Software for Designing Foamboard Planes

[ithink2020]

I'm wondering what people are using to design planes today. I have used Blender to build a couple of planes, so that I could build a SIM model. However, looking at Fusion, Blender seems tedious. Also, I haven't figured out how to flatten the model so that I could print planes from it.

My goals are to:

• Build the plane in 3D space to see how it goes together.
• Export the model as an OBJ file to create a SIM model.
• Unfold the parts so that I can print out paper plans. (Wish I had a laser cutter!)

What are your recommendations? Also, has anyone created a guide for the above already?

I just saw that Onshape has a free version as well. Does anyone know if it can perform the above actions?

I did find a series of videos on how to RC Model Airplane Design in Fusion360, which looks promising. It appears to be for building Balsa planes. If someone know of something like this that is geared towards Foam planes, I would appreciate a link!

Thanks, all!

 

[Mr Man]

I love using Onshape, That’s how I design nearly all of my planes.

 

[Mr Man]

This is roughly how I do it, I do wings completely different now though. https://forum.flitetest.com/index.p...esign-f4f-wildcat-by-mr-man.77647/post-778051

 

[Mr NCT]

I'm still learning both fusion and design. If you're just getting started with fusion 360 here are the videos I used to learn the basics:

They're very quick and build on each other. Once you're comfortable there are some excellent videos on designing planes. Here are my favorites:

 

[Mr NCT]

Wish I had a laser cutter!

Don't we all! You might look at ERC TimSav, relatively inexpensive and a large group here and on Facebook using it.

ERC TimSav - Cheap DIY CNC Foamboard Cutter

Hi there, some of you guys may have already know about this new foldable, cheap & easy to build cnc foamboard cutter. Other than the active FB group, upon request, I also started a thread here for those of you who are more familiar with the forum format. You can find every everything in the...

forum.flitetest.com

 

[Jo's squadron]

@Mr Man you should do a video how to design a rc plane on Onshape. I would definitely watch it!

 

[Mr Man]

@Mr Man you should do a video how to design a rc plane on Onshape. I would definitely watch it!

I should! And I keep forgetting 😆

 

[Jo's squadron]

I should! And I keep forgetting 😆

😂

 

[Houndpup Rc]

I should! And I keep forgetting 😆

I would, but I think he is better than me 😂

 

[Merv]

Someone remind me, what where we talking about.

 

[Mr Man]

Someone remind me, what where we talking about.

Let’s just say were were slightly relevant 😂

 

[ithink2020]

I think I'm going to give Ohshape a go. Going to watch some tutorials this evening. I like that I can access it from any computer on the fly.

 

[dberg97]

I tried many times in Fusion, but the lack of built in flattening was the limiting factor. I switched to Onshape and love it.

 

[ithink2020]

I'm going through a tutorial on Sheet Metal in Onshape. It is really cool to see the flattened parts live.

 

[dberg97]

I need to try that too. I just use the flatten feature currently.

 

[Houndpup Rc]

Onshape has a built in learning course 👍

 

[ithink2020]

Onshape has a built in learning course 👍

I'll need to check that out!

I did start playing around with it this evening. At this point, I'm attempting to build Hanger's Simple Stick inside, while learning Onshape. I started with some simple shapes this evening:

I hope to eventually get it to become a model in Phoenix.

 

[Houndpup Rc]

Someone remind me, what where we talking about.

Let’s just say were were slightly relevant 😂

Sorry @ithink2020 of we went a little off topic

 

[Houndpup Rc]

hello everyone..

Hello, and welcome to the forum! (If you want to talk about something, have a question or introduce yourself you can start your own thread here: https://forum.flitetest.com/index.php?forums/-/create-thread

 

[ithink2020]

Sorry @ithink2020 of we went a little off topic

Like I've never gone off topic!