Anuncios

The Autodesk Community Forums has a new look. Read more about what's changed on the Community Announcements board.

Which autocad is best suited for developing a 3d model with user inputs?

xnguyenY935A
Contributor

Which autocad is best suited for developing a 3d model with user inputs?

xnguyenY935A
Contributor
Contributor

I am trying to transition from 2D drawings to 3D models of joint covers. I am thinking of creating a program that can generate a 3D model based on the user's input such as overall length and width. Where do I even begin? I have access to the Autodesk Construction, Architecture, and Engineering suite so I have a lot of tools on hand.

0 Me gusta
Responder
Soluciones aceptadas (1)
968 Vistas
7 Respuestas
Respuestas (7)

VincentSheehan
Advisor
Advisor

I take it you are talking about parametric 3D modeling? AutoCAD is limited on parametric 3d modeling. Inventor and Fusion is better suited.

 

Check this out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRu5CPHKN8w 

 

 

Vincent Sheehan

Sr. Civil Designer
Poly In 3D Blog

0 Me gusta

autoid374ceb4990
Advocate
Advocate

Please post a picture of a "joint cover".

Is your ultimate goal to print the joint cover on a 3D printer?

0 Me gusta

xnguyenY935A
Contributor
Contributor

I don't have a clear image of our joint covers, but they're quite similar in complexity to architectural cladding. They involve a lot of custom extrusions that are stretched to fit the width of the floor, wall, or roof. My plan is to start small with a standard cover and the customing option is how long it needs to be. Figuring out the equal edge distance for hole spacing and part spacing might be a bit tricky for me. Ultimately, my goal is to have a 3D model, generate fabrication drawings from it, and create a bill of materials for the product. With the 3D models we can better understand how our product would fit in our customer's layout and vice versa. 

0 Me gusta

pendean
Community Legend
Community Legend

@xnguyenY935A wrote:

I don't have a clear image of our joint covers, but they're quite similar in complexity to architectural cladding. They involve a lot of custom extrusions that are stretched to fit the width of the floor, wall, or roof. My plan is to start small with a standard cover and the customing option is how long it needs to be. Figuring out the equal edge distance for hole spacing and part spacing might be a bit tricky for me. Ultimately, my goal is to have a 3D model, generate fabrication drawings from it, and create a bill of materials for the product. With the 3D models we can better understand how our product would fit in our customer's layout and vice versa. 


If I may ask, what's stopping you from using AutoCAD for what you need right now?

Where is it not working for your needs?
What challenges are you facing with it?

What software are your customers using that you want to exchange CAD files with?

 

Or is it the case you just know about AutoCAD and are asking about it but you don't actually use the software right now.

0 Me gusta

xnguyenY935A
Contributor
Contributor

What's stopping you from using AutoCAD for what you need right now?

-->There's nothing wrong with using AutoCAD, I just wanted to see if I can take this to the next level. I am currenly modeling out some of our products using 5 ft standard length and using some of the AutoCAD Mechanical features to store part information. 

 

Where is it not working for your needs?

--> The lengths varies based on customer needs and it takes time and knowledge to rework the model for those lengths. I just want one model in which the only thing the user would need to specify is the total length needed. I like the feature that inventor can create a model from a spreadsheet since I can adjust the edge distances and hole spacing if need be. 

 

What challenges are you facing with it?

--> The issue with the 3D model is if I need a longer length then I would have to readjust the edge distances for the holes or members, and I would have to select each member that I need to block scale up. 

 

What software are your customers using that you want to exchange CAD files with?

-->I believe most of my customers are using Revit but exchanging a navis file should accomandate our needs. 

0 Me gusta

pendean
Community Legend
Community Legend
Solución aceptada

Thanks for the detailed replies: so you are indeed using AutoCADMECHANICAL, about the only correct variant that I am aware of to do what you are asking about. Does it have and do you use Parametric Tools? It seems like what you are asking about, explore it in HELP starting here https://help.autodesk.com/view/AMECH_PP/2024/ENU/?guid=GUID-899E008D-B422-4DF2-AC8D-1A4F5701ED4E 

 

I see you have posted in the dedicated MECHANICAL forum before, which is not this general AutoCAD forum: have you had a chance to pose your more specific questions (see your replies to my questions) over there for help? I suspect they will want you to share your work in a DWG file etc.

 

FUSION is the software to go to if you truly wish to up your game in my opinion: its not like AutoCAD but much more advanced and less clunky to use.

0 Me gusta

xnguyenY935A
Contributor
Contributor

Thank you for keeping up with me. The part reference is about the only thing I use from the mechanical toolset apart. I find that mechanical is best for unsymetric modeling or 2D drawings. I was actually considering migrating to AutoCAD Advance Steel since it can generate fabriaction drawings for me but I wanted to ask on this forum if anyone has experience with other  versions of AutoCAD. As you stated Fusion or Inventor may be my best bet for parametric modeling which I'm ready to dive into.  

0 Me gusta