Drawing 3D sheets of material in TurboCAD?

[LinearMotionFan]

Hi Guys,

I have been using TurboCAD for a while now, mainly in 2D.

I've done some 3D illustrations, but normally by creating a 2D shape and then giving it "thickness" in the properties dialog.

Now I'm trying to do it the "right" way, so I created a "box" and want to cut out of this piece.

I cannot find a way to add nodes so that I can shape cut-outs the piece. I've been through anything I could find remotely related in the help file and also the TC forum on the Zone.

Some of the cut-outs are going to be pretty complex curves which will need adjusted to final fit, so 3D Subtract won't work well. In 2D mode I had something like 100 nodes on the curve which I could move as needed.

Is the 'right' way to create the 2D shape and give it thickness? This doesn't seem right, as what if I wanted to perform other 3-dimensional actions to the sheet?

The reason that I want to do this right (besides that it should be done correctly) is that there will be other pieces interlocking with this sheet, so there will be a lot of cut-outs and adjoining edges and such. Besides... it should be done correctly anyway. ;o)

Thank you!

Alex

[LinearMotionFan]

Nobody?

If anyone can help, thanks in advance!

Alex

[LinearMotionFan]

Ok, does anyone know of a better place to ask the question?

Thanks,
Alex

[tkran]

What version? the cam add on will not generate 3d code it is 2.5d you can generate pockets from profiles and mill them to varying depths or you can upgrade to rhino or a nother 3d modeler

[LinearMotionFan]

Hi tkran,

Thanks for the reply.

I am not actually trying to machine this, but create a 3D model for prototyping. I'm not attempting to create any code or anything, just draw the parts.

It's TurboCAD 15 and 14 (depending on which PC I'm at).

I can draw a square sheet of material as a "Box". But I want to notch out some of the sides and also bend it. It seems that all I can do with a box is to resize the rectangular shape. I can't find a way to add nodes.

Is there some other tool besides "box" I should be using?

Thanks,
Alex

[ger21]

Don't use TurboCAD, but does it have an extrude command? That might be better than trying to subtract. And most CAD software doesn't have the ability to "bend" solid models, so you'll probably need to model it in it's "bent" state. How you model it would probably depend on what the end purpose of the model is. If it needs to go to someone else for production, then you need to do what they want.

[cwdance1]

I'm not sure what your trying to do but it sounds like you want to modify an object in 3d. Under the tab modify you will find 3DBoolean Operations. Then you can choose to add or subtract from an object.

Hope this helps
Terry

[LinearMotionFan]

Originally Posted by ger21 Don't use TurboCAD, but does it have an extrude command? That might be better than trying to subtract. And most CAD software doesn't have the ability to "bend" solid models, so you'll probably need to model it in it's "bent" state. How you model it would probably depend on what the end purpose of the model is. If it needs to go to someone else for production, then you need to do what they want.

Hi Ger,

I think you are right. Extrude. It didn't look (to the novice) like the right thing when I was browsing help files, but I think it may be. I'll give that a try. I'll create flat 2D drawings for production but am trying to model the parts.

Thanks!!!!

[tkran]

I would use polylines in 2d and extrude them , you can draw seperate facets of your modeled part then you can use 3d add and 3d intersect to make them all into one combined solid

[justgary]

I know that this thread is a few months old, but it sounds like you should watch this

video

video

explaining the flange and unbend tools.

I have not really tried them, but they look like exactly what you want.

Good luck!

Regards,

- Just Gary

[justgary]

Yup, "flange" looks like exactly what you asked for. I did this example in TC Pro V15.1. I'll have to use this the next time we need a test box here at work. I can finally just send an IGES file to the sheet metal guy.

I found that if I put all the tabs on first, TC could not unbend it (probably because the little ears touched the end flanges), but by doing it in steps I could easily make what I wanted.

Thanks for making me look this up. I had seen flange and unbend before, but couldn't figure them out. They are definitely worth it!

Regards,

- Just Gary

[mics_54]

Not to dis any members here but drawing questions would probably get more attention at the TC forum specific to your versions.

http://forums.imsisoft.com/forums/Main.cfm?CFApp=200

I've done some 3D illustrations, but normally by creating a 2D shape and then giving it "thickness" in the properties dialog.

I don't think this method is what you want to do.