Software Frustration

[William Adams]

Here's a post on making 3D files from 2D image files: https://kt421.wordpress.com/2015/04/...rom-2d-images/

[Dan Hintz]

Here's a post on making 3D files from 2D image files: https://kt421.wordpress.com/2015/04/...rom-2d-images/

Do note, however, that all of the models created by that woman were essentially two-level... no need for complicated 3D programs. Even Paint would be quite adequate to create those. Start with a white background, then draw your design in black. Once imported, set white to 1/8" and black to 1/16". Print. The article did NOT say, however, how the UFO model from her husband was created.

[Kevin L. Waldron]

I'm the one who mentioned MOI.... we have legal copies of Aspire 8, Artcam Pro 9.1, Enroute 5 Pro, Rhinocam Pro 2014 with Rhinoart, MadCam 5 XTRA, and Sprutcam 7 (we also have the new Rhino3Dprint for 3D printers)........ Blender is a free program and vary powerful but it does take some time getting use to the way you have to think..... a lot of the animation guru's like this program and there are several others along this line including several Autocad family programs. It's possible that you might even want to look at programs like Artec 3D Studio..... for doing what your doing...... cheap 3D scanner and you can scan your parts/objects and cut shortly after running the software.

http://www.artec3d.com/software/studio-kinect/

If Aspire is not out of your budget probably the best route for overall CAD and CAM although we personally hate the CAD 180 drawing that Aspire and several others offer but it does serve a function that works for many.

As far as STL we personally don't like this format because of the difficulty of working with the files....... they are not as easily modified as a Solidworks Files or a Nurbs style files if changes for an item/part are needed quickly...... although 3D printers for the most part only work with STL type files. (STL= mesh format for the most part).

Hope this helps or confused the water even more.

Blessings,

Kevin

[Kevin L. Waldron]

John,

If you were going to do CNC again you need to give MadCam a chance....... it's really a great program..... you do have to think a little different...... it's also possible that the base version may not have all the bells and whistles that you may need for guitar work not sure..... but it is worth learning.

Rhinoceros is $799 right now at NOVEDGE......

Blessings,

Kevin

[John Coloccia]

My problem with Madcam is that I kept running into crazy bugs with seemingly EVERY project I had. Just simple things, like making holes with pocketing, and I would get crazy tool paths that wouldn't ramp, rapids through the model, and things like that. I was constantly fiddling with it just to do very very simple things. He'd eventually fix the bugs, but it was like a boat anchor around my business.

[Bill Amaya]

Rhino, I have spent tons of money on software and Rhino rocks. I have been using it for 5 plus years and it just works flawlessly. The cost of entry is learning the software, but for my money rhino has it going. Hundreds of drawing tools, plug ins, import and export capability, tens of thousands of users word wide and Bob and Sandy McNeel are just good people. (rhino's developer).