Difficulty modelling

I am trying to produce a 3d model of a car in AutoCAD 2009, but iam going through hell just beginning to model the body after the wheels and rims (thank god for revolve). It is driving me insane.

Should I give up on AutoCAD, and try something else (hopefully) easier?

Plus is there any advantage to CAD in car design over the other programs? there must be.

Why are there ABSOLUTELY NO car design tutorials for AutoCAD?

I Love AutoCad but I would not want the task of designing a car with it. Even with the new 2010 Mesh capabilities.

You'll want something more on like 3DsMax, Alias Studio, Sketchbook Pro, as mention in the link below. I'm sure there are many others.

http://www.carbodydesign.com/articles/2005/2005-09-08-digital-car-design/2005-09-08-digital-car-design.php

KC

Real car designers use UG or Catia. If you go for the design only, you might want to use Maya. But all of these are long and stony paths, by no means easy. Anyhow, forget about AutoCAD.

People have modeled vehicles with AutoCAD but I have no idea how they did so. I have a dwg file of a Lamborghini that I think I downloaded from the CAD Block Exchange Network about two years ago.

I don't doubt you, and I'm not saying that it's impossible. But personally and until now, I didn't find many AutoCAD car models useful for visualisation. Also, I can make a dwg file of many things. Sure, that the Lambo was modelled in acad and not converted?

Sorry...don't know the history of the Lambo model.

Have you tried using the LOFT command? Any plans to make the job to 2010? I think it might have a couple of new features that would help with freeform styling.

you can do it but complex surface modeling is one of the hardest things to do. And i hate to break it to you but software aimed at doing it isnt any easier to use:). Autodesk has Alias Auto which is basically a surface modeling program. Its designed to be able to transfer the surfaces into Inventor. I have been wanting to learn the ins and outs of car design for awhile and been working at it slowly but there is a lot to it.

There are a lot of tutorials out there for other programs like Rhino, 3dmax(i think). Ive also seen a few places where video gamers use Maya for part of the modeling.

I have UGS and its got a lot of control over surfaces but it doesnt make it any easier.

The biggest problem I have is trying to get too much done in one operation. Looking at what others draw(scratch made cars is a good site SMC.com i think), they seem to model everything in small parts.

The basic techniques are going to be the same in any software but control and types of surfaces are the key. You can certainly work on your surfacing in Acad but dont expect miracles.

Do you have a car in mind?

for some inspiration look at some of others models

http://www.dangeruss.net/

http://www.suurland.com/portfolio.php

Why are there ABSOLUTELY NO car design tutorials for AutoCAD?

For fantasy toy type car design you might check the tutorials in my signature.(Tutorial 6) For something more I would not use AutoCAD.

The car in this image was created by a student in Autodesk Inventor.

http://images.autodesk.com/adsk/files/penn_custstory_v6.pdf

Students can download modern 3D design tools for free from http://engineersrule.org

"Do you have a car in mind?"

I suggest a Hummer.

Or a Mercedes G. G like Gelände.

Rhino is the bomb for free form as well as geometric modeling. The customer service is faboulous as well.