Total noob

[umarekawaru]

Hi to everyone on the forum first. I am new at this so I now 0 about CNC, and 3d designs.
I am racing with 1:5 rc cars. So what I want to do is make my own body for the car,becouse there are not much bodys out there for this large scale cars. I have now few friends interested in the same thing. And one of them has CNC at work. So What we wanted to do is to make a model on CNC and then make the body out of lexan,carbon or somerhing else useing that model. Now the problem is that I have to make a 3d model of the car,and as I am not really good at modeling I found a friend that knows how to use that. So he will make the 3d model. Now the problem is that I dont know what the model should look like, what format? How will the CNC know how to make the model out from that 3d model? Friend only told me that he needs a 3d model made in autoCAD?? And I know autoCAD isnt for 3d modeling so the 3d model will be done in 3d studio max. And then exported in autoCAD format if that is needed?

Can someone explain me what I really need to do here? Becouse I allready have some 3d models made for PC games, but i dont know what kind of 3d model CNC needs to cut? I hope you understand what I am trying to say and what I really need here.

PS. I dont know if this is correct forum to ask this question.

[umarekawaru]

Anyone?

[gth629e]

Hello,

In order to convert a 3D model into a language that a CNC machine can read. You will need to have a CAM software. This takes a 3D model and creates a tool path, tool offset etc. so the CNC machine knows what to do.

If your friend with the router just needs a 3D model, just ask him witch file format he uses. AutoCad is primarily a 2D program, however, it has 3D capabilities. The file format .dxf can be saved in Autocad and is a 3D compliant file format.

3DSmax is a little different. Engineering modeling creates an object as a solid, so to speak. 3DSMAX is a surface modeling program as you probably know. Just be careful when you convert your 3dsmax file to autocad. Since they are both Autodesk, the transfer should go smoothly, however, just look it over to make sure there aren't any glitches. Then you should be able to save it as a DXF where supposedly your friend can place that in a CAM software to create the program for the Router.

Hope this helps. Just as a note, you can make a 3d car body and then vacuum/thermo form a plastic such as lexan, polycarbonate, polystyrene over it and it turns out real nice. You can make an easy vacuum table and heat the plastic up in the oven.

I have links that explain all this very well. Actually I think the example they use is a rc car body. For a nice touch you can use clear plastic and paint the inside for a deep glossy look.

Hope this helps and let me know if you are interested in those links. Just respond here or contact me directly at Brian@cncroutersource.com

Regards,

[under-dog]

Typically for 3D prototype sort of work. The file starts out in some sort of solid modeling program then in order to machine or build in some sort of addative RP machine, is saved into STL format. This basically turns you solid model into a surface map made up of tiny facets(depending on the resulution set).

This can (as mentioned by someone else) be taken into some sort of CAM software that will take your geometry and based on you set parameters generate toolpaths.

When I say parameters 3 4 or 5 axis machine? what size cutters, rough and finish operations setups, (speed, feed and dpths of cut etc based on your materials.

It sounds like what you are attempting is to vacuum form your shells. Nice enough desigh and you may be able to sell them to others in your RC community

[umarekawaru]

Yes the plan is to make rc lexan bodys in 1:5 scale becouse there are not much bodys out there. So its not about the mony,is just so we can do something that noone is doing right now. Becouse when we have a race, almost every car has a same body.
We choose Toyota Corolla Sprinter Trueno aka Hachiroku becouse it looks simple so I think there will be not much trouble making it,as it is first time we try to do this.

Thank you all for good replys. Any other info needed will be helpful!