Choosing a 3D design package
Discussion
I am trying to draw some half decent designs of my dream car on the computer...
The current program I have is very limited and will only really manage the basic chassis shape...
I need something that does stress analysis etc and is a little bit more advanced without needing a degree in grasshopper sex to get it to work!!!
It would also be nice to be able to design a decent curvy body to go over the chassis...Is there any program that lets you do normal technical design and then go into nice curvey stuff or will I be looking at two different programes?
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!
Dunc
The current program I have is very limited and will only really manage the basic chassis shape...
I need something that does stress analysis etc and is a little bit more advanced without needing a degree in grasshopper sex to get it to work!!!
It would also be nice to be able to design a decent curvy body to go over the chassis...Is there any program that lets you do normal technical design and then go into nice curvey stuff or will I be looking at two different programes?
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!
Dunc
I currently use Solidworks for all my CAD/ engineering at work. It is based on solids and is parametric, so can be used for analysis and stress calculations pretty easily, such as the built in Cosmos FEA program. That said, it is maybe too basic for what you're looking to do, and you might want an automotive specific package. Also it's not very good for curvy shapes, in the past I've used another program called Rhino which is Surface based (ie not parametric) where it is really easy to create nice flowing organic models. Its also possible to import between the two, so you can combine the best of both and put say a curvy bodyshell over an engineered chassis, and so on.
Im noe expert, but you've got to remember the difference between 2 types of program - are you wanting to 'design', to model parts, use them to create manufacturing data, parts lists etc, or are you wanting to 'draw', make beautiful renderings and animations? Different Software for different purposes.
I don't do much surface stuff but for regular design work I would suggest Solidworks, the new versions have beceom much more powerful. It is what I learnt at Uni (Along with Wildfire) and what I should be using at work soon when they sort their sh*t out.
I don't do much surface stuff but for regular design work I would suggest Solidworks, the new versions have beceom much more powerful. It is what I learnt at Uni (Along with Wildfire) and what I should be using at work soon when they sort their sh*t out.
tegwin said:
I am trying to draw some half decent designs of my dream car on the computer...
The current program I have is very limited and will only really manage the basic chassis shape...
I need something that does stress analysis etc and is a little bit more advanced without needing a degree in grasshopper sex to get it to work!!!
It would also be nice to be able to design a decent curvy body to go over the chassis...Is there any program that lets you do normal technical design and then go into nice curvey stuff or will I be looking at two different programes?
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!
Dunc
The current program I have is very limited and will only really manage the basic chassis shape...
I need something that does stress analysis etc and is a little bit more advanced without needing a degree in grasshopper sex to get it to work!!!
It would also be nice to be able to design a decent curvy body to go over the chassis...Is there any program that lets you do normal technical design and then go into nice curvey stuff or will I be looking at two different programes?
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!
Dunc
Do you want to just model something or actually create a precise scale model that can be manufactured?
If you just want to model something, use a 3D modelling package, not a CAD pacakge.
Chears for your input.
I want to produce scale acurate technical drawings of the chassis and then add a concept shell...
I guess solidworks 2007 would be a good bet for the main design and then use rhino for the body especially if I can import it etc..
I will have to find a copy of both and see if I can actually use them...
Dunc
I want to produce scale acurate technical drawings of the chassis and then add a concept shell...
I guess solidworks 2007 would be a good bet for the main design and then use rhino for the body especially if I can import it etc..
I will have to find a copy of both and see if I can actually use them...
Dunc
I do a lot of analysis in my work. As someone else has already pointed out solid modelling software and finite element modelling software are generally separate entities (if you want the best in class at either).
ANSYS and Abaqus are both very powerful general purpose FEM codes that I've used and can recommend.
For design and solid modelling Solidworks is pretty good, but I don't really get involved with aesthetics myself.
BTW - I've found a few gb is adequate for solidworks and most FEM simulations.
ANSYS and Abaqus are both very powerful general purpose FEM codes that I've used and can recommend.
For design and solid modelling Solidworks is pretty good, but I don't really get involved with aesthetics myself.
BTW - I've found a few gb is adequate for solidworks and most FEM simulations.
Edited by tybalt on Friday 2nd March 15:06
tegwin said:
Chears for your input.
I want to produce scale acurate technical drawings of the chassis and then add a concept shell...
I guess solidworks 2007 would be a good bet for the main design and then use rhino for the body especially if I can import it etc..
I will have to find a copy of both and see if I can actually use them...
Dunc
I want to produce scale acurate technical drawings of the chassis and then add a concept shell...
I guess solidworks 2007 would be a good bet for the main design and then use rhino for the body especially if I can import it etc..
I will have to find a copy of both and see if I can actually use them...
Dunc
You'd want Pro/Engineer, UGS or Catia V5 (no idea if Solidworks is very surface-friendly!?) for technical and styling if you have high demands on the 3d-geometry and the following workflow with CAM or CAE. Doing it properly would mean that you have to look deeeeep into one of these packages. Why don't you do the styling in something like Blender 3D www.blender.org and let someone who uses a parametric package every day, do the chassis quickly?
Edited by Bodo on Friday 2nd March 15:45
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