It is currently 28 Mar 2024, 17:46
Andyp wrote:Dave, The mind boggles
Dave R wrote:...uses OnShape. Very powerful but I fond it exceedingly clumsy and tedious to use. It's so different from SketchUp.
Dr.Al wrote:I think a lot of it is a combination of what makes sense to your brain and what you're used to.
Dave R wrote:When I watch experienced users working in OnShape it looks like they are working so hard to produce what they do. But I imagine some people would say the same about watching me work in SketchUp.
Dr.Al wrote:Dave R wrote:...uses OnShape. Very powerful but I fond it exceedingly clumsy and tedious to use. It's so different from SketchUp.
I think a lot of it is a combination of what makes sense to your brain and what you're used to.
I used Sketchup years ago before I had anything else and I managed to model a few things (including the driveway & the steps up to the front door), but I never got on with it. By contrast I picked up most of the parametric CAD systems I've tried quite quickly. I'm in awe of what you do with Sketchup, but I'll stick with CAD.
The impression I've got is that there are 4 main ways 3D packages work.
If you can use Sketchup then with practice you'll get good at Sketchup.
If you can use Fusion 360, then with practice you'll get good at Fusion 360 and, with a lot of work, you can learn to use other parametric CAD systems.
If you can use OpenSCAD, OpenJSCAD or CADQuery, you can learn the others in that list fairly easily.
If you can use OnShape, Solidworks, SolidEdge, NX, FreeCAD, ZW3D, Alibre Atom or a few others, then you can pick up any of the others in that list easily. Alternatively, with a lot of work and a fair amount of swearing you can figure out Fusion 360.
Which one you learn first probably dictates what you find easy.
9fingers wrote:Dr Al thanks for that useful analysis of classes of cad packages.
I have a long term desire to learn a cad package to use with my milling machine cnc conversion ( still very much a back burner project) so need a route to gcode eventually.
I have failed to learn sketchup adequately and similarly fusion 360 but in the process have a strong desire for the parametric route.
Can you suggest which of your categories might be best for me to try next please?
I use a PC not Mac
Bob
novocaine wrote:Freecad can convert stl files back in to something editable.
Dr.Al wrote:novocaine wrote:Freecad can convert stl files back in to something editable.
There are lots of programs that can, but none of them do a job that is anywhere near as good as just having the STEP file. STEP files represent the object as blocks that are similar to the representation used by the CAD system. STL files represent them as triangular meshed surfaces. You can go from STEP to STL easily and from STEP to CAD easily. You can go from STL to CAD, but the result is never that good.
novocaine wrote:Dr.Al wrote:novocaine wrote:Freecad can convert stl files back in to something editable.
There are lots of programs that can, but none of them do a job that is anywhere near as good as just having the STEP file. STEP files represent the object as blocks that are similar to the representation used by the CAD system. STL files represent them as triangular meshed surfaces. You can go from STEP to STL easily and from STEP to CAD easily. You can go from STL to CAD, but the result is never that good.
True. Was just saying that there are options if you failed to safe the step file.
Have to admit that all my stuff is in .dxf for the same reason you use step files. Except those daft wee things that don't really matter like end caps for postal tubes. (yes I really did print a couple out earlier this week)
novocaine wrote:All the ones I use.
Which to me, is all that matters.
It ain't "my way or the highway" its just my way and it works for me based on the years if doing it for a living"
Malc2098 wrote:Speaking as a CAD/CAM noobi, I am struggling with both Fusion 360 and OnShape. I have used Sketchup in the past; some of you may remember my animations of my workshop design. I eventually got the hang of SU, but only sufficiently to do what I wanted to do then.
Now, I want to design for my cnc routing machine which means CAD/CAM so that I end up with a gcode file.
There is a lot of online encouragement to use one of Vectric's products and I confess that I find that easier to draw (they allow you to download a free version before you buy) but I'm still only just learning, but I find it easier than Fusion or Onshape. Vectric's products will walk you through the tool paths that you'll employ on the CNC router. I think Fusion will, too. But I haven't found out fs OnShape can do that yet.
Vecrtic will only run on Windows though, and I can't be bothered to try and set a Windows emulator up on my Mac.
Dr.Al wrote:novocaine wrote:All the ones I use.
Which to me, is all that matters.
It ain't "my way or the highway" its just my way and it works for me based on the years if doing it for a living"
It wasn't a criticism at all: it was genuine curiosity about how widespread the 3D DXF standard had become. I know the 2D one is the best there is for portable 2D drawings and wondered how the 3D one compared.
Dr.Al wrote:Malc2098 wrote:Speaking as a CAD/CAM noobi, I am struggling with both Fusion 360 and OnShape. I have used Sketchup in the past; some of you may remember my animations of my workshop design. I eventually got the hang of SU, but only sufficiently to do what I wanted to do then.
Now, I want to design for my cnc routing machine which means CAD/CAM so that I end up with a gcode file.
There is a lot of online encouragement to use one of Vectric's products and I confess that I find that easier to draw (they allow you to download a free version before you buy) but I'm still only just learning, but I find it easier than Fusion or Onshape. Vectric's products will walk you through the tool paths that you'll employ on the CNC router. I think Fusion will, too. But I haven't found out fs OnShape can do that yet.
Vecrtic will only run on Windows though, and I can't be bothered to try and set a Windows emulator up on my Mac.
That's a shame: I'm sorry it isn't working out for you. I'd never heard of Vectric or their product. Out of interest, do you think you can describe what it is about the Vectric software that you find easy compared to the parametric ones?
If there's anything I can do to help with the parametric sorts I'm happy to try, although if they don't suit you they may be the wrong thing to explore.
canoemoose wrote:On the other hand, I don't see eye-to-eye with SketchUp (At all. Honestly.) and find 2D Autocad and its ilk frustrating because in my mind it'd "work better" if it did things like a 2D sketch in 3D parametric CAD - or at least had driving dimensions - and I was also taught and enjoyed "manual" technical drawing so I understand where it's coming from.
Malc2098 wrote:As a newcomer to 2D & 2.5D CNC router shaping, I really am starting from scratch, and to get to a a tool path design stage I've found Vectric to be the most user friendly. The other two are free to a hobbyist, but Vectric is a commercial product and only the trial is free.
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