First steps into design

[SVB]

Hi all, I’ve got a small 3-D printer and I would like to make some inserts for my trend router table.

I’ve only ever used the printer to print pre-made designs but I can’t find a pre-made design for this item so will need to design my own.

So the question to you wise folks, can I do this with free software? What’s the easiest to use? Any top tips?

Many thanks for your advice in advance!

Simon.

 

[Amplidyne]

I use FreeCad, but you'll get as many answers as there are packages.
Personally, I prefer open source and free where possible, with no restrictions on use. YMMV.

If you're starting from complete beginner, follow the online tutorials until how to use your chosen software "clicks"

It's not immediately obvious.

Have you looked to see if there are any parts already drawn up somewhere like Thingiverse?

https://www.thingiverse.com/search?q=trend+router+table&page=1

https://www.thingiverse.com/search?q=router+table+insert&page=1

or Yeggi

https://www.yeggi.com/q/trend+router+table/

 

[artie]

https://www.onshape.com/en/products/free

Free and more tutorial videos than you will ever need.

 

[fleyh]

So the question to you wise folks, can I do this with free software? What’s the easiest to use? Any top tips?

Hello Simon,

As has already been mentioned earlier, you'll get as many answers as there are packages.

CAD software belongs to the category of things where you can choose only any two from the following: Free, Easy, Powerful - not all three.

I have wasted years jumping between free and free(ish) CAD software, looking for that "ultimate one."

For DIY or hobby projects (where you don't get paid for the result), nothing beats FreeCAD. The learning curve is steep. Functionally, it cannot hope to compete with commercial offerings like Solid Edge, Fusion 360, SolidWorks, AutoCAD, OnShape, etc., but it will never expire, developers will not remove useful features, and nobody controls what you do with your software.

If you do decide to give FreeCAD a go, there are several useful YouTube channels. My favourites are:
- https://www.youtube.com/@MangoJellySolutions - start with this one
- https://www.youtube.com/@deltahedra3D
- https://www.youtube.com/@CADCAMLessons

 

[Sachakins]

Tinkercad, is free and should meet your needs.
https://www.tinkercad.com/

 

[kinverkid]

To try and answer your questions. Yes, you can make it with free software. The easiest for this particular project would, in my opinion. be Fusion 360. Tip: photograph the insert from the bottom. Follow a YouTube guide on importing it into Fusion to trace and size it. You will need some callipers.

FreeCAD and Onshape are both excellent, and I suggest you give them a try after you have created your insert the easier way especially if you need it immediately. However, as said, there is a bigger learning curve to creating such a comparatively uncomplicated project but if you do not need it urgently, they are worth getting your head around.

 

[Lard]

Tinkercad - hands down!

From many years of working in the construction industry and latterly within university education I've had to use several drawing/modelling software packages and having experience in one will definitely help you to get used to an alternative as, otherwise, the learning curve is often very steep.

For several years I used SketchUp almost entirely as it was free and, relatively, easier to pick up the basics to create very quick on-screen illustrations and models.

About 2yrs ago, having retired, I got my arm twisted by a 3d printing friend (I would say a 3d printing nerd) and not wanting to waste money I purchased a cheap 3d printer (voxelab aquila) and immediately thought I could simply reproduce some of my on-screen models physically. This was definitely not the case as I quickly discovered that on-screen models had inherent, not visible, faults.

Got introduced to Tinkercad by, of all people, my next door neighbour's 8yr old son who used it in school for learning electronics.....I then started using it to also help teach him electronics....this is where I noticed it's 3d modelling capabilities.

My first impressions were high but then quickly deflated as, instead of watching an extremely simply introductory video, I ploughed straight in because "my ego of experience" told me otherwise and I got completely frustrated and concluded that it wasn't for me because "it must be for school kids" etc.

I think I was then in the position that you are now and so asked the same question.....I then ended up trying out other packages but (I will admit) didn't have the patience with any that had obviously steep learning curves and so, again, got very frustrated and was about to give up when my 3d printing friend questioned why I wasn't using Tinkercad.......turns out I hadn't 'found' the (now) obvious basic tool buttons (writing this now I can't remember why????) which completely opens up the whole package.

Longer story shortened, in my opinion it's very intuitive to use and for everything that I've ever needed (and, I think, for projects like your own) it's the only one I ever use, even though there are 'better' packages out there I'm sure..... but I've found no reason to change.

I suppose the simplest explanation is that complexity is sacrificed for ease of use and only you can determine where along this line you wish to be. Most of my prints are for practical reasons (brackets, jigs etc) but I have also produced some quite complex shapes because.....and this is key......most complex models/shapes can be broken down into a combination of simpler shapes and then grouped.

I'm such a fan of Tinkercad that I'm happy to answer any questions you have and also point you to videos explaining how to do things you wouldn't readily think could be done.

 

[fleyh]

To those who suggested Tinkercad above: how would you achieve the goal of creating the model that the original poster needs using Tinkercad?

It is entirely possible with any parametric CAD software where you can import a photo, create a sketch, trace the image, adjust dimensions and extrude/pocket as necessary. However, is the OP goal actually feasible using Tinkercad?

I am genuinely interested, as Tinkercad was one of the stops on my journey of CAD hopping. I still have designs made in Tinkercad saved on my computer, some of which I was unable to complete to my satisfaction in Tinkercad but later successfully completed in Fusion 360 and then FreeCAD.

 

[Lard]

I haven't got the time to write a full explanation at the mo but, as I wrote above, it's simply a case of disassembling it into simple shapes.....if you're talking about the 'green' baseplates in the photo there's a few circles and lots of rectangles and little else!
The cut outs are simply rectangular 'holes' in Tinkercad......everything is then grouped together.

