39 replies to this topic

[frankiebateman]

Hiya people im looking for a decent trial or free download of and cad software i want this because ive just got a idea and need to do some decent 3d images ? or any software thats good at that kind of stuff thanks

[v8mini]

dont know about 3d software, but you can get a free copy of solid edge http://www.solidapps.co.uk/

i'm using unigraphics and autocad for 3d soild modeling but these are a bit pricey, altough you might be able to find copies of autocad on the net

[mini_turbo_pete]

Hiya people im looking for a decent trial or free download of and cad software i want this because ive just got a idea and need to do some decent 3d images ? or any software thats good at that kind of stuff thanks

Use a pencil and a piece of paper.. lol it's always worked for me..

[Jammy]

Depends what sort of work you want to be doing.

If your after 3D photo realistic models then you'll be wanting something like Maya or 3D Studio Max. Both great programs, the results you can achieve with them are very very good. Blender is a free version, and I believe you can get free learning editions of the other two. Lightwave is another programme.

If you want to do more CAD type work, measurement of parts to draw them up for analysis etc then you'll be wanting either Solidworks, Inventor or ProCAD/ProEngineer. These programs are much more assembly and CAD based, and are therefore harder to create 'fluid' surfaces like a cars body, but easier to do work like modeling individual bits of an engine, then bring them together in one big assembly. I've used both Inventor and Solidworks, and must say that each has a few features that are better than the other, but overall I now prefer Solidworks.

[frankiebateman]

ill have a go with the 3D Studio Max one, i just got a idea and thought better lay it out first incase i dont like it the idea is the rear bins im thinking about making fiberglass speaker enclosures or something but want to see what it would look like

[JetBLICK]

Hiya people im looking for a decent trial or free download of and cad software i want this because ive just got a idea and need to do some decent 3d images ? or any software thats good at that kind of stuff thanks

It depends what you want from it. There are two different types of CAD, they've got names and i forget what they're called, but basically you've got programs like Maya, Studiotools and 3Dsmax which all work using curves and image planes. This kind of CAD is what people tend to design stuff with, and is whats used in computer games and animation, because they're only after an aesthetical apearance, the surfaces have no depth or physical properties.

The other type of CAD is what engineers tend to use, like 'solidworks' for example. When you make shapes in this your effectively carving from a solid block. You can also ad physical properties, and import the files into other programs to do various tests on your model.

Think of it like this... to make a cube in Maya, you create a square which represents each surface, which makes it appear to be a cube. Wheras in solidworks you just make a cube.


I dont know of any software that is free im affraid, and its all very expensive and not something you can buy in PC world. I've heard a lot of people on here talk about autoCAD, I've never heard of it, but from the volume of people who talk about it, i'd imagine its not bad, and cant be too expensive either. Must warn you tho, CAD is not something you can just buy and learn in a day, it took me many very frustrating weeks to learn the basics of studiotools, and a year later its still a PITA to use!

[wolfys_mini]

i use solidworks and autocad, do the job for me

jetblick, some engineers use the plane type aswell, i know why but i cant remember, something about being able to save each seperate layer, with the solid type you cant, something like that. the solid type is easier to use i find. the plane type is a pita. and n the end you end up with a picture of something that has no dimensional thickness. its just a shape, not an object.

Edited by wolfys_mini, 26 March 2008 - 04:50 PM.

[frankiebateman]

Thanks for teh replys guys well ive picked and decided to do it the sneaky way and download 3D Studio Max as a torrent shh it's ONLY 5 gig big lmao should only take a few hours or maybe a day or so to download i dont know but ill have some practice on it get used to it and start doing the stuff i need to do

[roofless]

I do colouring in for a living - I model everything up in autocad so i can strike off measurements and make sure everything is the right size, and then import into studio max to allocate textures, lights and then render out illustrations.

vector works is another good cheapie, form Z, Rhino is good for modelling to go to CNC and also good for fluid like shapes, compound curves etc, cinema 4D is pretty good all rounder.

studio max is very commonly used and student licences are very cheap, as is maya and lightwave.

Go to WHSmith and look at the CGI and digital arts magazines, they nearly all have free editions of various software on cover disks each month. try as many as you can untill you find the one that best suits what your trying to create.

[JetBLICK]

Thanks for teh replys guys well ive picked and decided to do it the sneaky way and download 3D Studio Max as a torrent shh it's ONLY 5 gig big lmao should only take a few hours or maybe a day or so to download i dont know but ill have some practice on it get used to it and start doing the stuff i need to do

5 gig! Your downloading a whole heap of rubbish with that mate... i dnld it the other day and it was only 700mB with the key. The good thing you'll find with 3dsmax is its rendering program, 'mental ray' is very very good. If you get all the shaders spot on and the lighting good you can create very convinceable photo-realistic images.

[frankiebateman]

theres about 70 comments on it sayin its all good no viruses, works perfect everyhting there

[JetBLICK]

theres about 70 comments on it sayin its all good no viruses, works perfect everyhting there

fair enough... cant see why its 5 gig tho

[frankiebateman]

theres about 70 comments on it sayin its all good no viruses, works perfect everyhting there

fair enough... cant see why its 5 gig tho

Lol i dont either i never understand it but if it works its all good and dandy

[Ethel]

While you're waiting for it to download sit in your car with some cardboard, chicken wire, plasticene and/or polystyrene foam and make yourself a more useful mock up in a fraction of the time

[nurseholliday]

Pro Engineer 3: Wildfire + Mechanica

Sex in Engineering CAD form.

No use to you though I'm thinking.

Plus student license means I paid £1

Edited by nurseholliday, 26 March 2008 - 07:48 PM.