2. Computer-Aided Design
Hero Shot of the Week
Summary
Discovering different CAD software.
Work Process
To start testing the different CAD software I have paper sketched some ideas for the final project.
As I need multiple weather stations to create a mesh network, I though to have multiple designs. I came up with two simple design to start with.
One is the classical box for desk use.
The second is a more complex design with two main purposes. First it will be a bench test table, so I can easily and cleanly test different modules and cable management.
Second is an educational panel, so it can be used to explain how it works.
The idea will be to create with different CAD software the same design to see which one I like the most.
3D Softwares
Fusion 360
Introduction
For Fusion Saco made us a presentation.
Sketch
Contrary to Blender, in Fusion we start with drawing 2D sketches. From these sketches we can extrude the object in 3D.
We can also work parametrically. If we go into into Modify than select Change Parameters we can define all our parameters in one place.
Than in the sketches (or extrusions) we can use these parameters while using the constraints.
We can also create a sketch on a face of an object. This allows us to create a new object that modifies the first.
Action history
Fusion has a history of all the actions that we have done.
Testing it out
As I have already used Fusion before (not for big projects) I started to create the base plaque for the educational design. First step was making a sketch of the base. See what parameters I will need to define.
Than I used the sketch, extrude and rectangular pattern to create the base.
Second was to create the pin (? not sure about how to call it).
For this I started with a sketch to create a 2nd body. Than using sketch and extrude I started creating the pin. I also used the loft tool to create the top of the pin.
Sometimes I lost myself in the menus and mostly when right clicking as for me it should exit the tool used at the moment.
When I wanted to export my design it proposed two STL formats. Binary and ASCII. I did a quick search and found out that the binary is smaller and faster to read. It is also a newer format.
Links:
FreeCAD
Introduction
Babken showed us how to use FreeCAD. As I already used it before I knew most of the basics that he showed us.
Testing it out
The second software that I wanted to test was FreeCAD. As the most complicated part of the design is the pin, I started with that. I first created a spreadsheet and defined the parameters that I will need.
Than I created a sketch and used the spreadsheet to define the parameters.
As I discovered from Neil's global review, I tried using some boolean actions (I never used them before). For this I created my pin without the middle split. Than created a cube and made a difference between the two bodies.
I made my pin way faster that I though I would.
Links:
Testing Blender
Introduction
Ferdi showed us the basics of Blender in a Regional work group meeting. I have never used Blender before, so I was very excited to learn something new. I have to say that I was very impressed by the possibilities of Blender and how easy it seems to be. I have used other 3D software before, (FreeCAD & Fusion).
View
He first showed us how to navigate in the 3D space.
Zoom: Mouse Wheel Scroll
Pan: Shift + Mouse Wheel
Orbit: Middle Mouse Wheel
The Number Pad is used to change the view.
Other ShortCuts
Two more ShortCuts were to show / hide different panels.
Hide Sidebar: N
Hide Toolbar: T
He also explained that each window has its own shortcuts.
So if I am working in the main window, and I use shortcut T, it will show/hide the toolbar menu.
But if I press T in the timeline window it will bring up a different menu.
So the position of your mouse when using a shortcut is important.
Blender knows where you are. 👀
Next up was how to add stuff. Shift + A bring out a menu.
Than we select mesh and add the object that we want.
Shift + right click moves a pointer that is used to spawn the object.
At least that is how we used it for the demo.
The right click works as escape.
Object Mode
To work with the object we have the following shortcuts:
Move: G
Rotate: R
Scale: S
Theses shortcuts can also be used as commands if we give them some numbers and hit enter.
Example: G + X + 2 + enter moves the object 2 units on the X axis.
Using alt with the previous commands will reset the modifications.
Smoothing
To smooth the object we can use the Subdivision Surface modifier in the Properties Window in Modifiers Tab.
This gives more flat surfaces to the object.
Than we can use the Shade Smooth to make the object look really smooth.
The Autoshade smooth has a degree limit after which it will not smooth (continuously) the object anymore.
NEVER GO BEYOND 5 ON THE LEVEL VIEWPOINT.
It will crash your computer.
When using Tab we can switch between Object and Edit mode.
Edit Mode
We want to go to edit mode to modify physically the object. This is where Blender becomes a CAD software.
Testing it out
From the introduction, it seems blender is not a parametric by default (but seems like there are addons for it).
Anyway, instead of figuring out how to install the addons, I used the properties to define the dimensions.
Than I spawned the different bodies and used the move, rotate and scale commands to position them.
It was a little hard to see if I positioned them correctly, as I was thrown off by the missing parametric system.
And also the fact that when I change the body size it changes in both direction of the axis and not just on one.
