View Single Post
  #29   Report Post  
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking
Larry Jaques Larry Jaques is offline
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 5,154
Default Drawing program CAD

On Wed, 01 Oct 2008 11:48:30 -0700, the infamous Winston
scrawled the following:

Larry Jaques blessed all and sundry with:

I entered a drawing to win a copy of Rhino 3D a few years ago and was
overjoyed when they called. Unfortunately, it wasn't a winner's call,
it was notice that I had not won and an attempt to sell me the
product. It looks like a great program, but I don't do enough to
warrant the price. OK, now I'll read on.


This is from the perspective of someone who is much happier learning
alone rather than in a classroom, generally speaking. There are
exceptions to that of course. I have taken a couple of Rhino's
self-paced tutorials but no 'official' training at all.


We're two of a kind here. I'm usually self-taught.


Autodidacticism is underestimated. I learned that all by myself!


Yes, I'm happy never to have remembered being lexicographically-
challenged myself. When I won a deluxe lexicography course at a
seminar and they announced my name, I was one of the very few people
in the audience (or management) to know WTF they were talking about.
sigh (Long family dinners word-jousting with a brilliant older
sister and parents helped immensely with that.)


I coached a contractor buddy of mine as he assembled a 3D frame building.

(...)

That's amazing, Winston.


Don't get me wrong. They guy is definitely smarter than I am, so it's
reasonable that he should have been able to understand the concepts faster
than I did. I still marvel at how he 'picked up' CAD in minutes
instead of weeks.


I agree. (You don't wanna know with which parts.


I'm sure of two things. First, I'd probably agree that it worked well.
Second, ain't no way in the world I'd ever utter the words "Only about
a grand", period. g If I had my druthers, I'd own a copy of either
Chief Architect or SoftPLAN for my construction business. But they're
both nigh onta $3k each. _Ain't_ gonna happen. g


It's a time or money thing.
Next time you visit someone with cable TV, I invite you to check out
the n + 1 shows on house remodeling. See how they use
CAD to show the homeowner how changes will affect the house?
Very Cool!


That's precisely why I want a copy of CA or SP. I'd even settle for a
copy of ArchiCAD 12. --(Fine Christmas present suggestion, guys.)


(Note to self: Stop Evangelizing)


Amen.


I used Rhino to design this bracket to convert my hydraulic cart to
'lift it itself' functionality a while ago.

http://www.metalworking.com/dropbox/...es/HydCart.txt
http://www.metalworking.com/dropbox/...rtOverview.jpg
http://www.metalworking.com/dropbox/...ydCartLeft.jpg
http://www.metalworking.com/dropbox/...ydCartMech.jpg
http://www.metalworking.com/dropbox/...artRelease.jpg



Cool! Is that a rotary-to-linear pump adaptor you built, with a small
motor to run it?


Actually, it's much simpler. That's just a small bottle jack.


Uh, I _knew_ that much.


I unscrewed the pad from the top and welded on a piston extension to
drive the table mechanism. I made a connecting rod to couple a gear motor
to the master cylinder.


_That_ is what I referred to as a rotary-to-linear pump adaptor, sir.


See, after I was happy with the design, I
grabbed each of the pieces and made G-Code files. The mill made all
the parts and I welded them up.


"Wow!" he said, bowing to the man with a CNC mill.


Ah, another satisfied customer. Oh, what do upgrades cost, or is it
one of the fantastic free-upgrade programs? I love those.


Upgrades are not free. But they are very reasonably priced, given the
added functionality. In 6.5 years, I've upgraded once and was delighted
with the increased functionality.


"Reasonably priced" from the man who thinks $1k is lunch money.
shrug

-
If the gods had meant us to vote, they'd have given us candidates.
--------------