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Tom Bartlett Special user Our southern border could use 763 Posts |
Do any of these 3D programs produce operating codes for CNC machines?
Our friends don't have to agree with me about everything and some that I hold very dear don't have to agree about anything, except where we are going to meet them for dinner.
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abrell Loyal user Remscheid, Germany 284 Posts |
For designing stage illusions I think a computer is not important. If you can not make a drawing by hand, a drawing made with a computer program will look better, but is not.
Better build small models first. 10:1 is good for a first impression. Then you will need a mock up. Any cardboard or junkwood will do. Then you will have to improve that mockup. After some rehearsal ask another magician to improve what you have done. This mockup should be shown to a carpenter and / or a metalworker or welder. They will tell you the best way to build the real illusion. Then build that illusion. Thousands of dollars for a CAD program will not help in that process - but you could use this money for your illusion, your carpenter,.... |
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illusionman2 Special user 991 Posts |
Has anyone ever used CAD 3-D by Expert Software (it was cheap around $15)??
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Andrew Sway Loyal user ------- 255 Posts |
Maxon cinema 4d is nice ill use it al the time to check my ideas first
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EsnRedshirt Special user Newark, CA 895 Posts |
Wow, my post has risen from the grave...
Touching back on this, I still do almost all of my design work with three tools- a pencil, a piece of paper, and my brain. I do use Poser on occasion to render mock-ups for feedback, but there's no way I'd use Poser for modeling- I'm using 3DS MAX for that, then exporting into Poser. Real life mockups (for sizing, etc)are made from cardboard and black gorilla grip tape. As for CNC codes, I'm certain some of the more advanced CAD programs have plug-ins for that; if it's what you need, then research before you buy...
Self-proclaimed Jack-of-all-trades and google expert*.
* = Take any advice from this person with a grain of salt. |
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George Ledo Magic Café Columnist SF Bay Area 3042 Posts |
Wow, I'd forgotten all about this thread!
Just an update... I've been using SketchUp for several projects and am liking it more and more. It's ridiculously easy to use and lets you model right in 3D instead of having to model and then render. You can also draw lines, circles, and other shapes to exact dimensions. And, furthermore, you can paint surfaces with materials and textures that come with it or use your own. That said, the program is still just a fancy pencil and piece of paper. But, since my end product is the actual set and not the rendering itself, or even the construction drawings, the fact that SketchUp is not a "photorealistic" rendering engine makes no difference. There are a few plug-ins that supposedly let you do realistic drawings from SketchUp, but the only reason I would need those is for display purposes -- but then, if I can take photos of the real set, then I don't need fancy display renderings. The one caveat I would throw in here is that SketchUp basically builds everything from primitives: lines, rectangles and squares, circles, and triangles, plus free-hand lines. So, if you're not careful, everything you design with the program looks like boxes or cylinders, which is a shame, because you can do some very intricate designing with the program too, especially if you draw a complex shape in a CAD program and then import it. Even so, I still scope out everything on paper first (very small sketches) and, only when I know exactly where I want to go, do I use the program to work up the design. Then I do the shop drawings in AutoCAD or TurboCAD.
That's our departed buddy Burt, aka The Great Burtini, doing his famous Cups and Mice routine
www.georgefledo.net Latest column: "Sorry about the photos in my posts here" |
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minnich_magic New user 40 Posts |
Tom Bartlett,
To answer your question "Do any of these 3D programs produce operating codes for CNC machines?" The 3rd dimension, or Z axis, on CNC machines, only allows about 4-6" of machine movement. If you are referring to pocket tricks, such as ball and vase, then yes, you could cut out each part on CNC, and there are programs that can do that. However, that machine time would be cost-prohibitive for pocket tricks. For illusions, CNC machines do not have the capability to span those distances of several feet. Tom Minnich |
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George Ledo Magic Café Columnist SF Bay Area 3042 Posts |
Actually, it's probably not something you need to do yourself anyway. If you use an outside service to do your CNC work, they'll tell you what you need to give them. A few years ago I had a company make some very ornate metal parts (using a plasma cutter) for a fence in an opera, and they told me to just give them a .dxf file.
On the other hand, if you buy the CNC machine, it'll more than likely come with its own program.
That's our departed buddy Burt, aka The Great Burtini, doing his famous Cups and Mice routine
www.georgefledo.net Latest column: "Sorry about the photos in my posts here" |
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bloodyjack Veteran user Seattle WA 343 Posts |
The box for my remote color cube was drawn in solidworks then exported in an stl file that was put in to a rapid protertype machine that created it in ABS plastic.
It was the only way I could get it that small. Yes that is a quarter for size comparison! see link http://mysite.verizon.net/restx1z7/color.html
"sir i sent you half the kidne i took from one woman prasarved it for you tother piece i fried and ate it was very nise i may send you the bloody knif that took it out if you only wate a whil longer"
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minnich_magic New user 40 Posts |
Bloodyjack,
Very nice end-result. Stereolithography does have its place (although limited to pocket size props, for the most part.) Since the thread pertains to illusion design, I will suggest to Mr. Bartlett that he consider the capabilities of waterjet cutters. Using a combination of water and sand at very high pressure, and pinpoint accuracy, this machine can cut through 4" thick steel like butter. For illusion design that interfaces with jet cutters, only a CAD program is needed. The jet cutter will handle any material that does not take on water (no plywood, etc.) since the workpiece is immersed in water during fabrication. I have used this jet cutter for a variety of materials, including thick gauge aluminum, sintra, HDPE, etc. and very pleased with results. |
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rtgreen Inner circle Portland, Oregon 1322 Posts |
Even though this topic has gone far beyond the original posting, making me a bit off topic here, but I thought I would mention if 3-D is not an issue, TurboCad LE is a great tool for design and plans. I have used it for a couple of years now to produce templates and measured drawings for my woodworking and have grown to really like it. It doesn't do 3-D rendering, but it was free and works great.
Thanks, Richard |
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airship Inner circle In my day, I have driven 1594 Posts |
For designing small props, I've found Visio to be more than adequate. I use it a LOT at work, so I'm very familiar with it. You can create a very nice scaled plan design and/or templates.
I also use it for desktop-publishing type work, such as designing custom cards and mentalism props. It's not CAD (though it will export AutoCAD format files), but it's pretty easy to use and is adequate for my needs.
'The central secret of conjuring is a manipulation of interest.' - Henry Hay
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owln_1 Loyal user dallas /now live by tulsa 222 Posts |
Alley Cad is freeware and is a pretty good program that can export to Auto Cad so one could use for cnc machining, Owln
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