Me neither, it's an old very limited promo version, but since I'm used to CATIA having worked in automotive R&D for the past 15 years I find it convenient to use, and for designing loudspeakers it's just fine.
I have to correct myself by the way, i refereed to solid works in my first post, it should have said Pro/ENGINEER, a slip of mind, i do however recall not getting along with.
Solid works was at a time not to dissimilar from CATIA in the way one uses it, even the layout was not miles away, both coming from Dassault Systems, not sure how it is today though.
CATIA is way over the top for what we are doing here, or perhaps anything outside of aerospace, automotive and military industries, but it is a fascinating tool with a lot of analysis capabilities.
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Sketchup is free, a whole lot better than Draw, small learning curve. Great for basics, hobbyists and semi-pro's. I also plan cut sheets in there, though there's separate free programs for that too.
I wouldn't use it if you're planning to have a CNC-router do the cutting for you or you're going full pro. Apart from that, imo it's right up there next to Hornresp, for anyone serious about loudspeakers.
You can add plug-inns later though, for decent renders and stuff.
I wouldn't use it if you're planning to have a CNC-router do the cutting for you or you're going full pro. Apart from that, imo it's right up there next to Hornresp, for anyone serious about loudspeakers.
You can add plug-inns later though, for decent renders and stuff.
Attachments
I wonder how much Dassault Systems paid to have their logo designed. I mean I guess it's supposed to say 'DS' but it does look just a little bit like 'BS'.
CATIA is a complex and powerful program, but unless you're as lucky as Martinsson, it's overkill for a hobbyist. CATIA's strengths are not just in 3D modelling but in drawing and document version management; where a team of engineers would be designing multiple components which come together in a single product, like an automatic transmission. Drawings need to link to a centralised master drawing and changes which affect all other components need to be linked to other drawings. So unless you can get a super-cheap copy like Martinsson, or you've got a bajillion dollars, it's not worth looking at because you just won't get your money's worth. If you're going to buy CATIA to draw your DIY speakers you should also go out and buy a CNC lathe, rent a manufacturing plant and hire a staff of eighteen to build them in order to make your purchase worthwhile! 😉
I started my working life as a draftsman for an interior design company, so I have always used Autocad (like others have said it's the industry standard). My wife is an engineer so when I moved on from interior design I still had access to Autocad, but I needed to design at home and I had no intention of forking out the amount Autocad are asking!
I looked at a bunch of CAD forums and many people recommended TurboCAD as an Autocad alternative. I bought an older copy of TurboCad Deluxe 2D/3D for about $50 and after some patience and fiddling I got it to look and behave almost exactly like Autocad. I'm not saying TurboCAD is as good as Autocad; it isn't. It's not as powerful and I don't like some of the controls, but for the price, you're getting a pretty good alternative. My copy came with tutorial videos which I understand are also free to view on Youtube.
Old versions (like 2015 & 2016) are still floating around the web for cheap, so it might be worth a look.
Cheers,
AJ
I started my working life as a draftsman for an interior design company, so I have always used Autocad (like others have said it's the industry standard). My wife is an engineer so when I moved on from interior design I still had access to Autocad, but I needed to design at home and I had no intention of forking out the amount Autocad are asking!
I looked at a bunch of CAD forums and many people recommended TurboCAD as an Autocad alternative. I bought an older copy of TurboCad Deluxe 2D/3D for about $50 and after some patience and fiddling I got it to look and behave almost exactly like Autocad. I'm not saying TurboCAD is as good as Autocad; it isn't. It's not as powerful and I don't like some of the controls, but for the price, you're getting a pretty good alternative. My copy came with tutorial videos which I understand are also free to view on Youtube.
Old versions (like 2015 & 2016) are still floating around the web for cheap, so it might be worth a look.
Cheers,
AJ
Watch some of the tutorials on youtube. They outline the rules to follow and how to get started.
Fusion 360 Tutorial for Absolute Beginners— Part 1 - YouTube
jeff
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video 'documentation' is a lame concept
I hate video for the generally poor information bandwidth, (my at least) poor retention, the lack of logical organization, indexing, keyword search compared to text documentation
there's the "interactive" use difficulty compared to reading a well thought out para, example in a small text window in or alongside my work window
text with paras, heading can be rapidly scanned, reread, attention flipped back to the tool tips without changing hand position on the keyboard - try rewinding, guessing the time interval, mousing the slider in a video "document"
I hate video for the generally poor information bandwidth, (my at least) poor retention, the lack of logical organization, indexing, keyword search compared to text documentation
there's the "interactive" use difficulty compared to reading a well thought out para, example in a small text window in or alongside my work window
text with paras, heading can be rapidly scanned, reread, attention flipped back to the tool tips without changing hand position on the keyboard - try rewinding, guessing the time interval, mousing the slider in a video "document"
So there ARE some good freeware ones out there. FreeCad seems perhaps pretty easy?
And I'm glad no one thinks I'm nuts for drawing up plans for... A box. I just want it to come out right and not mess up the cutting dimensions. 16-ply Baltic Birch is not cheap!
No CNC, It's a table saw and maybe a plunge router for holes. I'll DL Sketchup and see what I can do.
