Software to render images/blueprints?

[cayman shen]

I've been looking at Zenkai's renders of the Maul and OB1 and wondering what software is used to do that. I'd love to learn how to do my own blueprints, etc. to take to my local mom n' pop machine shop, but lack the skills/software, etc. Is it possible to do this without an advanced degree in engineering? What's user friendly?

 

[franz bolo]

I haven't seen them. Can you post an image of them?

FB

 

[cayman shen]

Here's the link to the OBI. I think the Maul is down. Is this a photoshop thing, and is it used to visualize or to make blueprints or both?

http://www.therpf.com/index.php?showtopic=111409&st=100

 

[SurferGeek]

Could have been Sketchup?

 

[xwingband]

SketchUp is not an accuracy program... it's for sketches. :lol

My bet is an Autodesk product, probably Inventor.

 

[Gordon Gekko]

Could be Solidworks.

 

[franz bolo]

If you can illustrate, you could do that in Illustrator pretty easy. Lightwave, 3D studios max etc... are all
good.

Hrere's a good program also http://www.erain.com/community/casestudies/

You might want to email him.

FB

 

[acerocket]

<div class='quotetop'>(cayman shen @ Sep 25 2006, 07:12 AM) [snapback]1325920[/snapback]</div>

I've been looking at Zenkai's renders of the Maul and OB1 and wondering what software is used to do that. I'd love to learn how to do my own blueprints, etc. to take to my local mom n' pop machine shop, but lack the skills/software, etc. Is it possible to do this without an advanced degree in engineering? What's user friendly?
[/b]

Not 100 percent positive but I seem to recall a conversation with Zenkai and he mentioned he uses Solidworks (very high end-very good program). I use a different program for my work (you can see some of them here: ROTS stunts) called Alibre. There are any number of programs that do 3D rendering. Rhino is another popular program. Depending on what you are doing, there are two schools of design. The first uses parametric design, where your base drawings are done much like an autocad drawing with lines, arcs and dimensions and a 3D solid is created from it. The other is a much more organic design with the 3D model being created from NURBS elements and giving it a much more free flowing design. I personally prefer the parametric since that is what I am used to. Also, parametric base modeling lends itself better to later machining. You don't need to be an expert or have a college degree to use these packages. I purchased my program and turned out some nice designs in a few days. As far as the fancy full color rendering with surface effects, that is a matter of preference. Programs that will do this cost a lot more than programs that only give solid colors or minor 3d render capabilities. Your machinist won't care what the pretty picture looks like but your customers may. My program has a relatively mid level render capability. If you are looking to create 3D models to send to a machinist, you need to make sure your program can output the correct file types. IGES, STP, and SAT are popular file types that most machinists can accept. I don't want to sound like I am hawking their product, but Alibre has a free basic program you can download (Xpress) and can try out some 3D software and see if you can handle it. AS to your final question, what is user friendly, that all depends on the user. I have an engineering background so I don't have many problems working with these programs, but someone who has never even tried their hand at CAD or drafting before may be a little overwhelmed. Feel free to PM me if you have any other questions.

 

[SurferGeek]

<div class='quotetop'>(xwingband @ Sep 25 2006, 11:35 AM) [snapback]1325964[/snapback]</div>

SketchUp is not an accuracy program... it's for sketches. :lol
[/b]

http://www.see3d.be/cms/index.php?su_example_mechanical

:rolleyes

 

[Aegis159]

Doh.. hehehe someone got served some crow eh???

This one is pretty interesting...

[attachmentid=10262]

 

[cayman shen]

OK, since Acerocket's post made my head hurt, I'm guessing this may not be something I want to dip my toe into without some time to kill and a six pack.

Now I have some leads I can check out--thanks.

 

[xwingband]

<div class='quotetop'>(SurferGeek @ Sep 25 2006, 04:05 PM) [snapback]1325980[/snapback]</div>

<div class='quotetop'>(xwingband @ Sep 25 2006, 11:35 AM) [snapback]1325964[/snapback]

SketchUp is not an accuracy program... it's for sketches. :lol
[/b]

fancy pic

:rolleyes
[/b][/quote]

I don't think any machinist would go off a sketch-up render just like AutoCAD sucked pretty badly at 3D until 2007 where it's decent. You can make pretty 3D renders in AutoCAD but it's like castrating a bull compared to other stuff.

I'm coming at it from an Architect's perspective though. Sketch-up is best for sketches in my experience.

