| Author |
Message |
    
Alan Conolly
Registered
Username: Alan_c
Post Number: 7
Registered: 07-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, December 14, 2006 - 08:45 am: | 
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Hi all
I have started to do some drawings of the MechMate in SketchUp. It is not anywhere near complete yet but will complement the drawings done by Gerald.
For those of you not familiar with SketchUp check it out at www.sketchup.com It is very useful for doing concept drawings and seeing how things will fit together when cut out, it is also very simple to learn to use. Their site also has many downloadable video tutorials that will shorten the learning curve.
If there is further interest in seeing the rest of the drawing completed, let us know. I will be a little busy over this festive period installing a new automatic spray machine in my factory so can't promise by when it will be completed, but the bigger the response, the bigger the motivation...
Gerald has placed the sketchup file on the server, I just hope I will be able to place a link to it (file location on new forum)
This image below is of one view, in sketchup it is possible to zoom into, move around, view in x-ray mode etc.
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Gerald_D
Registered
Username: Gerald_d
Post Number: 635
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, December 14, 2006 - 09:16 am: |
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Alan, as I said to you by mail, very impressive!! 
Your link works fine. I loaded Google's SketchUp on your prompt and within 2 minutes I saw this in X-ray mode:
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Travis H
Registered
Username: Flyin04
Post Number: 4
Registered: 11-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, December 14, 2006 - 06:07 pm: |
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This is very cool! I was able to get a better feel for the design by moving the model around. Nice work! Very usefull free tool. Keep us posted when you finish up the sketch.
You were able to create this sketch from importing the dxf's? |
Alan Conolly
Registered
Username: Alan_c
Post Number: 9
Registered: 07-2006
| | Posted on Friday, December 15, 2006 - 08:46 am: |
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Hi Travis
Thanks, For most of the parts I drew them directly in sketchup, such as the rails, leg assemblies, long beams etc.
For the parts that are laser cut and bent I imported the DXF files, cleaned up any unneeded lines and made the parts from there. Its very tricky to bend a flat part into the shape required so I broke the parts up on the bend lines, rotated them into their required orientation and joined them back together again using fillets to fill the open area of the join. If you inspect the parts very carefully you will see where this was done, its not 100% accurate but visually it works.
From doing this process it becomes apparent how much work Gerald has done in making sure it all comes together easily and correctly and with the parts being laser cut you can be assured your machine will fit and work as well as his. |
Bob Cole
Registered
Username: Bob_cole
Post Number: 14
Registered: 10-2006
| | Posted on Friday, December 15, 2006 - 02:35 pm: |
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Alan:
I too would like to congratulate you on your efforts here to make the MechMate come to life. Very much appreciate both Gerald for having brought this project forward to this point. And you for this awesome effort to make it available in 3-D walk around form. It really makes the MechMate come to life.
Thanks to both of you for ALL your hard work.
Bob C. |
Alan Conolly
Registered
Username: Alan_c
Post Number: 10
Registered: 07-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, December 16, 2006 - 12:07 pm: |
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Here is a new image with the addition of motors, swingplates and decal. I have sent the new sketchup file direct to Gerald, I am sure he will let us know when the link is updated.
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Gerald_D
Registered
Username: Gerald_d
Post Number: 639
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, December 16, 2006 - 01:15 pm: |
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It is done. Thanks |
Gerald_D
Registered
Username: Gerald_d
Post Number: 1342
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, May 12, 2007 - 11:20 am: |
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Bump the thread for the folk wanting .dxf files . . . . . .you can pull vectorised info from Alan's work. |
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