I can't see that there's anything in that particular baseplate. A good set of callipers for dimensions is a must. No need for sketches, photos or any tracing.

 

[Amplidyne]

From what I've seen, they're all fairly steep learning curves. The idea of "simple" is comparative.
What I don't like about the "free for non commercial use" commercial packages, is that they can decide that it is no longer free at any time.
I don't want to end up with a sub for using something that I only use casually.
As I've said, FreeCad has allowed me to do everything I've needed to do so far, and is a lot more powerful than I will probably ever need.

 

[Sachakins]

Fusion360, free for non commercial usage. Just register as a hobby user.

Somewhere in the terms it states that if you make more than $1000, you need to upgrade to a paid licence. And there are limitations on project numbers too.
Which I think is fair enough caveat from them.

 

[HamsterJam]

I started with Tinkercad but quickly reached its limitations (unless I missed something). I still use it for simple projects but for more complex tasks like this I use RS Designspark Explorer (the free edition). Unfortunately there is quite a learning curve.
Having said that and looking at the OPs task in hand, could it be fashioned from a piece of ply?

 

[MorrisWoodman12]

+1 for Designspark Mechanical. Its the one I settled on after trying several. Don't ask which ones as it was nine years ago. Tried Fusion 360 as it was "the bees knees" but found the learning curve virtually vertical and impossible. Oh well.
Martin

Edit: PS Would be interested in learning how to create the POs object from the very first post in TinkerCAD.

 

[ChaiLatte]

If you are to start on 3D modelling, the router insert is a good place to begin. It is effectively a 2 1/2D object - everything that it is can be seen in a plan view and it just has thickness/height in the Z direction.

It could be useful to think of how you would make it in plywood, as suggested above, and then use that to guide you in the modelling.

Please read attached left to right and assume numbers.

(1) Draw (mark out) the perimeter - a square with rounded corners. (2) Cut that shape from your plywood sheet. (3) Mark a central hole and (4) drill that hole. (5) Mark the cut out midpoint of an edge. Cut out the little notch.

Here is where 3D modelling starts to differ from real wood. For anything that repeats, in the computer you only need to do that task once and then tell the computer to repeat the task 'n' times total in other locations. (6) In computer-ese, that is called a polar pattern (because it is around and relative to a centre pole).

Now glue on an upstand adjacent to the notch (7) and repeat as many times as needed (8). Then add the two circular upstands (9). Cut out the notches from where the circular upstand touches the rectangular one (10). Make one of the eight linking upstands (11) and repeat until finished (12).

For any insert, the only thing that will vary is the diameter of the central hole. Compare with a word processor document. You can save multiple copies of it and have a different font in each copy, without having to re-type the whole document. Similarly with the 3D model, you can save multiple copies and just change one dimension (the diameter of the central hole) to make a whole new insert without having to re-model from scratch.

 

[bp122]

It's my day job to design stuff on CAD. I had used SOLIDWORKS for nearly 2 decades, plus NX and other complex softwares. But since trying Onshape at work last year, that's my go to software for personal projects.

It's free (but your designs are public - need to switch to paid subscription for private designs), immensely capable, open source, packed with features and it is browser based, meaning no installation or need for really high spec machines (although, will help) and best of all, you can access it on any computer with an internet connection.

Plus it's really easy to use.

So +1 for Onshape.

 

[ChaiLatte]

...open source...

I think for clarity, you would do well to explain what you mean by that term. You are using it in a way and in a context that is difficult to comprehend otherwise.

 

[bp122]

I think for clarity, you would do well to explain what you mean by that term. You are using it in a way and in a context that is difficult to comprehend otherwise.

Of course. Sorry.

Open source, in simple terms, means it's developed in a collaborative manner by public and the software company, rather than conventional way where only the software company holds all the cards.

So public users with software knowhow can develop new features to the software which are then available for us mortals to use.

Onshape also has a feature wishlist where people can create a request for new features and vote. Requests with the most votes are then considered by the company to be added and more often than not they do.

 

[cmoops2]

I've just 'dipped my toe' into Onshape and thought I'd pass on my experience of registering as a 'free' user. You have to initially register as a 'business' (which has a 180 day countdown clock to an annual (hefty) fee) and, after your account is finalised, you then need to apply to downgrade it to the 'free' version.

I used the business name 'Self' to kick the process off and, when my (initial) registratin was completed, I then entered 'My Account' (pull down on your username tab (top RHS) and was presented with the 'Downgrade to free' option ...

As I get into the learning curve, I'll post my initial thoughts ...

 

[HamsterJam]

I think for clarity, you would do well to explain what you mean by that term. You are using it in a way and in a context that is difficult to comprehend otherwise.

Of course. Sorry.

Open source, in simple terms, means it's developed in a collaborative manner by public and the software company, rather than conventional way where only the software company holds all the cards.

So public users with software knowhow can develop new features to the software which are then available for us mortals to use.

To add more clarity, most software or computer programs are written in a language programmers can understand. This ‘source code’ is then converted (or compiled) to code or instructions the computer can follow.
Usually the source code is a closely guarded secret and only the compiled software is released. It is very hard to decompile software, so this effectively means no one outside the owning organisation can make modifications.
However, with ‘Open Source’ software, the source code is made freely available or ‘open’, hence the name. This means anyone with the skills and inclination can make changes. This might include adding features or fixing bugs. There is an expectation (and it is usually a condition in a licence agreement), that any changes are resubmitted back into to the development community.

 

[kinverkid]

Just as a side note. There is already a model for the Trens insert on Onshape. I don't know if this link will work if you're not registered.
Trend Insert