4 ms·

What was that 3D/CAD software you were using?

• henrikeh 11y ago
  It looked like Autodesk Inventor. It is a parametric CAD software like Creo or Solidworks. The parametric part is actually really neat. The lines are drawn and then certain constraints must be applied: These points must be coincident, these lines must be parallel, these must be perpendicular and several others. Dimensional constraints are then applied. The program informs the designer when the drawing is "fully constrained" meaning that the parametric solver can only find a single solution for the given set of constraints. For example to center a hole inside a brick: Guide lines are drawn to be along the center. At there intersection a point is constrained. The hole is then extruded (or made using the hole tool) at this point. This allows for making programmable drawings. For example one drawing can generate several pieces of documentation for different parts, but with different dimensions, thread types and so on.
  • ubercow 11y ago
    Awesome thank you!
  • zokier 11y ago
    > This allows for making programmable drawings In the extreme end of this we have OpenSCAD[1] in which models are defined purely by code. [1] http://www.openscad.org/ http://www.openscad.org/
    • theoh 11y ago
      The problem of providing a graphic interface for defining constraints is a serious issue. Current versions of AutoCAD have a toy constraint system (only works in 2D) but the interface is extremely nonintuitive.
• TheHydroImpulse 11y ago
  I don't know which he used but take a look at AutoDesk Fusion 360. It's free for hobbyists and startups, I believe. It's basically a single piece of software to do everything and hooks up really nicely to 3D printers, CNC machines, etc...