Scale Soaring UK

I’ve been thinking of starting to use CAD/CAM software for model plane design for some time now, but I haven’t taken the plunge and committed to using one.
I wondered if any experienced users on here could recommend one. I’m not afraid of computer programming, but I got rather tired of it at work after a good 40 years of Fortran, GAUSS, Mathematica et al. I’ve been trying out Aspire, which looks as if it will do the things I want to do, but I’m finding the instructional material (videos mostly) very long-winded, clunky and hard to search or even browse.

Since Christmas I’ve been working on a set of plans belonging to the Vintage Glider Club at Lasham, and I now have an impossibly long list of projects to undertake. I would like to be able to make my own plans for models, based on the full-size ones, and have parts laser cut commercially. I would also like to use my CNC router to make parts. At the moment I can make 2D parts using my X-Carve, but the software that came with my router - Easel - is not up to genuine 3-D machining.

Price is not really an issue.

Any advice you can offer will be very welcome.

Devcad is great for starting your journey into the world of cad, you can download and use for free with some limitations for the purposes of trying it.

https://www.devcad.com/eng/download.asp

Cliff,

I have been learning Fusion 360 and have found a couple of youtube sites that have been of great help. They are:
"Val's Puzzle Planes" and "RC CAD-2-VR"

The non commercial version of Fusion 360 is free but is very slightly restricted in that it cannot directly export drawings to pdf and you can only have ten editable files at any one time (you can have as many non editable files as you wish and can easily switch them over).

Below is a PSS SU25UB that I have been working on.


Martin.

Thanks for these replies, guys. I have actually tried the DevFus/DevWing programs some years ago, and made little progress. I might have another go, but a more certain route might be to spend £400-£500 on a Fusion 360 three-day training course, which might well get me up and running quickly. The cheaper price buys online access to one of the regular courses which are scattered about the country at various dates. I’m not sure that it is any cheaper because you need to have extra equipment at home. Fusion 360 offer a restricted version for no money, which might do well for starters. The YouTube videos you recommended Martin were very impressive. I particularly like the way the 3-view is used to generate an editable 3D image.

Do the laser-cutting people care what software is used to create code?

All I need as a laser cutter is dxf files.

John, I'd save your money, buy a 3D connexion space mouse instead - this will help immeasurably...

https://3dconnexion.com/uk/product/spacemouse-compact/

Martin, that model looks ace, you're a bit further down the learning curve than me...

Elliot,

I'm odering the space mouse on Monday.

The instructor on my Fusion 360 course used one to great effect. Space mouse under your left hand and a normal/CAD mouse under your right hand is definitely the way to go.

I will be re-drawing the SU25 based on what I learned on my course.

Martin.

Try...https://www.winghelper.com/default/

OK its only wings for now but free 7 day trial and designer is working on fuselage design.

For scale gliders, its very easy to mock up a wing