Team CAD build

[jschoenly]

I'm playing with a "Flywheel" just messing around. I'm in Spring City, PA. My family and I "are" Cabin Fever Expo.

I may not have every posted the best introduction on the forum, but I'm a mechanical engineer and interested in all the fine aspects of the hobby as well as antique engines, tractors, cars, etc. Having used Solidworks for a good number of years, I'd consider myself pretty fluent in it (not all aspects, but I have some pretty extensive models I've done for hobby and work). Lots of similarities on OnShape, but I find myself confused be some functions and a big user of the esc key, I don't quite understand the selections and deselecting entirely yet. There are things I really wish were there from Solidworks I can see already, but it's a pretty good tool so far....

 

[Dave Sohlstrom]

Jared

I spent many years in machining before I retired. Now I build model marine propulsion systems for RC model tugs.

You can build the flywheel in a new tab or you can build it in the part studio.

As I understand the free system You can have 5 active documents/projects ( I like the term Projects better) and as many inactive projects as you need so long as you starage does not exceed 5gb. You just switch projects in and out as needed.

If you use Skype that is a great way for folks that are working on a common project can talk about the project while each is working with OS.

Dave

 

[AussieJimG]

Looks like Dave has started a shared project, lets all jump on it. Just need to decide what engine we want to do. I don't think we are doing this to get the engine design- but to learn how the process works.

Should we pick one design, then allocate its parts as people join the project? Each of us could do our part and we could all see the whole.

Good idea. We need some control structure to make this work.

Jim

 

[Smithers]

Hi Dave,

PM sent

Regards, Andrew Smth

 

[Dave Sohlstrom]

Good morning all

I have been working with the Onshape team build project.

I have discovered that we can add part studios to the project and rename them I added a Crank shaft group, a Cam shaft group and a Timing gear group.

Every one that has joined the team build can add parts to these part studios if they want to play with it.

There is at present only one assembly but more sub assemblies can be added say the timing gear group could have gears and a gear case assembly that can be put into the main engine assembly.

For those folks on the thread that have not joined the build just send me a PM with your Email address an I will add you in.

Is there an engine that the group would like to convert 2D drawings to 3D parts and assemblies or design a completely new engine.

Dave

 

[AussieJimG]

I have spent a bit of time playing with Onshape and talking to Dave who has helped me with a couple of problems that were my own fault.

I think the program has a lot of potential and the Beta is the place to find the problems and suggest the improvements. I know that Dave has submitted a few suggestions.

For me, the biggest downside at present is the inability to generate dimensioned drawings from which to actually make the parts. I know it is coming and it will make a big difference to the program.

The second one (and a bit of a surprise) is that is doesn't (yet) work on mobile browsers. The ability to work from desktop, laptop, tablet or mobile phone is a real benefit and one which I would use often.

For personal use, I think I would use Onshape, perhaps in conjunction with Geomagic Design (my current CAD program) because of the ability to work from the different browsers. But I think that the idea of collaborative design is a long way off and needs a lot of work.

Anyway, that's the way I see it.

Jim

 

[Dave Sohlstrom]

Jim

It has been good to talk to you using Skype and I'm glad I could help.

The mobile App is up and running in the beta test. Here is a link to info on getting the app working on your devices.

Dave

https://cad.onshape.com/help/#mobiledevices.htm

 

[barnesrickw]

Jim



It has been good to talk to you using Skype and I'm glad I could help.



The mobile App is up and running in the beta test. Here is a link to info on getting the app working on your devices.



Dave



https://cad.onshape.com/help/#mobiledevices.htm

Oh I can't wait for that. I use my iPad almost exclusively and have been looking for a good app for such things.

 

[Dave Sohlstrom]

Looks like this thread is dying on the vine.

Dave

 

[AussieJimG]

Yes Dave, despite your hard work, I think it is on hold for the present. Perhaps when it matures it will be more useful.

I know that we can make it useful by making suggestions but I think I will leave that to others for the time being.

Thanks for all your help.

Jim

 

[Jasonb]

Taking the discussions off to Skype does not do the thread a lot of good either as people who may have had an interest will have missed out and drfted away.

