How to make Plans??

blue dragon

Junior Member
Hi everyone!
This year is my last year in high school and I need a senior project. I thought how about I design my own airplane plans and build a flyable airplane from them.
This is where I get stuck I don't know how to make 2d plans. I can make a 3D airplane modle in Blender a 3D modeling program but I am not sure how I could convert that to a 2d printable plan with the necessary marks for scoring ect. If anyone knows how to make this work please let me know!
Thanks,
Matt 476
 

DamoRC

Elite member
Mentor
Does blender have an unfold type function? Can you flatten the panels out?

DamoRC
 

DamoRC

Elite member
Mentor
I am totally biased towards Sketchup because its the one I know and love. Just make sure to get a downloadable version (i.e. you install it to your computer). The web version which they brought out as a free option cannot utilize plugins of which you will need two, (1) an unfold plugin and (2) an export to DXF plugin (which is used to create printable plans).

DamoRC
 

TEAJR66

Flite is good
Mentor
If you go with Sketchup, look for Sketchup Make 2017. The plugins that are helpful are

1. Draw Bezier Curves - Extension Warehouse
2. Unwrap and Flatten - Extension Warehouse
3. Export DXF or STL (don't really need this if you are going to make PDF's) - https://www.guitar-list.com/download-software/convert-sketchup-skp-files-dxf-or-stl
4. Weld - Extension Warehouse
5. Sketchucam (G-Code) - https://openbuilds.com/projectresources/sketchucam.1/ or https://github.com/swarfer/sketchucam
6. Phlat Plugins (very helpful for G-Code to go to cut files and has an extra helper for flattening plans) - https://sites.google.com/site/wikicncdiy/sketchup
 

Morgan

Active member
I tried to download sketchup make 2017 but all it did when I clicked on the link is bring up a background with no options to download it no links nothing.
 

DamoRC

Elite member
Mentor
Weird - when I click on the link that I posted, I get the following screen - do you get this far?

sketchup download.jpg
 

Morgan

Active member
i believed it was finished loeding but maybe I should let it sit for a bit(Very slow wifi).