week_02

Computer Aided Design

Objectives



Assignments



Software


There are many open-source and paid CAD software options on the market today. As a process engineer, I have used some of professional CAD/CAM software, such as AutoCAD, Corel Draw, NX UG, hyperCAD-S, and so on. I prefer AutoCAD and Corel Draw for 2D modeling and NX UG for 3D modeling. For this week, I also tried to use the software of blender, FreeCAD, Inkscape, GIMP.


2D Modeling


There are two ways to make 2D CAD modeling:



GIMP

GIMP is a free and open-source raster graphics editor used for image retouching and editing; free-form drawing, converting between different image formats, and more specialized tasks. I find that this software is similar to Photoshop, which can handle graphics.

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Inkscape

nkscape is a free and open-source vector graphics editor. Inkscape can render primitive vector shapes (e.g. rectangles, ellipses, polygons, arcs, spirals, stars and 3D boxes) and text. These objects may be filled with solid colors, patterns, radial or linear color gradients and their borders may be stroked, both with adjustable transparency. Embedding and optional tracing of raster graphics is also supported, enabling the editor to create vector graphics from photos and other raster sources. Created shapes can be further manipulated with transformations, such as moving, rotating, scaling and skewing.

This week, I tried to use Inkscape as well, at first I drew a cup, which can drink coffee. I used a lot of features, such as drawing Bézier curves, editing text, drawing starts and polygons and so on.

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Then I drew a USB flash disk, which used grid features.

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AutoCAD

I have been using this software for more than three years. AutoCAD is a commercial computer-aided design (CAD), drafting software application and is not free software, but have 36-month renewable license for students and educators. I think it is one of the best software for engineers, architects to make 2D modeling. Inkscape and GIMP are fit for designer to design.
AutoCAD main tools I used, such as trim, extend, move, rotate, line, rectangle, mirror, scale and others.

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3Dmodeling


FreeCAD

FreeCAD is a free and open-source general-purpose parametric 3D CAD modeler and a building information modeling (BIM) software with finite-element-method (FEM) support. FreeCAD features tools similar to CATIA, Creo, SolidWorks, Solid Edge, NX, Inventor, Revit, and therefore also falls into the category of Building Info Modeling (BIM), Mechanical computer-aided design (MCAD), PLM, CAx and CAE. It is intended to be a feature-based parametric modeler with a modular software architecture, which makes it easy to provide additional functionality without modifying the core system.

Through this process, I have learned commands in part design module and part module.

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UG NX

I also have been using this software for more than three years. NX, formerly known as "UG", is an advanced high-end CAD/CAM/CAE. It is used Design (parametric and direct solid/surface modelling), Engineering analysis (static; dynamic; electro-magnetic; thermal, using the finite element method; and fluid, using the finite volume method), Manufacturing finished design by using included machining modules.

Sketch function

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Characteristic Functional module

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Surface Function

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Assembly Function

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Here is how I designed the 3C sample.

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File Download


AutoCAD_AutoCAD

FreeCAD_Sample1

FreeCAD_Wheel Gear

GIMP_Fablab

Inkscape_Coffee

Inkscape_USB Flash Disk

UG_adapting piece

UG_five-pointed star

UG_Sketch function

UG_3C

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