 

[SurferGeek]

<div class='quotetop'>(xwingband @ Sep 26 2006, 12:10 AM) [snapback]1326427[/snapback]</div>

<div class='quotetop'>(SurferGeek @ Sep 25 2006, 04:05 PM) [snapback]1325980[/snapback]

<div class='quotetop'>(xwingband @ Sep 25 2006, 11:35 AM) [snapback]1325964[/snapback]

SketchUp is not an accuracy program... it's for sketches. :lol
[/b]

fancy pic

:rolleyes
[/b][/quote]

I don't think any machinist would go off a sketch-up render just like AutoCAD sucked pretty badly at 3D until 2007 where it's decent. You can make pretty 3D renders in AutoCAD but it's like castrating a bull compared to other stuff.

I'm coming at it from an Architect's perspective though. Sketch-up is best for sketches in my experience.
[/b][/quote]


He was asking about a 3D render of a saber... not a 1:1 of the Empire State building. :rolleyes Sketchup can be used to do sabers quite competently and as a matter of fact there were some very nice saber renders done by a member using Sketchup posted here this past year. As I recall, they ended up having them "printed" by a 3D prototyper.

 

[xwingband]

Okay... fine. Reason #1 why RPF isn't all that fun. An off hand comment gets you a jump down the throat.

 

[cayman shen]

No, the RPF rules. If you want to see throat jumping, try originaltrilogy.com. I've rarely seen anything but basically civilized debate here (SDS threads excluded...) I appreciate everyone's comments, xwingband included, and will look into the programs listed. Any debate will only help me make a more informed decision.

 

[xwingband]

I just didn't see why he needed to even bother if he didn't agree.

I use SketchUp for some stuff and import to FormZ because SketchUp is pretty intuative... click and you're making shapes. FormZ on the other hand renders better but is pretty wonky sometimes. Doesn't like to snap well to points and I've had a window render 30' from where it is in the drawing. :lol I'm forced to use it for a course though.

SketchUp has a free version up. http://sketchup.google.com/product_suf.html Try messing around with it. You can get the feel for using "primatives" and subtractions/differences.

 

[TheDisturbance]

<div class='quotetop'>(SurferGeek @ Sep 25 2006, 09:05 AM) [snapback]1325980[/snapback]</div>

<div class='quotetop'>(xwingband @ Sep 25 2006, 11:35 AM) [snapback]1325964[/snapback]

SketchUp is not an accuracy program... it's for sketches. :lol
[/b]

http://www.see3d.be/cms/index.php?su_example_mechanical

:rolleyes
[/b][/quote]

:lol Too funny.

 

[TheDisturbance]

<div class='quotetop'>(xwingband @ Sep 26 2006, 10:27 AM) [snapback]1326757[/snapback]</div>

I just didn't see why he needed to even bother if he didn't agree.
[/b]

Why did you bother when you disagreed? :angel

I wonder who got jump down the throat first. I mean you did laugh at SurferGeek's opinion in post number 5 simply for suggesting Sketchup as a possible program used. People start doing this ---> :rolleyes when you start playing the victim/one being bullied. Try not to live in a world of double standards.

There are some people in this world that can dish it but they can't take it.

Cheng

 

[xwingband]

<div class='quotetop'>(TheDisturbance @ Sep 26 2006, 10:41 PM) [snapback]1326970[/snapback]</div>

<div class='quotetop'>(xwingband @ Sep 26 2006, 10:27 AM) [snapback]1326757[/snapback]

I just didn't see why he needed to even bother if he didn't agree.
[/b]

Why did you bother when you disagreed? :angel

I wonder who got jump down the throat first. I mean you did laugh at SurferGeek's opinion in post number 5 simply for suggesting Sketchup as a possible program used. People start doing this ---> :rolleyes when you start playing the victim/one being bullied. Try not to live in a world of double standards.

There are some people in this world that can dish it but they can't take it.

Cheng
[/b][/quote]

Thanks for adding to the thread :thumbsup . Your opinion is valued greatly by me... if you're going to reply to every post I ever make here on the RPF I'll just not post. I'm was done with you before I even registered here. Kindly just butt out and leave me alone.

 

[cayman shen]

Well I downloaded the Google Sketchup program and started playing with it. Pretty fun, though I'm dodgy with this kind of thing. I think for now it'll suit my needs--nice and free.

And...yup, I smell a thread closing.

Thanks again for your suggestions.

(closed per request as the thread has served it's purpose)