3D model

There are no legal, free downloads of any of the standard 3D modeling software. You can get 30 day trial versions of some.

In general, you should make 3D models from engineering drawings in the following manner:

1) Manually read the 2D drawings. Do not import the 2D drawing into the 3D program - this takes longer and creates errors.

2) Identify the design intent of the part as best you can. Dimensions in 3D should be related to that design intent as much as possible. For example, if you have a shaft and that shaft has a groove for a retaining ring, there will be a relationship between the shaft diameter and the groove size; if possible, you want to link those two so that if you change the shaft diameter the groove changes also. Design intent can be much more complicated (strength, deflection, fit in assembly, etc), but this gives you an idea.

3) If you use a history-based 3D software, build the part in the exact order that will be used in manufacturing.

4) All dimensions should be exact when you begin. Add tolerances and fits later.

5) Use unique names for features, e.g., "pilot hole for 2 mm dowel", so that you can easily identify everything later.

6) Use colors and exotic finishes at a minimum until you're absolutely done.

Hello milanki

I don't reply to email addresses, and indeed it is unwise to list your email address in a public forum, because you generally find Spam Harvesters search the Internet, looking for Email addresses to send them.

In answer to your question, such Software is of a proprietary nature, and that means you need to pay for it, and Register it, or it does not work.

For anyone to advise you where you may obtain a "cloned copy" of such Software, would perhaps lead to legal proceedings being taken against both and the person who advised you.

Kind Regards....

There are no free downloads for the major 3D software packages, as indicated above. You can go to Google, and download a free 3D software called Sketchup, but all it does is the 3D model. For cheap and dirty, for about $600 US you can buy a package with Sketchup that exports 2D data to Autocad. I haven't purchased it, so I don't know how well it works. If you aspire to work for a particular company, your wisest choice would be to find out what they use and save the coin to buy and learn it.

I've been using Solidworks continuously since its inception in 1995. It has been my only design tool since I abandoned Pro Engineer and I have never regretted the switch.

Starting sometime after 2006 Solidworks implemented a web based licensing protocol so as to frustrate the unauthorized replication of the software.

There is very capable 3D solid modeling software which can be downloaded for free and which does not time out. It's called Alibre Express. It will also export your creations using a variety of Neutral File Formats so if you do choose to change horses at some point your legacy data will come along.

As was pointed out, trial versions only last 30 days and they have some limitations in terms of opening existing Solidworks files created earlier. The 30 day trial only becomes full featured when a license is purchased. Be prepared to spend at least $4,000.

A longer lasting path around the problem is to register for a CAD training course at a local college. Usually, the tuition includes a full featured educational version of Solidworks. That license only costs a few hundred dollars and will last 12 months before it goes away. In the past the scholastic version was nothing more than last years software. I urge you to give serious consideration to this option as the training can save you a lot of time getting up to speed.

Alibre Express is the best way I know of, of learning the 3D paradigm without any financial investment. It's limited to some extent. For one thing, there is no tech support nor should anyone expect it for a package that's free.

There is also a limit to how many features you can create in a part. There is a limit as to how many parts you can put into an assembly. It does allow you to test for inference, create parts in assembly mode, calculate mass properties, tie parts together using characteristic, etc.

There is a more advanced version that can be purchased for a few hundred bucks. I like Alibre Express and while it's quite capable, I'm not certain it's ready for prime time just yet. It is however, the perfect tool for getting your 3D feet wet.

The earlier suggestion to start parts from newly from scratch using paper drawings and to avoid importing 2D sketches is a wise one. It frequently takes longer to do even when the drawing has integrity. If there are any double lines or less than perfect vertices's, you'll go nuts looking for them.

Forget AutoCAD, AutoCAD lite, Sketchup and other 2D packages. They are relics of a 3000 year old paradigm invented by the Egyptians, I am told, to frustrate grave robbers at the pyramids. You know how successful that was!

They had no alternatives to papyrus. You do in your computer. You live and think in a 3D world. It's time you created in one too.

Good luck

L.J.

LJ,

Wish I had said that. Probably when you're not around I will. I just wanted to add my weight to your opinion. The only reason for doing 2D these days is legacy; otherwise, it's sheer lunacy. And, IMHO, the only two programs to consider for normal design use are ProE and SW.

Unfortunately, in some parts of the world, fab shops will accept ONLY 2D drawings. We are a long way away from considering 2D legacy...

Interesting. Rather like the US companies that refuse to conform to CE standards.

The difference here is between design and fabrication. It's very simple to provide 2D drawings from 3D designs. 

Absolutely. But, especially for simpler products, it is just as easy to start with the 2D format in the first place. If we are talking about something that needs some analysis, then we start with 3D.

I agree that it seems easy to start with 2D. But, you've lost all associativity. And, you'll one day want that.

I can't speak at all to Panama, but here in the US, we've lost some of our competitive edge in manufacturing (and jobs as well); part of the effort to restore that edge is using the same modern technologies as our competition.

There is an opensource 3D modeling program called BrlCAD, developed under the auspices of the US government that is available for free download. Google BrlCAD...

Will this software be useful to convert engineering drawing to a 3D Model.

Alibre Design Xpress is a very capable 3D parametric solid modeler, and it is free.
https://www.alibre.com/xpress/

You might want to get subscription to limewire. I been able to find software with keys on this service

milanki,

What do you want to do with these models? There are different answers that depend on your intended use.

What's wrong with Google SkethUp? Is a free version and i love it.

I had a linux preloaded computer before with free programs too and it had a beautiful modeller too.

Also, check out www.engineersedge.com they have some links to other

cad downloads.

milanki,

Thanks for the reply, but could you give a few more details. Are you an engineer needing to make 3D models on an everyday basis? Are you a student needing to do this once? Will your 3D models be sent to vendors for their use? Or to customers? What type of products (generally) are we talking about, i.e., single parts of metal or large assemblies)?

I downloaded the brlcad because mention above on this forum thread: wonderful, but it needs longer time to be learned than sketchup i guess. i'll try too with the others mentioned on this forum.thanks guys.-