HOW TO MAKE EFFECTIVE SKETCHES FOR PRODUCING 3D CAD MODEL

On the last post we talked about how essential it is to convey clear cut messages of  you design to your Cad designer. Now, you are going to see how sketches could  be made to achieve this.

To make sketches that convey your complete designs to your cad designer. You need to show the isometric or perspective views of your design along with the overall dimensions. Showing length breadth and height, adhering to a specific unit (metric or imperial).  This is followed by showing different views of the designs. These views include; top and bottom, left and right and front and back. Note that more important is showing features and dimensions of  every little details is of high importance to complete your design. Having done that, your cad designer have a quick grasp of your cad requirement.

The following is an illustration of what the views you will convey to your cad designer;

Front view

Side view

Top view

Another alternative is to make available for your cad designer images of an existing design and of course from different views with dimensions as earlier stated. Then be specific about the changes you want your Cad designer to make. My experience with this type of work is that some client will go to the extent of supply about 20 images of the existing designs.

The need for up to twenty images is found in the importance of conveying every little details and their various measurements. As they do this, the shape of the item is well revealed and the cad designer is able to perceive the object to design in an exact manner the client does.

If you follow this steps, you are sure that your design have been conveyed 100 percent to your cad designer. This will enable him provide you an excellent documentation of your design. Leading to the production of manufacturing drawing or 3D model suitable for 3D printing with a printer of choice. Have you completed your sketches or you already have images and dimensions and you like me to help? Please take a look at my portfolio  for work that I have done and contact us with your work details.

Would you like to make a contribution? We will be glad to receive your  comment.

Thanks

HOW TO MAKE 3D CAD MODELS

Making 3 D model of your product or design can be a very nice experience. This is because it allows you to bring your design concept and creativity to life. Not only will you see what the final output or product looks like, you can also know physical attributes like weight and volume of material needed for production. As a result, you avail yourself of production cost at the very beginning.

More so, some cad software allows you to analyse product before manufacturing. Giving you insight on what works and what won't. Meaning you are in control right from the start. Hence, eliminating waste resulting from failed untested product, cut unnecessary labor cost and also reduce stress related to product development failure.

To make 3D cad model, your first step is to give thought to your concept. Followed by putting design concept on paper in the form of sketches, then add dimensions to different geometry of the design. Get a cad software such as AutoCad, Autodesk Inventor, Solidworks, Catia , proE and many more, then go to work.

If you are not going to produce your 3D model. Perhaps you are planning on hiring a freelance Cad designer. In that case, you are interested in a guide that will allow you convey 100 percent of your design concept to your Cad designer. You are trying to avoid financial loss due to  incomplete job descriptions, which you are not aware of and communication breakdown between you and your Cad designer. Trust me, you don't  want to go down this lane because I share in their pain when they find it difficult trying to communicate their designs. This can be very frustrating for you and your Cad designer. It is the reason why tow hours work turn into 4 weeks.

Let say you want to make a 3D model like this image.

Fig. 1 of how to make a 3D model cad

Please join me on my next post that explains how to make effective sketches for producing 3D Cad models.