Maker classroom: Is it 2d or 3d?

The distinction between 2d and 3d projects can be confusing at time, so let's see if we can clear it up a little to help Makers and Fabber work as effortlessly as they can.

What kinds of projects need 3d models? This can be pretty easy to figure out some times. If you want to make a realistic carving of a duck, you would need to create a 3d model for sure and might use a program like Rhino or Solidworks. These kind of objects have a constantly changing surface and are generally "carved" rather that "assembled". A relief carving like a woodlands scene would require a 3d model as well, but might be done with more "artistic" 3d design software. A 3d object like this will generally be made from a piece of material a little bit bigger than the finished product. The model would be saved in a 3d format like .stl, .3ds, or .obj, and the Fabber would use a program like PartWorks3d to create a 3d toolpath that would slowly remove material in a series of closely-spaced passes.

Here are just a few 3d programs that you might find useful:

3d Modeling software:

• Rhino3d
• Blender
• MOI
• Solidworks
• Sketchup
• Alibre
• 3d Studio Max

"Artistic" 3d software:

• Aspire
• RhinoArt
• ArtCAM Pro

 

 

Then there are things that are 3d when they are assembled but are made out of flat parts that are essentially 2d. A goofy-looking deer that slots together is a good example...the parts of the deer can be easily represented by a line drawing, and each piece gets it's thickness from the material it's cut from and isn't "carved" out of a thicker piece. Although you may want to create a 3d model to help with the design, you wouldn't use that 3d model to create your toolpath files unless you wanted to carve the shelves from a solid block of wood! It would be MUCH more efficient to take the individual pieces of your deer model and lay them flat, to generate the outline of each part. The Fabber would take those outlines, generally in a CAD format like dxf or dwg or in a vector graphics format like AI or PDF, and generate a toolpath in a program like PartWorks.

CAD software:

• AutoCAD
• TurboCAD
• DoubleCad
• QCad

Graphics programs with Vector capabilities:

• Inkscape
• CorelDraw