If you've ever checked out 18-Sound, they have a plan for their 18TLW3000 which is based loosely on a Clair Bros. box if I've done my surmising correctly. Essentially it's going to be that, with some internal bracing for road use. About the same volume, but the dimensions will change a little so that it matches a Mid/High box I already have.
Can you turn me on to the cut-sheet program you use? I didn't know there would be such a thing. I'm using WINISD, which I'm very familiar with.
I'm guessing I could post my design and you folks would be willing to take a look for ideas and improvements?
I just installed it today to give it a whirl and was able to make some shapes in less than five minutes without even looking at a tutorial, so yeah, pretty easy. I've definitely had to tangle with far worse software (that award goes to Sener's FORAN).
Do you mean this one: http://www.eighteensound.com/Portals/0/EnclosuresKits/18Sub_v1.pdf
It looks like an ordinary reflex tuned to 35 Hz?
I don't use a cut-sheet program but I know there's such a thing, such as MaxCut
I guess we would 😉
Yes,
they have some awesome plans and documentation.
I am basing mine off of this one as far as port size and volume. I would have simply made this plan, but It needs to have different dimensions to match the current mid/high box I have.
http://www.eighteensound.com/Portals/0/EnclosuresKits/18sound_18_dual_subwoofer_kit.pdf
I'll check that out when I'm done drawing.
Cool!
I am working with Sketchup. It had a steep learning curve, but it's immensely powerful, I don't think there's anything one couldn't draw with it. It has loads of support too from the makers and user forums.
So far I have square shapes, and circles down pretty well. With that, I've managed to draw the interior at least.
A word of warning about SketchUp: if you want to use your 3D drawings for any actual production of parts you will be extremely frustrated. CNC and other manufacturing processes use a completely different kind of data structure from SketchUp to define a part (see: polygons vs NURBS) and it's very difficult or even impossible to convert between the two. I spent a lot of time learning SketchUp and creating 3D models only to find that they were next to useless for producing parts! I was able to export 2D models although the process is awkward.
If you are using SketchUp just for visualization or rendering, it's extremely powerful and intuitive, and even fun to use.
If you are using SketchUp just for visualization or rendering, it's extremely powerful and intuitive, and even fun to use.
I have zero interest in production, etc. I just want one box.
Sketchup is the most anti-intuitive, frustrating and maddening piece of software I've ever encountered. After 5 days of videos, help questions, forums, etc, I still have yet to complete... A box. Unbelievable.
Sketchup is the most anti-intuitive, frustrating and maddening piece of software I've ever encountered. After 5 days of videos, help questions, forums, etc, I still have yet to complete... A box. Unbelievable.
Surprising, i found Sketchup easy to pick up. Getting some of the more complicated things done is a bit convoluted. But all i use it for is visualization and i am starting with imported 2D shapes fron my CAD sw.
dave
dave
I know I'm a little off what OP is looking for, but I figured I'd throw Affinity Designer into the mix for two reasons: 1) It's actually pretty easy to use. 2) Affinity is primarily making Mac software so the Mac versions of their software are written for the Mac and not cross-compiled from some awful *nix version. 3) At $50 (US) per license, it's frankly dirt cheap.
Affinity Designer is a vector graphics program. I use it for making 2D illustrations, such as top level hookup diagrams, block diagrams, etc.
Affinity Photo is their photo editor. I have no personal experience with it, but when the rather old version of Photoshop Elements that I'm using dies, I'll probably try it out.
I've tried inkscape and used it for about a year. It used to work well, but after an update it became unusably slow and I moved to Affinity Designer instead.
I agree with the previous comments on video tutorials. Many videos provide as much information in five minutes as half a page of text that I can skim in ten seconds provides. I don't get it. Getting old(er) sucks, I guess. 🙂
For mechanical drawings and mechanical work, I use ... <gasp> ... are you ready for this?! ...... pencil, paper, and a machinist's ruler. 😀
Tom
Affinity Designer is a vector graphics program. I use it for making 2D illustrations, such as top level hookup diagrams, block diagrams, etc.
Affinity Photo is their photo editor. I have no personal experience with it, but when the rather old version of Photoshop Elements that I'm using dies, I'll probably try it out.
I've tried inkscape and used it for about a year. It used to work well, but after an update it became unusably slow and I moved to Affinity Designer instead.
I agree with the previous comments on video tutorials. Many videos provide as much information in five minutes as half a page of text that I can skim in ten seconds provides. I don't get it. Getting old(er) sucks, I guess. 🙂
For mechanical drawings and mechanical work, I use ... <gasp> ... are you ready for this?! ...... pencil, paper, and a machinist's ruler. 😀
Tom
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Having learned Solidworks in my university years (finding it very intuitive), I tried using Sketchup at home/no access to my uni account. I was able to make things, but the workflow is so mind-bendingly antagonistic to the way I think. It felt so sloppy and you couldn't make a call-out on a dimension and let it drive the drawing/extrude/sweep/loft/etc. I do a lot of equation-driven drawings and there's nothing in the software to accommodate just that. It was awful.
My immediate reaction was, "how do people actually like this platform?!" I'd rather 100x over do CAD in Blender3D than Sketchup.
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