What's the best way to learn 3D design for modeling?

Cadeus

Cadeus

Sr Member
I am not new here, and this is an important question for modelers who are serious about evolving with the times. The fact is that I don't feel like I am alone in this matter... I would like to eventually be able to create my own pepakura models or designs for 3D printing. I have no experience, and I don't live in California. And I am not working in the field of art or design. I am simply a low-income model enthusiast who wants to learn these techniques for my own ideas and designs. So there it is. I am looking for serious recommendations that don't involve moving or taking out a loan. Thank-you! :)
 
Thats a tough one. Usually you may need to spend some money. The best way to Really learn is to take a class. Most community colleges have classes. They usually teach basic CAD. And 3-d Cad Like rhino or solid works . Theres some free software out there that you can play with and learn on. But for real design i would take a few classes, not saying you cant learn on your own. But it really cuts the curve down for learning to add draft. Designing for molding and machining. Not sure how in depth you want to go.
 
Thanks, Al. You are my hero. I am currently checking into community colleges, and I thought about one of those schools you see on TV like ITT... Trying to learn Blender watching Youtube videos just didn't work for me. I need a class. As for how far I want to go with it: I want to be you when I grow up! :) You have used your 3D CAD skills to design parts and print them for your models, and that is my goal. I want to be able to design and print parts for my models. My progress is only slowed by my pathetic income. As soon as I can finish something, and sell it, I will have more money to invest in my passion for modeling. And becoming a professional model builder has been a dream of mine since child-hood. I am 38, now, but I don't think it is too late to try. In the mean-time, I mow yards, landscape and design and build water gardens... my other passion. But models are what I dream about at night. Thanks, again, Al. I'll let you know what I find. :)
 
LOL. you don't want to be me. Theres no secrets when it comes to Model building. theres just technique and practice. I like to show all the dirty work. because this stuff doesn't build itself. I hate seeing pics of clean tables and pristine primered models. its looks nice but lets see how you did that. I went to school for Industrial Design, but no need to go for that. a few Cad classes and you will be designing some nice stuff. but remember cad is just one tool when it comes to building. My opinion for the biggest bang for your buck when it comes to model making is learning to carve foam. and use bondo. any one can cut flat styrene. practice on that Pink foam to make shapes that can be used to make molds and finished parts and you will be way ahead of most. and as I always say. if you ever need any help just PM me.
 
Cadeus said:
I am not new here, and this is an important question for modelers who are serious about evolving with the times. The fact is that I don't feel like I am alone in this matter... I would like to eventually be able to create my own pepakura models or designs for 3D printing. I have no experience, and I don't live in California. And I am not working in the field of art or design. I am simply a low-income model enthusiast who wants to learn these techniques for my own ideas and designs. So there it is. I am looking for serious recommendations that don't involve moving or taking out a loan. Thank-you! :)
Click to expand...

Take a look at Blender, the software is free and there are many free tutorials available. They also have a great community platform for more advice and tutorials.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
Bandiet said:
Take a look at Blender, the software is free and there are many free tutorials available. They also have a great community platform for more advice and tutorials.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Sorry bud, took too long to reply and missed your second post about blender. Please ignore my previous reply.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
Your best bet is to either take a class, or find something relatively simple you want to model, and go for it. Also, try multiple software suites, as they are all different, and better at some things than others.
 
Rhino 3D is really a good program if you want to design technical stuff. It also has a good educational license which you can use even for commercial use (and with this it was also the only affordable CAD program for me). The only thing I am not happy with it is when it comes to more organic shapes, but that's perhaps not it's intention. It's workflow is a lot like drawing things by hand and then actually building a model from scratch, I really like it this way.

Blender is great for things which don't need to be exact to 1/1000th of a mm, and I like to work with it for organic shapes. But it's not a CAD and has to be handled completely differently.

For learning I found a lot of good youtube videos for both programs, but I had a bit of drafting knowledge before, just not in 3D.

If you take CAD classes and get student's license offers for programs, take a close look at the license. I got more famous CAD programs through the local university's program but had to learn that these licenses were almost all time-limited (= you can't use it if you don't get a new license afterwards), and prohibit commercial use. Both a no-go for me, so I ended with Rhino and never regretted it.

Good luck!
Thorsten
 
Bandiet said:
Sorry bud, took too long to reply and missed your second post about blender. Please ignore my previous reply.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
No problem. I am grateful for your input. I spend most of my internet time looking at therpf.com because of all the helpful people like you. :)
 
I've built all my parts in a software called Hexagon, from DAZ 3D. It's really easy to learn, and you can do mechanical shapes or subdivision modeling for more organic forms. You can import SVG and Adobe Illustrator files, which was a big help with the Cygnus. I could lay out everything in Illustrator, tracing directly from blueprints. It outputs file formats that work fine for 3D printing, but would probably be of no use for CNC work. Unfortunately, they no longer support it, but the upside is it's pretty cheap. Once you get the hang of the basic procedures for construction, 3D modeling is pretty easy. Building for 3D printing is different than if you're going to render something for video -- you don't have to worry about blending joins so they look natural. You can just overlap a bunch of different pieces because it'll come out as one solid object. And you don't have to worry about texture mapping and materials and all that either.
 
Well when I first started all I could get my hands on that was free was Blender 2.4.
I learned through youtube and started modeling within a year.

Now years later after having followed game design classes and animation/ modeling classes I would have probably done it diffrently.

My suggestion is get a studio max student version. You can use each serial for 3 years. And every year a new version comes out...
Studio max doesn't have the cluttered UI that blender has. And has allot more in depth modeling courses over the internet.

Also Digital tutors helps allot, you have to pay a small subscription but it's worth it!

http://www.digitaltutors.com/11/training.php?tid=7&cid=106
 
Hi Cadeus, I'm using the same software as Al - Solidworks. Steep learning curve for me even after taking classes but certainly
a jumpstarter is important, especially when you've already tried the self-taught route. Knowing you're all in the same boat in class
helps a lot. Eventually the more inquisitive students advance faster, especially the younger ones. How I envy them with their retentive
brains. The "young-once" like myself need to do a little more work and spend a bit of more extra time on it but constant practice helps
immensely.

As suggested above, try Rhino - it's downloadable online and is good for 25 saves before you need to buy it. I have tried it and it seems so easier
to model stuff, even the ones with compound curves because it has this option where you can just pull on surfaces - much as you would with clay.
So those fancy cars and curvy ships are easier to build on Rhino. Solidworks is meant more for industrial/manufacturing applications.
I've had my own parts printed out with it and the satisfaction you get knowing you drew it yourself and have it come out as a real model
is priceless.
 
Blender 7.1 (It's free and damn good) and Youtube tutorials galore.
BTW no matter what CAD or 3D program you use, they all come with a steep learning curve. After a bazillion years of 3D modeling under my belt, I can tell ya I'm still learning something new every day. But if you do try Blender? First thing you want to do is, go into user preferences and switch the right mouse button select to the left mouse button.
:D
 
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