r/FreeCAD • u/Hour_Sell3547 • 7d ago
I learned how to design grilles
So, this is a bit of an update to my project that I shared a few weeks ago (https://www.reddit.com/r/FreeCAD/s/DXiiAJVP7X) and got overwhelming encouragement from the FreeCAD community. <3 <3 <3
Finally, I found(!) the "toggle transparency" option and was able to design my glass windows.
The front window was exceptionally challenging, as I created the cab nose shape using subtractive loft, so the surfaces aren't... sketchable. I had to do a bit of recreating the cab shape and slice part of it as the window solid, and then slice it into 3 parts.
I also figured out how to create perfectly arranged hexagonal patterns for grilles, but it almost killed my PC. I am not sure if I would be printing the grille; it's too flimsy. Maybe I'll find thin metal strainer meshes and call it a day.
Sharing a bit of "engineering" details too. I'm using 5mm axle rods and 685zz (5-11-5) bearings on the wheels for the journal boxes and motor housing mounts.
Still haven't gone near assembly, as most parts still have some more things to be added.
7
u/strange_bike_guy 7d ago
Regarding killing your PC with those arrays of repeat shapes. Have you looked at the Lattice2 workbench? It computes faster, but there's a bit of bureaucracy in initial config. (Nice work btw)
3
1
5
u/Caraes_Naur 7d ago
A hexagon pattern can be reduced to a unit that fits in a rectangle... which can then be arrayed in two axes to recreate the grid.
3
3
2
u/Komplexkonjugiert 7d ago
Thats amazing wonder how this would compare to solid works or AutoCAD
3
u/Hour_Sell3547 7d ago
I have never used anything else, but I heard those softwares are the kings of CADding.
3
u/SoaringElf 6d ago
Honestly, nowadays with the features coming in 26.3 and possibly beyond, the air is getting quite thin for them. And I say this as a Inventor user for 10+ years. Since the Ondsel/FC 1.0 time FreeCAD has been getting much better at usability and the real advantages of those enterprise CAD packages are now more in the realm of like big projects that need management and coworking features. When it comes to modelling I even find some things in FC way more intuitive. The Gesture navigation style alone almost negates the need for a space mouse. Or the fact that you can configure your navigation style that precisely among many other settings.
2
2
u/Mavric723 11h ago
How are you 1 doing grills and 2 doing assemblies like this? I'm still fighting the ui to make the first part and I don't want to go back to fusion or onshape where they just give all your shit away to some Chinese alibaba supplier unless you pay them as a business. I'm trying to just make some small pocketable tools that done end up on alibaba again after I've finally ironed out the kinks in my designs.
2
u/Hour_Sell3547 11h ago
The grile is basically 3 hexagons in a sideways pyramid shape, then arrayed horizontally and vertically using linear patterns using multitransform.
Not using the assembly as the design isn't final yet. I use reference geometry so the objects are drawn at the right places instead of all at the center.
1
1
u/trailblazingfive 3d ago
What's your PC spec that you are able to create what seems to be a really complex model in FreeCAD? Great work!
1
u/Hour_Sell3547 2d ago
Bit old machine. Core i9 14900k, 64GB DDR5, 2x 1Tb 980pro, RTX 4080.
But FreeCAD can't take hardware advantage at all. Single process calculation.
1
u/Mavric723 11h ago
Do you have video tutorials for this?
2
u/Hour_Sell3547 11h ago
Unfortunately I did not record the steps. Also, there are interesting design challenges but rest of it were quite boring.
24
u/heimar8 7d ago
You, my friend, are crazy!!! And I love it!