Automotive Design

[Bucky]

I am currenty designing an automobile in AutoCad as i began to design the fenders and wheel wells i found you are not able to subtract a shape from a meshed surface. I have tried to draw the openings as part of the drawing but i have not yet been able to achieve the desired shape. I am basisng the car off of the Jaguar D type 1955-1957 If anybody has any useful information relating to this topic please post a response for me as soon as possible for i am running close to deadline.
If needed email me at Alleykat3030@aol.com

[Mr T]

EDGESURF will create a surface between four edges or curves.

This is probably the answer for you. There is good help in autocad
help files.

HTH

Nick

[Hazdaz]

If your trying to model that entire car in AutoCAD, then you have my sympathy. AutoCAD is just not made for such things. CAN it be done? Probably. Will you pull your hair out in the process? Most definitly.

If your going for dimensionally accurate model, then something like Rhino or Studio Tools (its name is something along those lines) would be a much better application.

If your not going for a 'dimensionally accurate' model, then an application like MAX or MAYA would be a much better choice - just realize that those are basically polygon-based 3D applications, and NOT CAD programs.

[f700es]

If your trying to model that entire car in AutoCAD, then you have my sympathy. AutoCAD is just not made for such things. CAN it be done? Probably. Will you pull your hair out in the process? Most definitly.

If your going for dimensionally accurate model, then something like Rhino or Studio Tools (its name is something along those lines) would be a much better application.

If your not going for a 'dimensionally accurate' model, then an application like MAX or MAYA would be a much better choice - just realize that those are basically polygon-based 3D applications, and NOT CAD programs.

I agree with Hazdaz, download the demo of Rhino3D. You can save it 25 times before it runs out but it will be better than vanilla AutoCAD. It's not too expensive either. It's only $195 if you are a student.

[Mr T]

A Car body can be easily done in acad. In Acad 10 there was a sample file that was a surface model of the space shuttle !

Here is a jag e type wing, about a minutes modelling with four lines and an EDGESURF. Just expand this for a body, using mirror a lot.

The image is here
http://www.eezylearn.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/images/wing.jpg

The file is here
http://www.eezylearn.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/images/wing.dwg

Nick

[f700es]

A Car body can be easily done in acad. In Acad 10 there was a sample file that was a surface model of the space shuttle !

Here is a jag e type wing, about a minutes modelling with four lines and an EDGESURF. Just expand this for a body, using mirror a lot.

The image is here
http://www.eezylearn.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/images/wing.jpg

The file is here
http://www.eezylearn.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/images/wing.dwg

Nick

R14 also had that '57 Chevrolet model in it as well. Didn't mean that it could not do it just that it would seem easier in a application more suited to it.
That's all :)

[Mr T]

R14 also had that '57 Chevrolet model in it as well. Didn't mean that it could not do it just that it would seem easier in a application more suited to it.
That's all :)

Sorry, I was just trying to encourage people to try surfaces. Inventor has sheet metal features so would be easier to model cars.

Nick

[Hazdaz]

MR. T - that file (or even a Shuttle file) is not even close to being as complex as most modern car sheet metal is.
Getting the "overall" shape of a car done in AutoCAD is one thing, but getting all the small details and creases and compound curves and seams is a completely different matter.

CAN it be done? Like I said in my original post: PROBABLY. But creating the complex compound curves and other details would be a pure pain.

Oh, and RHINO is I think about 1/3 the cost of ACAD. :D

[Mr T]

Hi,

Well if you can model one curve then you just :P use that and expand further. The first curve is just the starting stone.

Every complex model is just a combination of less complicated parts.

Nick