Looking to create R/C heli parts, need input

[fpworks]

For a CAD system, I highly recommend Solidworks or Pro/E. Yes, they are expensive, but it is worth it in many ways, trust me here. Pro/E costs the same as Solidworks (for basic packages last time I checked)

I don't know anything about Alibre or Rhino, but I wouldn't waste my time if they are not parametric based solid modeling packages. Whatever you get, evaluate the program's ability to handle assemblies, create drawings from models, and speed and ease of model modifications.

Make sure the software can export the models as IGES (*.igs) or STEP (*.stp) files. These are the two most common "generic" 3D model files that any CAM system should be able to accept.

[BobWarfield]

http://www.cuttingedgecnc.com/cncmain.htm

A fellow CNC + R/C Helicopter enthusiast. Lots of good learning materials on his site.

Best,

BW

[JerryFlyGuy]

I've used Rhino a couple times, not that I'm an expert but the big issue I had w/ it was simple that you can't change stuff.. if you go through and make a part, say you start w/ a block from a simple extrude and then put a bunch of cuts and what not, then later realise that the block is just a smidge to big or small.. either you start over.. or you undo the 50 steps or [however many steps there was to making it] w/ something like solidworks its as simple as selecting the first feature in the feature tree and changing the dimension.. every other feature updates automaticaly. This might not seem like a big deal, but wait until you do a part/assembly that takes you several hours [ say 30] and you find that you can't make the last part work because of mat'l sizes or whatever.. at my shop rate thats over$1800 worth of wasted time if you can't fix it easily.. not to mention all the time to redo it.. call it a $4000 mistake if you will.. it doesn't take to many of those to make a slightly more capable software set to be worth it..

Oh.. and then there's the lack of parametric's, linked equations, moving assembly tools, top down assembly.. etc etc.. I guess I need to learn how to count.. I think that might be one or more.. more than one..

Jerry.. [jaded by 4yr's of Solidworks..]

[ormandj]

Thank you everyone. Jerry, I found this problem too. I'm trying out Alibre right now to see if it will work. I have a seminar on it on Monday, so we'll see how it goes!

[JerryFlyGuy]

Let us know.. make sure it can do decent drawings and dynamic or mated assembly parts as well as parts driven by the dimensions of other parts, these are things that are going to make your life [designing stuff] much.. much easier.. you'll save money in the long run if you get the correct program from the start.. trust me on this... but don't ask me how I know..

Jerry...

[ormandj]

Hehe, I learn the same way as you apparently. I'll let you know how it goes once I finish all this training stuff. It's a parametric program, and I know it can do assembly, but I don't know much more as I'm no good with it now! Hopefully over the next week I'll figure out more and be able to report back my findings.

Cheers,
David