Does anyone use CAD to mock up before install? (1 Viewer)

[V8FJ60]

It might be a silly question, but it sure would eliminate some trial and error and need for custom fab work.

I'm a SolidWorks person myself, but it sure would be cool if there was a parts repository somewhere.

Oh, and it's cheaper to dream in cyberspace.

-C

 

[Rock Taxi]

No Mad-Cad-Skillz here. Graph paper and mechanical pencil.

Ed

 

[Mace]

Solidworks is much easier to model in.

I prefer Cad to set up links mostly because I know how to use it..

 

[woody]

nuthing whatsoever....I mock all my stuff up in the rig, tack and fit. Thus far, good results.

 

[HomeGrown]

hell im a cad drafter by trade. i just built my truck and didnt even use one cad drawing. i tend to make dwgs for other people to go have the part mass produced.

 

[cruiserrg]

I just set the parts where I want them and weld in. I would probably use if doing a full competition rig to get the overall size of the rig smaller by getting stuff closer to each other and tigher clearances.

 

[Niner]

I use cad to make parts, well to at least run them through work as Gov. projects.

 

[Roswell Rat]

I personally use CAD quite a bit to mock up installs. Helps to figure out material quantities, cuts, length of a bend, etc. Plus I'm able to see what the finished product will look like prior to assembly. I've even printed full size templates to build from. Turns the toughest project into a snap-together model kit .... or at least close.

 

[Roswell Rat]

Also, my local tube bender likes to work from the CAD files....

 

[Gumby]

I have when I was dreaming of ideas, but couldn't get them done for whatever reason. I rarely stick to the CAD plan.

I usually use AutoCAD Inventor myself. I'm not good enough to work with tube very well though.

I tend to do better mocking it up out of uncoated brazing rod and then just bending it.

 

[Eskimo]

nuthing whatsoever....I mock all my stuff up in the rig, tack and fit. Thus far, good results.

Ditto.. except every now and again I'll make a sketch on the whiteboard...

 

[Jakes40]

I use to use it alot but i never stick to the plan so i stoped becouse i never stuck to the plans. now i just mess with it if i have 2 or 3 moving parts with a possable clearence problem (rear tire/jerry can/perts holder) i'm working in now

 

[paulj]

I used to have a job doing CAD architectural drawings. One thing I've been intrigued with is CAM (computer aided manufacturing). It'd be pretty cool to be able to hand somebody a computer file and have a part milled by a machine. Anybody here ever done it? I once saw a machine that builds casting prototypes. The process is called stereolithograpy that basically solidifies liquid polymer in layers to form a solid model. The plastic model is then used to form a mold for a metal casting. Very neat to think about the parts you could make. Don't have a clue as to what it would cost, though. Probably lots.

 

[E-TX-TOYOTA]

I work for a cad/cam software company for cnc cuting machines and i just use a measuring tape fit and weld.

 

[LAME]

I use CAD, tape, note pads, broom sticks.... I like CAD, but not many people have a station in their garage, so I like to be able to depend on the simplest way, drawing s*** on the floor.

Here is a winch mount I did with CAD Worx Plant 2005 add on to AutoCAD, and all the tube work on the jeep was mocked up with tape and broom handles.

 

[LNDCRZR]

Does anyone have a 40 modeled in CAD?

 

[FoYoChe]

I just set the parts where I want them and weld in. I would probably use if doing a full competition rig to get the overall size of the rig smaller by getting stuff closer to each other and tigher clearances.

Funny, we call them the same thing here.

I've done parts for other projects, we use inventor and AutoCAD, but no FJ parts yet, I wouldn't mind having models to play with though. we have milling equipment here as well as plasma and laser, but I haven't used much more than the laser.

 

[concretejungle]

I'm just learning AutoCAD. I hope to some day be able to mock projects up on CAD.

 

[Bogo]

Google Sketchup seams to be quite intuitive and interesting. It isn't a full CAD system, but more of a visual modeling system. From what I can tell you could model in detail down to parts, etc. if you wished. It has the equivalent of parts and parts can be made up of other parts. Parts are acted on as a hole. If you goto Edit>>>3D Warehouse>>>Get Models and type in "Toyota Pickup" you will find a couple already created models. Looks like I'll have to create a frame model and add it to the pickup one. Then I can play with backs.

 

[Mace]

holy old thread..