Airplane creation

[Atomik Rooster]

Hi all,
I am new to this forum and wanted to say hey, and also ask a ? for all you solidworks gurus. I am looking to build an electric rc plane and want to learna new avenue to draw plans and thought SW would be the ticket as I have seen people using it with some great looking pieces.
So, with that said, please forgive my ignorance, but here goes... I have some 3 views loaded into SW and scaled them to size. I would like to save this and use this as a base to build my parts from. Is this possible?, ie, build the wing as a part, the fuse as a seperate, the stab as a third, etc. And as I write this I think I may have answered my own ?. I saved the 3view as its own part and am thinking I can use this as a template and open it to build each new part and then save that part as wing, etc. Would this be OK or is there an easier way. My ultimate goal would be to create a drawing with formers and ribs, etc to send to a laser cutter for a short kit. Please see the enclosed jpeg. I am currently looking to model a Fiesler FI103 V1 Buzzbomb.
Any assistance, guidance will be gratly appreciated.

Thanks,
Warren

[JerryFlyGuy]

Warren, there is about as many ways to do it as.. well there's lots ..

I've done some of what you speak of. It sounds like its a wood project. The Buzz bomb is a pretty simple [ good first project] airframe. Since the wing is a constant chord and you want to do an electric, I wonder if a foam core wing wouldn't be a better choice? If not it would be composed of all the same ribs from one tip to the other so either way its pretty simple..

You would most likely make each of the major components an assembly, composed of parts [ribs and formers etc..] The major assemblies would most likely be the major parts that the a/c breaks down into ie; wings, fuse etc..

The wing assembly would then be made of its respective parts ei; rib's, spar cap's, sheeting, aileron etc..

The fuse would also be similar.. formers.. maybe a center crutch.. etc..

I've got several model's done of wooden aircraft and I'll post a pic or two of the model's in SW. If your just starting out w/ SW its going to be a bit frustrating for the first while as its a very in-depth program.. but take heart.. there's much that can be done w/ it..

Here's a link for a model I did about 1 yr ago..[here] its controled completely w/ manual conic algebraic equations [like 80 of them or something.. I can't remember exactly], you can change the shape of 1 controling spline and it will update the smoothing of the fuselage surface,making the section profile either parabolic, hyperbolic or a circle.. or anywhere in between.. works pretty well too.

Anyway.. feel free to post specific questions and I'll try and help where I can.

I'll post those pic's later tonight when I get home..[ the model is on my home comp.]

Jerry

[--colin--]

Jerry,

I'm very impressed with your solidworks modeling skills. Are you willing to share your model of the airplane? I'd really like to see how you handled the equations related to the spline points.

--Colin--

[JerryFlyGuy]

Colin, unfortunatly I can't, many have asked but its kinda outta my hands if you get my drift..

Jerry

[Atomik Rooster]

Jerry,
Thanks for the input, I appreciate the guidance. That makes it easier thinking as each major component as an assembly. How is your plane coming along Jerry. Your building a 1/4 scale then a FS. Have you built and flown the RC version yet?
I chose the V1 cause it is a simple airframe and I am a WW2 airplane fanatic. ( I also have the electrics already too) I drew up plans Corel in 2D but wanted to try SW. It helps because I already had the measurements done. SW is very addicting, and it is awesome to see things come together.
This will be my first attempt to do a plane. I followed the Tut's, built a servo, a fuel tank, and a retract air tank. So far I have about 12 hours into SW plus some research time looking for more tutorials and info. Here is the beginning of the plane. I am thinking about "roughing in" all the major components, then going back to to detail, extrude, cut, and hole everything out.

Warren

[JerryFlyGuy]

Warren, your off to a good start!

I'll give you a few pointers as to how I would do that project.
If memory serves me, both the pulse jet nacelle and the body are basically circular shapes. [ or close enought that I'd make them that way for my first model] This lends itself well to using revolves. Try to stay away from splines where possible as they do make your system work harder in calculating stuff out.. sometimes you just can't get away from it. So..

I'd make the fuse and engine pod as one assembly, and the wings as another.. the h-stab is your call, you can make it attached to the fuse or removable.

Ok.. enough rambling..

