ScanStrap:Drawing Board

With a little inspiration from the scanner I am using to bootstrap my Rap, I think I will add a mount to hold a Xbox Kinect. This would be accompanied with 3D scanning ability, of course, and maybe some A.R. action as well. ;) This will all come after the initial build if finished, however. 

 I will post a fresh video of my progress as soon as my lm8uu linear bearings come in, which is the only thing holding my build progress back. 

FreeCAD:Part 2

Importing Files Into FreeCAD

Today I will explain how to import a file from almost any CAD program into FreeCAD.

I will start with a simple cube I created in Autodesk Inventor.

Then choose the "Save Copy As" function under the file menu

Save the file as a .stl file

(This file type can be used for 3D printing and a variety of other applications, which I will describe in later posts.)








Finally, open a new file in FreeCAD, and select "Import" from the File menu, and select the .stl file you just saved.

Voila :) Check back later this week for further applications of the topics we've discussed!

FreeCAD

Today I will start a basic tutorial on FreeCAD, the most comprehensive free open source CAD program on the market.  

                       It is similar to most CAD programs; all you need to start is in the tool menu.                        
 
The BLUE circle is where most projects start. Select a set of tools from the drop down menu. You should see a different sets of tools appear in the BLACK circle. The squares in the RED circle represent different views; the one without any shading it the standard isometric view. 

  The drop down menu should look like this.

Select the DRAFT tool to begin drawing. 


**I've noticed that starting from the "part" tool allows for faster, but less custom design.**

Once you have a closed shape, go to the isometric or "axometric" view

After use of the "Part" and "Part Design" tool sets, I managed to make a simple structure like this.