View Full Version : Are there any free CAD programs that can use the vex models?
SilverAnalyst
04-16-2008, 06:15 AM
Are there any free CAD programs that can use the vex models?
basicxman
04-16-2008, 08:09 PM
autodesk has a student program where you get free software, you can download inventor which allows vex design, then you cna download CAD's of all the vex parts at vexcad.com
basicxman
04-16-2008, 08:50 PM
oh and Blender but you'd have to CAD each part yourself :(
SilverAnalyst
04-17-2008, 07:16 AM
Has anyone done any of their own vex parts that can be used in Blender? :confused:
BMX670
05-14-2008, 07:55 AM
I was working on some parts for a free cad software called Google Sketchup. http://sketchup.google.com I might post them if i ever get them finished.
SilverAnalyst
05-14-2008, 09:42 AM
Yes, post post post, get working you lazy bones! :)
bloodsheddragon
05-15-2008, 07:27 PM
Ironic, my geek minion told me about sketchup earlier this morning...
Can it open cad files?
BMX670
05-17-2008, 05:13 PM
After almost 2 day's straight work,(allow time for school) I have officially finished the first 27 models I am going to Cad. They are available here (http://www.mediafire.com/?2kzkjmmwujm).
They are about 95% accurate as far as proportions go. I couldn't get them to be completely accurate, but they're pretty close as I actually rendered them at 400% of their actual size and then scaled them down. I will release more as I finish them. These models are in component form, which the Sketchup intro can explain better than me, but if you want to be able to manipulate them directly; you can just load them into Sketchup, select and right click them, and then click "explode." Please don't ask me to make any specific models. I really don't want to end up building other peoples robots in CAD. Also, I can only make models of parts I actually have which limits my options a bit until I make some more money. I should still be able to come up with 20-ish more models, but that's a complete guess.
As for Bloodsheddragon's question, yes it can open CAD files. I've never done it myself, but I have it from an architect that you can import a CAD file into Sketchup. this means that the existing models might work in it already, but I have no idea. Sketchup only gets as precise as 1/16" whereas AutoCAD goes down to 1/64".
anyone who wants to is free to modify or add to these models and redistribute them.
SilverAnalyst
05-20-2008, 04:19 AM
YAY! *SilverAnalyst makes a little woop!*
I made a robust set of parts available for the LDRAW package. See http://hobbyvex.org (http://hobbyvex.org/) for details.
VexPa
06-03-2008, 07:28 PM
This might work, just downloaded it but didn't install yet. It needs a converter for Solidworks and other files
http://www.powershape-e.com/index.asp