Any AutoCad users in here have some questions

[psycho6cyl]

I'm combining 2 parts with bolts. I'd love to have it made out of one piece. It's a shifter handle. So I talked to a couple of cnc places and said I need a 3d cad drawing. I was thinking about getting a program for one month if I can definitely make it way I need it. How can I take my fabricated 2 pieces and have it scanned into cad? Is it possible? Or I need to draw it from scratch?

 

[Instro84]

i've used auto cad electrical at work for years pretty good with it. i know auto cad can do 3d but there are others that are better such as unigraphics and catia. once you get the part created in cad most of the machine shops we use (northrop grumman) prefer whats called a STEP file to fed into their machine. whats the part you wanna make i know a few mechanical engineers that that have catia that may be willing to model it.

 

[charlief1]

I had a copy of mechanical desktop at one time but I can't find it now. You might want to check the local college or high school and see if one of the students will help you for a minimal fee. You get what you need and help a student out at the same time.

 

[TT/Ameasap]

I have inventor 2015 from college. I'm a senior in the engineering tech program at WIU.

 

[TT/Ameasap]

Whay is the fabbed piece made of?

 

[psycho6cyl]

Thx Charlie. College kids good idea. I'll have to see. The shifter handle I want to use is from a manual and is way too short. The shifter mechanism I will be using is b&m quicksilver but that stalk is potmetal. No way to join them. I can tap drill etc but I want a really custom sturdy look.. I'd like for it to be cncd out of aluminum

 

[gnX405]

SketchUp is a user friendly '3D for everyone' program. Some versions are free, more info through the following link:

http://www.sketchup.com/

 

[psycho6cyl]

Cool thx I'll check it out..