J

 

[mrehmus]

I have two complete engines drawn in SolidWorks by an engineering class at the
University of Idaho. They are the Ford Model A with gearbox and the Wright brothers second engine, the upright 4-cylinder.
I have the Solidworks files for both.
Either set could be donated to the project with the understanding that I could, perhaps, publish the results in Model Engine Builder magazine.

 

[Dave Sohlstrom]

With the engine parts in solidworks 3D model form they can be imported into OnS but that would defeat the purpose of learning OnS.
If the parts were in 2D drawing form then the people in the build would need to develop 3D part models in OnS Then sub assemblies and assemblies developed from those models. That could be a good learning experience.
How would you go about distributing the parts to people. There is a solidworks viewer that I believe is free.

There are some of us that have seats of SW but I expect that most do not. There are also folks with a seat of Geomagic design that can handle SW part models. There are also some that may have different 3D CAD programs also.

Then there are folk that OnS may be the first 3D CAD program they have used and are just getting started in learning 3D CAD.

Looking forward to what other people think.

Dave

 

[johnmcc69]

Those are some really good points Dave, & that's exactly how I would see potential customers (The larger ones) evaluating this software. In todays world, collaboration across multiple engineering departments & CAD software is quite common. In the end, the final product in the customers hands is the desired result. Seamlessly integrating the process from "Art to part" ("Point A to point B") is huge. In most cases, paper drawings are created as PDF's, & electronic files used in creating manufacturing tooling, (molds, prototypes, 3D printables...) are "Exported" out as IGES, STEP, SLA, Etc., so operating across multiple CAD platforms probably doesn't matter. These scenarios would certainly be a real world test.

What would the article in the magazine be about? Collaboration? Or just a set of plans created from the software?

John

 

[aonemarine]

I have two complete engines drawn in SolidWorks by an engineering class at the
University of Idaho. They are the Ford Model A with gearbox and the Wright brothers second engine, the upright 4-cylinder.
I have the Solidworks files for both.
Either set could be donated to the project with the understanding that I could, perhaps, publish the results in Model Engine Builder magazine.

The model a engine would spark my interest enough to get involved for sure!

 

[RonGinger]

Since I started this thread I suppose I ought to get back in it. I had two ideas, first to see how the shared design part works. Just the little comic engine that Dave started has shown how shared design can work.

My second idea was to get some engine for which only 2D drawings exist, and generate a 3D model of that. If each one of a group did just one or two parts in the end we should have a full 3D model. The model A engine sounds a bit ambitious but why not?

 

[aonemarine]

Since I started this thread I suppose I ought to get back in it. I had two ideas, first to see how the shared design part works. Just the little comic engine that Dave started has shown how shared design can work.

My second idea was to get some engine for which only 2D drawings exist, and generate a 3D model of that. If each one of a group did just one or two parts in the end we should have a full 3D model. The model A engine sounds a bit ambitious but why not?

Very ambitious. Where it could get really interesting is if the drawings are full scale and we need to reduce them to model size. sometimes things dont scale down well, so it would take some forethought and good communication between the modelers.
I would still like to model the palmer yt1, but only have a few pics to go off of. Sooner of later ill get my hands on one to model

 

[Dave Sohlstrom]

I have a full size set of plans for the engines on the stern wheel tug Portland that I would like to make a model of some day.
What I did was draw the engine parts full size in then Alibre now GeoMagic and scaled them to 1/24 scale.
Then I dissected the scaled parts to see where I had problems and made adjustments to the full size part.
Problem is at this point in OnS development there is no scaling tool. I have ask for one to be added and I expect they will.

I am thinking that engine parts that are going to be a challenge to model can be taken on by folks that have been working with 3D CAD for some time and then maybe explain to others how they made the part.

Dave

 

[aonemarine]

Ive been using alibre for a few years now and just had a look at onshape, seems to have some of the same features. I will have to poke around in it some more and play around a bit and check out the tutorials.

 

[Dave Sohlstrom]

The one big plus with OnS is no maintenance fee. When my current maintenance runs out OnS will save me $300 a year that I can spend on tooling and materials.

Dave