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Fins Software Design

Posted: Tue Sep 24, 2013 10:55 am
by Faber
Hello there,
a friend and I would like to "play" with a CNC machine we can use occasionally.
We'd like to create some fins to put on our Kite Surfboard, just to play with all those magical configuration out there, quad, fish keels, bonzers, etc....
I'm looking for an easy to use software, such as the BoardCad available on Internet, but I didn't find any so far.
I know AutoCad or Rhino are the best but I'm looking for something easier.

Any hints or suggestion is welcome.
Thanks & bye,

Faber

Re: Fins Software Design

Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2014 1:34 am
by NorCalNomad
Rhino is going to be the cheapest software that you can find for what you need. Don't bother sinking time into learning to do 3D in AutoCad.

Re: Fins Software Design

Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2014 4:49 pm
by dblass
Have a look at http://moi3d.com

Re: Fins Software Design

Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2014 8:35 pm
by ChristoffM
I can highly recommend the open source art modelling software called Blender. And for CNC use you can use the BlenderCAM http://blendercam.blogspot.com/ version. I use it for making hydrofoil wings and moulds. Very powerful and fast to use, with loads of general tutorials on the web.

I think Blender is probably as easy as Rhino, but slightly different so it wont be quite as intuitive to move from the one to the other one. But definitely worth learning and pretty easy to learn if you search for some tutorials on the web.

Re: Fins Software Design

Posted: Tue Feb 25, 2014 10:30 pm
by Bille
I purchased (BOB-CAD) but was told it's no good . :(

I was recommended a Better system to learn with, but can't find
the post anymore . I wanna learn Cad-drawing, and i now
have a computer strong enough to do it, with windows-8 ; is
that gonna also be a problem ?

Bille

Re: Fins Software Design

Posted: Tue Feb 25, 2014 11:04 pm
by Bigdog
I wonder how far you can get with google sketchup? It's a weird interface but seems powerfull.

Re: Fins Software Design

Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2014 10:02 am
by Faber
Thanks folks for all these inputs.
I'll give a try !
Ciao :bye:
Faber

Re: Fins Software Design

Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2014 7:24 pm
by t3rse
Look for opensource utils, such as FreeCAD, Blender (mentioned and highly recommended), or OpenSCAD for mathetical based stuff.

I primarily use OpenSCAD as it guarantees manifold models for use in 3d printing, but you do everything functionally...want to draw a cylinder with a hole in the middle?

difference() {
cylinder(r1=1, r2=5, 15, center=true);
cylinder(r1=0.5, r2=0.5, 16, center=true);
}

...you get the idea

Want to get hardcore and do some FEA? CAELinux is available as a live CD (you can boot into the OS with the app loaded, but you can't install in Windows), and supports fluids. I don't have any experience with this util but it looks effing sweet.

Most opensource CAD and modeling programs will work in Windows as well, and if you just can't get it to work, maybe it's time to make the switch :-) (or you could just dual boot...or use Linux with WINE for your Windows apps...etc)

Re: Fins Software Design

Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2014 7:38 pm
by Faber
Thanks !
:thumb: