Shear. You can handle big files and convert them to a light version. It is GNU software also.

Inkscape¶

These tool is my favorite. From my perspective it is the most intuitive GNU software for design. You can vector images easily. Its tools are powerful. Bezier lines are the best to handle a curve line. The handle of object go further than the rotation of the images. Some interesting tools are: Union, Difference, Intersection, Exclusion, Division, Cut path.

3D Design¶

3D design model represents a body by using the reference of points at a 3D space, connected by lines, curves surface. 3D models are widely used anywhere in 3D graphics and CAD. Their use predates the widespread use of 3D graphics on personal computers. Many computer games used pre-rendered images of 3D models as sprites before computers could render them in real-time.

The designer can then see the model in various directions and views, this can help the designer see if the object is created as intended to compared to their original vision. Seeing the design this way can help the designer/company figure out changes or improvements needed to the product.

The presentation of 3D models are: - Solid. - Shell, Boundary.

Solid and shell modeling can create functionally identical objects. Differences between them are mostly in the way they are created and edited and conventions of use in various fields and differences in types of approximations between the model and reality.

Examples of images and designs with 3D SW¶

On these practice I have chosen the following programs: - TinkerCAD - FreeCAD - Inventor - SolidWorks - Onshape - OpenSCAD

Here is a brief description of them:

TinkerCAD¶

Tinkercad is a fun, easy to use, web-based 3D design application. If you think you do not have any design experience, this is the tool for you. After that you will start to be more interested at 3D design. Seriously, you don’t need any design experience. It might be used by everyone. It is very intuitive. I will teach it how to handle it to my kids. I have not checked if there is a limitation yet.

FreeCAD¶

FreeCAD is a 3D open source modeler. It supports different OS systems like: Windows, Linux, Mac. You almost can do everything. However it is not so intuitive as other commercial software. It is menu are not so friendly. However it works. I would like to investigate more about its BIM functions.

Inventor¶

This SW is from Autodesk. Autodesk Inventor is a computer-aided design application for 3D mechanical design, simulation, visualization. So far once you got your first designs, your mind blows, since more and more ideas come to it. 3D modeling is easy. The extrude tool is very intuitive. One thing that I like the most is that you can choose a huge variety of materials for your pieces. One further step to learn is the simulator. Finally, something I like from Autodesk, you can get a educational license which help you know its products.

Solidworks¶

SolidWorks is a solid modeling computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided engineering (CAE). SolidWorks is published by Dassault Systèmes. Its SW is pretty similar to Inventor by Autodesk you get also the same feeling in the way you want learn more and more. Something I like the most are its web tutorials. 3D modeling becomes easy once you read more about it. Educational license are a good way to know its products also.

Onshape¶

Onshape is a computer-aided design (CAD) software system, delivered over the Internet via a Software as a Service (SAAS) model. It makes extensive use of cloud computing, with compute-intensive processing and rendering performed on Internet-based servers, and users are able to interact with the system via a web browser.

Cloud products are revolution the industry, the infrastructure cost are no longer an stop. Since you do not have to take care about it anymore. Neither about data loss or computer left at home. You connect by web, your information it at the cloud. I consider that once you dominate Ilustrator or Solidworks you can get all the advantages of these powerful tool.

OpenSCAD¶

OpenSCAD is a free software application for creating solid 3D CAD (computer-aided design) objects. It is a script-only based modeler that uses its own description language; parts can be previewed, but it cannot be interactively selected or modified by mouse in the 3D view. An OpenSCAD script specifies geometric primitives such as: cube, cylinder, boxes. Programming is at BASIC, which is not so difficult to learn. I would like to check more about its animation tools. I was not able to remove one object from the image.

Simulation¶

Simulation is the imitation of the operation of a real-world process or system over time. The act of simulating something first requires that a model be developed. This model represents the key characteristics, behaviors and functions of the selected physical or abstract system or process.

Fusion 360

Fusion 360¶

It is an Auodesk SW, as same as Onshape, it is a Cloud solution also, you may work files with other colleagues at the same time. I was not able to simulate an streght on the top of the toroid. It is something to learn and achieve for the next week.

Update week 3. This week we could do some simulation at Fusion by modifying a solid and then use the joint tool.

Project¶

Meanwhile I finish with the drawing by a CAD tool, I add the sketch.