At one point I wanted to do a boolean subtraction (now that I discovered it in FreeCAD, I am trying to do it everywhere).
So I looked up the
documentation
for it.
Somehow the boolean modifier only worked for the cylinder but not the cone...
Ferdi looked at my files and manage to correct the issue. It seems that I need to do an union boolean before doing a cut boolean. Unfortunately the video is a little too fat to put it here :/
Links:
- Blender Cheat Sheet ShortCuts
- Ferdi's Intro & documentation
- Site given in the Zoom Chat
- Instructor Blender Bootcamp 2024
- Blender & AI
OnShape
Introduction
We did not have an introduction to OnShape in our regional group.
Testing it out
I also wanted to test out OnShape. Its interface is very simple and easy to use. At the beginning I had some issues figuring out how to use the variables.
I created the same pin as in the other software without much difficulty.
Links:
Video
FFMPEG
Henk
showed us how to use FFMPEG.
To be honest I am not that good with command line and prefer having a GUI. For that reason I will try out the different tools that were mentioned in the Zoom chat and in the FabAc doc.
Links:
Blender - Animation
For this one I just followed this video
I imported from Fusion and FreeCAD the different parts. Added colors to it. Animated the pin movement.
Than rendered the animation following this video
The output video was 1.106KB.
Kdenlive
After the video was rendered I imported it into Kdenlive. I made some edit (I added an outro) and exported it in lower resolution to have a smaller file.
This is the result:
Total size of 105KB.
2D Softwares
Image Compression
Henk showed us how to use ImageMagick.
To be honest I am not that good with command line and prefer having a GUI. For that reason (for image compression) I stayed with PowerToys . I can batch resize and compress images with it.
My usual workflow, when working on PC is to take screenshots with the Snipping Tool. Than edit with powerpoint (add arrows, comments, etc), save slide as an image. Than compress with PowerToys. And add it to the documentation that I write in parallel.
Links:
InkScape
I have already used InkScape before. But my knowledge is very basic.
So to try out new thing I thought about making a laser cut box design.
For this the first step was to make a grid. This can be done in the properties window ctrl + shift + D.
Using the rectangle tool I created different sized rectangles.
(To be honest I skipped the thinking part about how big the box should be and just started creating).
Than using the boolean tools I created the different tabs and holes for the box.
Second step was to convert a colored image to something that could be engraved. I found an image online . I used the trace bitmap and clip tool to make a cleaner image. This is the result.
Links:
MS Paint
I always knew about MS Paint but never used it. At least for the last 10 years.
(I did use it when I was a kid, but that was in the Windows XP period).
I thought it would be fun to try it out and to make a drawing about the educational panel. So here is a quick sketch.
This one was fun XD.
Blender - Rendering
For this one I just followed this video.
And I used this HDRi: Site
And this is the Render:
FreeCAD - Rendering
I also tried to do rendering with FreeCAD but even after several videos and documentations I couldn't figure it out on my project.
Potrace
Potrace is a tool that converts bitmap images to vector images. I followed their instruction from their website. This program has also no gui but it will be still useful.
Learning Outcome
The programs that I have used before are FreeCAD and Fusion. Discovering new tools was fun. For CAD Softwares, when I think about it, they all have (almost) the same logic. What I learned from testing different CAD software is that when you know how to use one, you can easily change to an other one. The only issue (and the most frustrating part) will be to find where the tools are hidden.
What I prefer in FreeCAD is the possibility to have an excel table to have more complicated calculations with multiple parameters. Fusion parametric design is a little frustrating as you always need to go into a specific window and cannot edit on the go but it has a bonus to having units integrated into it. OnShape has also a good parametric design but I found it a harder to understand how to use than the FreeCAD one.
Drawing was fun. But I still do not have a good artistic sense soo... You wont see visually pleasant stuff from me. They will have more a functional idea / usage behind them.
The change from HTML to mkdocs was a little frustrating as most of the links broke, the duplication of lot of files on git (yeah, I am gonna keep the HTML files there), and some of the work that broke and I am a little discouraged to do it again (my poor duck). I am sad loosing my duck easter egg.
Digital Files
Assignment Check
- model (raster, vector, 2D, 3D, render, animate, simulate, ...) a possible final project,
- Raster - Done
- Could still try Gimp
- Vector - Done
- 2D - Done
- 3D - Done
-
- Could still try OpenSCAD
-
- Render - Done
- Animate - Done
- Simulate - I discussed it with my supervisor, as I do not have any moving part, I do not need to make a simulation.
- Raster - Done
- compress your images and videos,
- Image - Done
- Video - Done
- and post a description with your design files on your class page
- Not yet