Hi All,
I was wondering if anyone has any experience using something like FreeCAD to design rolling stock?
Having done some 2D technical drawing in the past (school and uni) I find myself at a loss trying to translate this into a FreeCAD drawing for eventual production as a 3D printed item.
The tutorials seem to assume you are an expert or at least understand the language!
The model is nothing complex, pretty much a box on a Fleischmann track cleaner, so my natural tendency is to treat it as a bunch of walls with a base to fit the chassis and a roof on top.
Next I would glue the sides together to assemble the main part. Lastly I would need to add some internal bracing to hold in place the motor and weight.
The RhB De2/2 151 is a good example of what I'd like to achieve (but with a simpler roof as mine will be a diesel).
Am I going about this completely the wrong way? Does anyone have any links to some decent tutorials?
Thanks,
Friso
The problem with Freecad at the moment for designing trains is that it doesn't yet contain an assembly module - this would design for example a side, an end and a roof separately them put them all together to make your finished train.
Designing the whole thing in one unit is much harder.
It is I think based on Solidworks but I use a different package so can't help you with the details of the commands.
It does have the same basis as all parametric CAD - you draw a 2d sketch which you constrain in certain ways - the simplest is by applying dimensions to it. When this is finished you apply a movement to this to make a 3d object. The simplest again is to extrude it - move it perpendicular to the plane it is drawn on to create a 3d object with straight parallel sides. Alternatively you could rotate your sketch to produce a round 3d object.
Having got your 3d object you can change it in various ways, for instance rounding or beveling the edges. Alternatively you can add or subtract to it by drawing a new sketch on one of it's planar surfaces and extruding ( or other ) that. Slowly you build up the object you want.
Tom
Hi Tom,
Yes,, I was noticing that it's not easy to as a single unit. A key problem would be that inside I need to put some bracing to keep the motor and weight in place. This would be well nigh impossible without the ability to assemble various parts.
I also have Autodesk Inventor Fusion, which does look to be able to assemble various bits into a single whole. Working with MacsI'm a bit more restricted in terms of CAD software I think.
Thanks,
Friso