Any GT40 or Cobra owners using CAD to make parts ?

BT SNAKE · #1 (**permalink**) 08-07-2007, 09:15 AM

I started looking into which CAD program would be best for me to learn. After a couple of months playing around with several free demos I decided on KeyCreator by Kubotek. So far it seems to be the best for me. I am signed up for a three day class in September. I also liked Rhino but it was more for modeling and shell type stuff.
I made several small drawings to get the hang of the program. This is something you get better with in time....I hope..

Hey Brent ! How about a forum for CAD & Cobras ? I think it would be a
big hit where guys that do CAD could share files and show their projects here.

So if anyone else is using Keycreator I would love to here what you think.

Hersh

rphubbard · #2 (**permalink**) 08-07-2007, 10:06 AM

Hersh,

I am using Autodesk Inventor as my CAD program. But I use it for my business and we also use MasterCam for the machine shop. But it is not hard to share files by just saving them as certain file types so others can use them.

Sizzler · #3 (**permalink**) 08-07-2007, 11:19 AM

I've been looking into these programs as well. Prefer Freeware to shareware. Intellidesign seems to get good reviews. Any other options?

Anyone use eMachine?

Fran Hall RCR · #4 (**permalink**) 08-07-2007, 04:44 PM

Hershal...
you saw lots of CAD designed parts at my shop last year.....there are even more there now....

...THREE CNC machines in house....
Kirkham uses CAD to design their Cobra parts too....

What do you plan to design and manufacture Hersh????..you will need a tool path/machining programme too....I use the latest Mastercam X2

BT SNAKE · #5 (**permalink**) 08-07-2007, 06:13 PM

Hi RPHubbard,
I saw that on the list but never looked at it . I'll go check it out.

Hi Sizzler,
I have emachine and I like it. It is a simple program. I used it a year ago and had some parts cut for me on their water jet.

Hi Fran,
I saw a lot of nice stuff at your place. The work is beautiful. I'm jealous.

I have also visited the Kirkhams and they too have a shop to die for. I could stand and watch those machines work for hours.

I will design any part that I can replace on my personal car, GT, or Cobra if it can be made better. But I'm a long way from that. First things first. I'll learn, then we'll see where that goes. I may be old but I still enjoy learning new skills and seeking new ventures. You only live once, this ain't no rehearsal.

Hersh

rdorman · #6 (**permalink**) 08-08-2007, 08:16 AM

Rob Frink owns a machine shop with CAD tied to his CNC machines. Very slick, draw it, put in the stock, press a button and done! His member name here is his name.

427sharpe · #7 (**permalink**) 08-08-2007, 09:42 AM

I use Alibre, fast and easy. Mastercam is a very good toolpath program. I use it on my milling machine.

Sizzler · #8 (**permalink**) 08-09-2007, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 427sharpe

I use Alibre, fast and easy. Mastercam is a very good toolpath program. I use it on my milling machine.

I looked up Alibre and it looks good, and not too expensive.

What is the ongoing maintenance charges like though? As a percentage of original package cost? (Looking at the $250 package for myself).

Does it export/import standard file formats (DXF, DWF)?

Can I import a logo file and 'emboss' it onto a part?

Thanks for the lead.

BT SNAKE · #9 (**permalink**) 08-09-2007, 02:04 PM

Sizzler,
I have the Alibre Demo. I used it and found that it was capable of what you
described. Also the price is $999. for the pro package. Now that is for the current version. I recieved an email from them this month that offers the new released version at$1995.

Hersh

rphubbard · #10 (**permalink**) 08-09-2007, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rdorman

Rob Frink owns a machine shop with CAD tied to his CNC machines. Very slick, draw it, put in the stock, press a button and done! His member name here is his name.

I have my machine shop set up that way but there are some critical steps missing in your process

But it sure beats writing the program by hand.

eschaider · #11 (**permalink**) 08-09-2007, 07:30 PM

You might want to look in to Solid Edge. It is a 2D drafting program from Siemens that is upgradeable to a 3D environment. Pretty simple and fairly impressive. The 2D product is no charge, they want to get you hooked and then transition to 3D which is price competitive with a lot of other 3D environments out there.

The web site is http://www.ugs.com/products/velocity...olidEdge.shtml

Ed

Rwillia4 · #12 (**permalink**) 08-09-2007, 10:50 PM

What type of parts are you trying ot make? 2-D or 3-D. If you intend on making 3-D parts Solidworks is by far the best CAD program on the market. Once oyu build the part you can set loads on it and see where the weak spots are. You can then put all the pieces together and see if there is any interference. If you build aero parts you can perform a flow analysis on the part to see if it is "clean" in the air. They can be imported into mastercam, Qmax (waterjet). You can also build parts to be made out of a sheet (like oil pans)

home james · #13 (**permalink**) 08-10-2007, 12:07 AM

hey guys, I'm new here, but I'm a tool maker in a rather big shop. we use auto cad lt and esprit. The esprit is AWSOME. all you need to do is ether draw your part inside the software or drag your model into it, pick a part or all of your drawing, tell it what you want to do, eg. milling or turning, and it will do the rest. It will even tell you pefered feeds and speeds depending on your material. I'm shure it's costley $$, but you might look in to it.