I'd start by making two revolved surfaces, one for the main fuse and 1 for the pod. Then I'd make a streamlined shape extrude from the cl of the fuse up thru the pod. Next I'd put planes at all the stations where I wanted a fuse former. Then I'd insert sketch's at each plane [ you can use convert sketch for all the planes after the first one] the first sketch[ assuming the nose] is simply a big rectangle [larger than both the pod and fuse when viewed from the front]. Once you have the rectangle click planer surface.. this will make a surface on that plane.. do the same for each of the rest of the former locations. Do this also for the centerline of the fuse if you want a center crutch. Next you go along and trim the planer surfaces w/ the revolved bodies, you could trim the two revolved bodies and the joiner pylon before hand and then knit that surface so its all one surface.. Or.. you could creat another sketch on the planer surfaces and use 'intersection curve' to make your fuse profiles. At this point I would take this part file [ did I mention to make all these surfaces in 1 part file?] and insert it into an assembly. Insert a new part on the front former/plane/surface and extrude the trimed [or sketched] profile to the thinkness you want. Do the same for your center crutch and then start cutting your notching to make them fit together.. One thing to take into concideration is that you should use 1 pc of geometry to control all the others, don't use this one to control that one.. and that one to control the next one.. it will be a house of cards when your done.

For the wing I'd just make your rib [ I assume your not using the exact profile of the buzz bomb, but rather some optimized airfoil] and fit it where you want it.. it's contruction should be very simple compared to the fuse. If it was a tapered wing I'd use the same step's as in the fuse, just w/ a lofted surface for the wing. Make sure to imput the proper washout and incidence before you start your loft and it will turn out perfectly..

Thats a very simplistic way of going about it.. if something just doesn't make sense.. ask and I'll try to clarify it..

Also note there is most definatly other, maybe even better, ways of doing this.. this is just one way that I've tried that works well for both simple and complex shapes.

I've attached some pic's of my wings and an exploded view of 1 wing panel, its for a profile Yak-55. I've also attached a pic of the proposed 1/4 scale buck for that plane one the other thread.. in the end I didn't go this route, instead it's getting cnc milled and finished that way.. so far it hasn't flown in any way.. time limitations and too many projects.. but its in the works still.

[Atomik Rooster]

Jerry,
Thanks for the guidance, I appreciate the time it took to write all that out.
I guess my biggest problem is converting my brain to think in 3d as opposed to 2D. I can view a 2d pic and in my mind see the 3d image and as far as the lofting and extruding, I think I got that and can convert that into a 3d image as in the attatched pic. I even did a revolve and made a new prop. tube and cut out the center. But, I would like to accomplish exactly what you have in your wing pics. Standard construction pieces that look like RC kit parts with ind ribs, spars, cap sheeting, fuse formers and that is where my dilema lies. (Maybe I am just overthinking it) I know how to create the planes and insert them where the formers and ribs lie. But once I lay out all the planes (wing ribs in the pic) and extrude my wing (for example) and get to the point I am at, I am unsure of the next steps. What I really need is a good reference book that explains the relations between planes, planar surfaces, intersection curves, etc. I hate for you to have to explain all of this out in detail, so if you have names of any good SW books that might be applicable or links, please post them and I will try and study the info. I have read the other thread about your build and got some info from that but there seems to be a lack of really in depth info on the web unless your a fairly knowledgable user.

Wow, that was a ramble.
Anyway, heres my current pic, and one last question. The red circle in my pic is the plane names. Is there any way to make them bigger. Also the dimensions while sketching that are next to the tool arent legible at all on my pc. Is there an option for that which will increase the font size or something?

Thanks,

Warren

[JerryFlyGuy]

Warren, I check just quickly to see if I could find what was needed to change the font size.. but didn't find it.. I'll have to check my books when I get home tonight.

I understand a bit better what your doing now.. what you currently have there is actually a solid model. You'll want to start w/ a surfaced model and make all of your parts in a single plane/surface form first.. then extrude them to their needed thickness. I find its much easier to do it this way, rather than start working from solids, right from the start. Think of the surfaces as templates, just like if you had to make the model from scratch, first you'd make paper tracing templates, well your surfaces are, in effect, templates from which to make your solids.

I'll sit down tonight and make a small model of what I'm talking about.. it will make alot more sense if you can sit-down and look at it.. hands on.

You'll get this licked yet

Jerry

[Atomik Rooster]

Jerry,
Thats awesome, thanks. That also helps because I think my problem in my thinking was how in the hell do I turn this SOLID model into ribs and formers.

Warren

[JerryFlyGuy]

Warren, I'm going to have to put this off until tomorrow.. I just got home from a 3 hr drive and a 4 hr meeting.. all after a 9hr day at the office.. I'm bushed..

I'll try and get you that model before the end of the day tomorrow.. that way you'll be able to play w/ it all weekend..

Pm me your email addy as well!

Jerry

[Atomik Rooster]

Jerry,
Thank you. Please take your time, whenever you get a chance is fine with me as I am in no hurry. I appreciate the fact that your willing to take the time to do it at all.

Warren

[JerryFlyGuy]

How are things progressing Warren?

Jerry