Computer-aided Design

Summary


    This week I experimented with different image editing application and computer aided design software.  The first program was GIMP a bitmap based editor.  The other image editor is called Inkscape and is a vector based application.  I found Inkscpae easier to create shape based art but GIMP was better for quick drawing and coloring.  The main CAD program I was trying to learn was Autodesk’s Fusion 360

 

 

2D Raster

              GIMP is a free cross platform image editing tool.  I had to first install GIMP on my system after that I created a new canvas at 640 x 400 pixel.

gimp1   

I found it very hard to make clean lines in GIMP but it worked for a quick napkin like sketch of my idea. 

gimp2

Final GIMP drawing

gimp3

2D Vector

 

              For a 2d vector program I used Inkscape and found it easier then GIMP to use and was able to make a very nice looking 2d rendering of a design.   In Inkscape you can make very exact shapes and drawings to create a box or other vector cut-able projects.  The Boolean functions are nice if you want to add or subtract parts to make joints or other thing.

ink1

Below is a picture of my final project idea that was made in inkscape it is not to scale but is a better rendering than the GIMP picture.

ink2

3D CAD

             

For 3d cad programs I used two different ones the first was called openScad which is a scripting based cad software.  I used this because I for a script for a part I may be able to modify and use it in my final project.  The software is nice that it allows you to have parameters in your code and generate a part based off of that without having to completely redesign the part.  The other program was Fusion 360 from Autodesk.  I enjoyed working in this program I do not have any 3d cad experience but found it easy to navigate and to create objects. 

 

 

 

Openscad

 

              Openscasd is a great application if you know how to model shapes with math and programing.  The program allows you to create a script that describes your shape in functions and then you can make variable and parameters to allow the creation of many variations without creating a whole new shape. 

Below is a screen shot from openscad with a script that I found online that is under the creative commons license for a peristaltic pump based on a planetary gear system.  I may be able to use this pump with some modification for my final project.

scad1

scad2



Fusion 360

    Fusion 360 is a new cloud based 3d cad integrated with rendering and making simulation that can also print directly to some machines.  I used this program to do a ruff 3d model of my final project.  I first created a cylinder and then gave it a wall thickness of .1 inch and added a glass appearance to it.  The next item was to place a cylinder for the pump and make pipes go from the glass to the pump.  This was not to hard since you can draw a line then have the program make it a pipe and give it all the dimension you need. 

 

Below is screen shots of me making a button.


b1


After I made this cylinder I used a sphere to concave the top

b2


After making a button I copied it and placed two more on a piece of wood for my control panel for now.

p1


The current final is render in fusion 360 and is a work in progress. 

f360

Link to files

OpenScad pump

Fusion 360

GIMP

Inkscape

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