3D modelling

[W210 Fan]

there will be some simulation yes, I have the Heinz Hesler series of books, the body was the difficult bit as my CAD package is not set up for that, the rest of it is fairly easy

 

[SEM]

How about a 3D Laser scanning Service ? reverse engineering?


http://www.europacmetrology.co.uk/page.asp?PageID=7
http://www.stephaniewooddesign.co.uk/3D-Scanning-Service.htm

 

[W210 Fan]

Thanks SEM, i was worried about the cost of these things, I was quoted 3k when I wanted a diff casing scanned at a previous employer, I ended up modelling it in 4 days which certainly didnt cost me 3K!!! I have also tried using a CMM to model a model of a 6R4, the data was very pointy and not smooth, the trick in reverse engineering is smoothing the incoming data, some people use NURBS some people prefer to make their own surfaces over the top, it depends on how precise you want as a NURB is a rounded off/best fit of the surface data underneath,

I think the best thing as there doesnt seem a simple way is to extract one from a game or what have you is to make a better model myself from the data I have, then design a chassis that doesnt go as close to the body as I may like and take up the gap later on in real metal, then there is always an angle grinder......

 

[stats007]

I'd design the chassis and then worry about the body within limitations of course.

Models for games aren't 100% - most are done from photographs by hand using manufacturer data.

 

[stats007]

This may help you.

 

[W210 Fan]

I will see if I can tie anything over to the CAD package I am using, 3DS Max is very powerful for doing just that, it seems you sketch over the picture and pull the surface to the shape you want, thats uber powerful, buts it only surface data for animation, not CAD data which is maths with a nice user interface which is why it takes me so much damn longer, but then the data I produce is usable,

 

[stats007]

You can export the geometry as vertex information suitable for CAD.

 

[W210 Fan]

interesting, I need to find me a 3DS max guy.........

 

[stats007]

Everyone I know uses Maya...

 

[andy_k]

Everyone I know uses Maya...

or Cinema 4D

Actually I do use Max as well

Trust me W210 Fan, modelling a car is a lot more complex than sketching over the picture and puling it to the shape you want - if you really think it's that easy why don't you download the demo of Max and work through one of the tutorials?

The Max demo is fully functional (including save) for 30 days, that should be plenty of time to do a bit of sketching and pulling around

Or perhaps you are too busy just welding a few bits of metal together

Andy

 

[verytalldave]

Most professional car designers use Catia.
I use Autocad 2007 or Microstation.

 

[W210 Fan]

Andy I was not saying it was easy to draw a car, just a lot easier in Max or Maya than in my CAD program, looks like I am getting me a copy of Max in my download que....

verytalldave - I have tried to use catia but it is horrible - worse than ProE, I hear it was originally written by Ford and now adopted by everybody in the auto industry as you say, personally I cant stand it, I find Solidworks which I use at work to be much more user friendly and thus quicker for what I use it for, what do you do for work if you use Microstation and AutoCAD?

 

[SEM]

Newtek, Lightwave are doing 30 day trial also (now owned by Autodesk)
Not had chance to try it out yet but it's supposed to be as good as the other mainstream 3d packages

 

[andy_k]

I've not used lightwave for a few years now, it was incredibly powerful with a wonderful renderer but words like "user friendly", "intuitive" and "easy to get along with" certainly don't spring to mind

Andy

 

[verytalldave]

Andy I was not saying it was easy to draw a car, just a lot easier in Max or Maya than in my CAD program, looks like I am getting me a copy of Max in my download que....

verytalldave - I have tried to use catia but it is horrible - worse than ProE, I hear it was originally written by Ford and now adopted by everybody in the auto industry as you say, personally I cant stand it, I find Solidworks which I use at work to be much more user friendly and thus quicker for what I use it for, what do you do for work if you use Microstation and AutoCAD?

I am part of a large team that designs offshore oil platforms and onshore installations. My specialist area is Instrumentation.