LoneWolf121188 Posted May 27, 2004 Report Share Posted May 27, 2004 I was thinking about doing a CAD for my upcomming guitar, but have no idea to start, in terms of software and how to use it. Getting software isn't a problem, so whats the BEST CAD software thats not overly complicated (I'm a self-proclaimed computer geek, so what i consider complicated is higher up on the scale than what others may consider complicated ) and is widely used (so when i run into problems, i can get help from a lot of ppl...yes, i said when, not if )? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nouseforone Posted May 28, 2004 Report Share Posted May 28, 2004 well Autocad is the best i use it in shop(voc. school)but i belive it costs some $$ not sure...but you can goto www.guitarbuild.com they have two cad programs there, try them out good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reaper Posted May 28, 2004 Report Share Posted May 28, 2004 I'm using Inventor... it's not too bad, but it costs a pretty penny. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RainDownMyBlues Posted May 28, 2004 Report Share Posted May 28, 2004 I have AutoCAD LT, but can't figure out how to print a full sized drawing like with 4 sheets of paper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YDoesGodMockMeSo Posted May 28, 2004 Report Share Posted May 28, 2004 ^ i never could either I had to use the TurboCAD from guitarbuild to do that...i'd draw design and all that in AutoCad...and then transfer it to Turbo to get it to print on 4 pages...then i just said screw it...and took the DXF file to a print shop and got it printed out on big ass paper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fizzy_elephant Posted May 28, 2004 Report Share Posted May 28, 2004 i've used pro desktop and pro engineer as modelling and designing tools. To "build" in 3d takes a little time and practise but its nice to be able to see what the finished product could look like, apply paint effects etc to it and generally mess around and see whats possible. useful for those who wish to use a CNC to rout out parts. (not for the short of $$$ though). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psw Posted May 28, 2004 Report Share Posted May 28, 2004 I'm hooked on TurboDraw. It's great, it's free but it's only 2D! I've tried a few other 3D programs including TurboCad but my computer is so old it's starting to rust (literally!) and newer versions won't run. Generally the step from 2D to 3D seems to be a big leap of time and patience! Still, it must cut down on the number of bad ideas being pursued (or does it increase them?) best of luck, keep us posted psw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truerussian558 Posted May 28, 2004 Report Share Posted May 28, 2004 ive got 3d max 5.1 expensive as hell but the problem is that it inst much of a cad software, but wakes bithin good models and animation (for 3+ grand what did you expect) but alas im not to good with it and too lazy to learn well (im not an artistic person) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hotrock Posted May 28, 2004 Report Share Posted May 28, 2004 AutoCAD or ProEngineer are probably the best, but I would have to say that the absolute best for design is................... .................Pencil and Paper Honestly, it's a LOT easier to do designs with pencil and paper and if you really want to CAD it up it's easier to have it down on paper first. If you go down the CAD route then get used to the "spline" command. It's the mutts nuts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmo Posted May 28, 2004 Report Share Posted May 28, 2004 Hi! No doubt that paper and pensil are the Best ways to start scratching some drawings... However, if you would like to have a GOOD full size drawing of you future guitar, I would advise you to print full scale (1:1) the aproximate length of the instrument, with the bridge, pickup, all frets and nut locations AND over that print then you can hand draw the contour of the guitar body. Go AutoCAD. Its simple fast and easy to move along. If in further adventures you would like to move 3D, mix AutoCAD with 3DSMax... Here is an example of that kind of mix... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoneWolf121188 Posted May 28, 2004 Author Report Share Posted May 28, 2004 i got autoCAD 05, it looks pretty cool...tried out some small things with it, looks like the learning curve will be a little steep . Can anyone point me in the right direction, as to tutorials, templates, etc? I need 3d routing templates for a dimarzio humbucker, fixed bridge, neck, etc. Basicly everything but the body (my own design). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MzI Posted May 29, 2004 Report Share Posted May 29, 2004 i have autocad 2000 and 2004 lt, i also know 2004, very easy programs took me like 30 mins or so to learn it, it does cost alot of money for the one yr license i think the student version is around 600 usd or so, another program you could try is sketchup you can download an 8hr trial version at sketchup.com its very similiar to autocad, o yea and its a 3d modeling program MzI Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankie Posted May 29, 2004 Report Share Posted May 29, 2004 I have autocad 74 it is duplicating the process ten fold Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southpa Posted May 29, 2004 Report Share Posted May 29, 2004 I'm running ACAD 2005 (took the course a few years back) and just learning Inventor 8. Heres a tip for you if you are drawing something like a ship or mostly symmetrical guitars etc. You only have to draw HALF of the unit. Make a centerline and work off that then when you get far enough use the mirror command based from the centerline. I've seen lots of drawings by people with no formal training, their results really suck. Especially when you are trying to extract parts to put on a separate drawing for plotting. I was trying to get the outline of a pickguard from one drawing and found that it consisted of about 500 little lines all joined together. It wasn't worth the effort to isolate all that and join them together into a polyline. Taking a course is a good idea for getting started. However, it was something I could have done at home if I had the manual. Thats basically all I got out of it, the lesson manual. It consisted of very concise step by step instructions and was easy to follow. The rest of my $650 (Cdn) went into doing the time in the classroom and occasionally asking the instructor a question. But I could have figured it all out at home by myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truerussian558 Posted May 29, 2004 Report Share Posted May 29, 2004 thats not entireley true. a lot of good 3d artists are self taught, and since it is like an art form, your portfolio matters morre then your education. as for mirroring, it is not as effective on a guitar as other models, id recomend to use the mirror technique on the neck, but the body (mostly) is asymetrical and so is the haedstock so it would be easier to modle it straight out but to make a guitar based on a a previously built one it is alot beter to use blueprints/ straight on photographs, http://www.suurland.com/tutorials_blueprint_max.htm is a good tutorial to set up blue prints, although it is made for 3d max the principles involved can be used for any cad or 3d modeling program Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoneWolf121188 Posted June 2, 2004 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2004 anyone else? Im looking for premading routing templates and a neck that I can just drag and drop onto my body. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmo Posted June 2, 2004 Report Share Posted June 2, 2004 If you use 3DStudioMax, use the loft compound object to mold the neck, however you will have to make some preparations first: draw two correct top and a side views contour lines and also some sections of the main neck parts (section at the neck joint, at 12th fret, at 1st fret and at the head stock, at least). Also draw a straight line with the correct lenght (it should be the same as the top and side views). Use the sections to vary the extrude sections and the top and side drawings to fit (fit deformation botton) in the neck. It may take some time to figure out how to do this, but once you got it, you'll mold a neck in a blink of an eye. Hope to have helped Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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