designing plans

[eagle4]

Hey gang, I'd like to design my own plane, and have plans for it that i can lay out over the foamboard, just like the FliteTest plans.

How do you go about making these? I know 3d modeling packages like 3dsmax and maya rather well, would they help or do you use something like sketchup? i'm just wondering how you'd go from a 3d model to the layed out plan view?

Dave

 

[CrashRecovery]

I've heard sketchup works good.

 

[zev]

sketchup is mainly a 3d program, why not use something more like illustrator, inkscape, photoshop, or gimp? even MS paint! any drawing program really.

 

[OutcastZeroOne]

there is a plugin available for Sketchup 7 that lets you take a model, unfold into a flat peice and print out plans from that. RCGroups has a big thread about how to use sketchup.

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=920416

Sorry for the offsite link. Me personally I just start with a simple drawing on paper, and figure out how to make plans from there. I'll draw out a set of plans on some posterboard or craft cardboard and cut it out. If I like what I've made I then make the hand drawn plans into a file in my CAD program (CADintosh, great inexpensive Mac CAD program).

Of the programs that zev has listed, the only one I can say to use is Illustrator, but its $$$. Most drawing programs are great for making art, but not so good for making plans. It can be very difficult to edit a part if you make a mistake or change your mind on something.

 

[zev]

+1 on drawing it

waa? illustrator is hard to edit with? if you use the pen or line tool (anything but the brush) it is completely editable. any way, gimp and Inkscape are free, and have most all of the capabilities.

 

[OutcastZeroOne]

+1 on drawing it

waa? illustrator is hard to edit with? if you use the pen or line tool (anything but the brush) it is completely editable. any way, gimp and Inkscape are free, and have most all of the capabilities.

Of the programs that zev has listed, the only one I can say to use is Illustrator, but its $$$.

I've used illustrator for a long time and its great for plans. Might help if you read the post instead of skimming it

 

[zev]

sorry about that!

about the price, the Pirate Bay is awsome, hint hint, I am not suggesting anything…

 

[OutcastZeroOne]

. I remember I got Illustrator really cheap because my local collage was selling a student version. only differance between the comercial version and student version was that "you where not allowed to make something for profit". bassicly meaning your where "legally" not to use it for work related uses. how they would figure that out, I do not know.

One really nice thing about Illustrator and programs like that is it is very easy to make nice, compound curves (curves that change angle, or tightness of the turn midway). Try doing that in a CAD program.... nightmare...

 

[zev]

indeed. bezier curves with the pen tool FTW. possibly the best thing ever to come to any drawing program.

 

[Onebladeprop]

I've been using sketchup

 

[aiidanwings]

Please stop making me feel old. I'm still using pencil, sand paper, and a drafting table!!

 

[earthsciteach]

Don't feel alone, aiidanwings. I actually have AutoCad, but still prefer to hand draw the plans for my designs. The weird thing is, in my previous career as an engineer, I never drafted by hand. I feel like I have a better feel for the "flow" of the design when drawing by hand. I'm just weird that way, I guess.

 

[OutcastZeroOne]

nothing wrong with paper and pencle.all my plans start out that way. I just use the computer to make plans to share my madness with the world

 

[baronbernie]

I too use a CAD program for my designs. I have TurboCad Deluxe 16 and am still learning about it. When saveing the drawing I save it directly as a jpeg file.

 

[davereap]

sketchup is 3d, but it is so simple to use it for 2d that I use it for any quick illustrating diagram.. plans are just as easy..
you can download a 2d toolset which keeps all the lines on the same level...
lots more info here..
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=920416

 

[Tactical Ex]

. I remember I got Illustrator really cheap because my local collage was selling a student version. only differance between the comercial version and student version was that "you where not allowed to make something for profit". bassicly meaning your where "legally" not to use it for work related uses. how they would figure that out, I do not know.

One really nice thing about Illustrator and programs like that is it is very easy to make nice, compound curves (curves that change angle, or tightness of the turn midway). Try doing that in a CAD program.... nightmare...

I don't know about older versions of Adobe products but as of CS3 student editions you can legally use the program for profit. The difference between the regular and student versions is that the student is the only licensed user instead of just "single-user". I have been using illustrator for plans for just a short while, I'm not sure If I will continue using it though, might try sketchup.

 

[Freaky_1]

Just curious who else has a calculator on their building/design table/desk/surface.

 

[eagle4]

i have a calculator on my phone which i always have with me