Re: computer aided design

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Posted by Christopher (65.35.123.180) on May 13, 2002 at 22:13:36:

In Reply to: Re: computer aided design posted by Scott Ellis on May 08, 2002 at 20:12:00:

: Hi Christopher,
: Thanks for this. It looks like a great program. I think it is actually geared more toward the cinematography/digital effects crowd.

Yes, it's digital modeling and animation software, similar to Pixar's Renderman, Alias / Wavefront Maya, Lightwave, etc.

: It would be great to try to customize 3DS, and tweak the user interface to appeal to experimenters.

3DS MAX has a programming language built in called MaxScript which can be used to build custom interfaces and programs that will run inside the 3DS envirnment. Similar to plugins available for Photoshop or Premiere except they can be extremely powerful programs.

: How did you come across this program? Do you use it?

I am a web designer and digital animator. I have used just about all of the digital video creation tools out there at one point or another. I'm currently working on a PSA for a local film festival. Did their spot last year and they invited me back this year.

If you get yourself a copy of MAX (warning, these 3D programs are not cheap) and need some pointers on how to use it just let me know, I'd be happy to share whatever I can to help.

Christopher

: Best,
: Scott

: : Hey Scott, something very close to this already exists...

: : Discreet's 3DS MAX has had "Dynamics" (simulation solving abilities) for quite a while. They can be seriously complicated to set up, but that's to be expected, and are not focused on PM / FE devices, just objects in general.

: : You first build your objects and "parts", "link" them together as sliding, rotating, or bending type links, create relationships between objects such as which ones "collide" with others and which ones are "springs", etc.

: : You then link everything to "gravity", add friction and such, and finally create a "push" or "motor" object to kick stuff off. The solver will run through the scenario and animate the result.

: : I'll send a screenshot of one of the dialog boxes to your email so you can see some of the parameters available and you can attach it to this post if you wish. They're not all located in one spot but it will show several interesting things in the dialogs.

: : Christopher

:
: :
: : : Hi James, thanks for your post.

: : : You are absolutely right. I have looked for such a thing and as far as I know there is none available. I am all fired up to write a Java based CAD/modeling application targeted specifically for PM enthusiasts. There are so many times that I have wanted one myself. Plus, I am a software engineer by trade so this stuff is my bread and butter. ;)

: : : Creating a truly useful software application involves following a careful plan. The first step is gathering requirements, specifically "use cases."

: : : I would like to invite the entire Bessler/PM community to join the effort in producing this software by spending a little time thinking about something they would like the software to do. Write it down in the form of a use case and send it to me. I will collecting them and begin the high level architecture and design of the system. Later, I will implement the functionality based on the use cases.

: : : Use cases are simple, high level outlines of how a user might interact with the program. Here are 3 off the top of my head, to give you an idea:

: : : Use Case 1
: : : Goal: create a model of a spinning disk.
: : : 1. select object type "disk"
: : : 2. specify diameter, weight, material, etc.
: : : 3. create the disk and place the disk in the work area
: : : 4. create a speed bearing and place it in the center of the disk
: : : 5. set the coefficient of friction of the bearing to N units
: : : 6. create a fixed rod and place the bearing on it
: : : 7. spin the disk by applying force X at location Y for duration Z.
: : : 8. watch the disk respond to the force by spinning up then slowing down to a stop. View real time reports such as rpm, kinetic energy, and moment of inertia.

: : : Use Case 2
: : : Goal: add a weighted pendulum to the disk
: : : 1. select object type

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Comments:	: : Hi Christopher, : : Thanks for this. It looks like a great program. I think it is actually geared more toward the cinematography/digital effects crowd. : Yes, it's digital modeling and animation software, similar to Pixar's Renderman, Alias / Wavefront Maya, Lightwave, etc. : : It would be great to try to customize 3DS, and tweak the user interface to appeal to experimenters. : 3DS MAX has a programming language built in called MaxScript which can be used to build custom interfaces and programs that will run inside the 3DS envirnment. Similar to plugins available for Photoshop or Premiere except they can be extremely powerful programs. : : How did you come across this program? Do you use it? : I am a web designer and digital animator. I have used just about all of the digital video creation tools out there at one point or another. I'm currently working on a PSA for a local film festival. Did their spot last year and they invited me back this year. : If you get yourself a copy of MAX (warning, these 3D programs are not cheap) and need some pointers on how to use it just let me know, I'd be happy to share whatever I can to help. : Christopher : : Best, : : Scott : : : Hey Scott, something very close to this already exists... : : : Discreet's 3DS MAX has had "Dynamics" (simulation solving abilities) for quite a while. They can be seriously complicated to set up, but that's to be expected, and are not focused on PM / FE devices, just objects in general. : : : You first build your objects and "parts", "link" them together as sliding, rotating, or bending type links, create relationships between objects such as which ones "collide" with others and which ones are "springs", etc. : : : You then link everything to "gravity", add friction and such, and finally create a "push" or "motor" object to kick stuff off. The solver will run through the scenario and animate the result. : : : I'll send a screenshot of one of the dialog boxes to your email so you can see some of the parameters available and you can attach it to this post if you wish. They're not all located in one spot but it will show several interesting things in the dialogs. : : : Christopher : : : : : : : : : Hi James, thanks for your post. : : : : You are absolutely right. I have looked for such a thing and as far as I know there is none available. I am all fired up to write a Java based CAD/modeling application targeted specifically for PM enthusiasts. There are so many times that I have wanted one myself. Plus, I am a software engineer by trade so this stuff is my bread and butter. ;) : : : : Creating a truly useful software application involves following a careful plan. The first step is gathering requirements, specifically "use cases." : : : : I would like to invite the entire Bessler/PM community to join the effort in producing this software by spending a little time thinking about something they would like the software to do. Write it down in the form of a use case and send it to me. I will collecting them and begin the high level architecture and design of the system. Later, I will implement the functionality based on the use cases. : : : : Use cases are simple, high level outlines of how a user might interact with the program. Here are 3 off the top of my head, to give you an idea: : : : : Use Case 1 : : : : Goal: create a model of a spinning disk. : : : : 1. select object type "disk" : : : : 2. specify diameter, weight, material, etc. : : : : 3. create the disk and place the disk in the work area : : : : 4. create a speed bearing and place it in the center of the disk : : : : 5. set the coefficient of friction of the bearing to N units : : : : 6. create a fixed rod and place the bearing on it : : : : 7. spin the disk by applying force X at location Y for duration Z. : : : : 8. watch the disk respond to the force by spinning up then slowing down to a stop. View real time reports such as rpm, kinetic energy, and moment of inertia. : : : : Use Case 2 : : : : Goal: add a weighted pendulum to the disk : : : : 1. select object type "pendulum" : : : : 2. specify the pendulum type, 1-dim, 2-dim, spring, etc. : : : : 3. specify arm length, weight, coefficient of friction, etc. : : : : 4. attach the pendulum to the disk at point X, Y, Z : : : : 5. spin the disk by applying force X at location Y for duration Z. : : : : 6. watch as the disk spins up, the pendulum swings, and the whole thing slowly comes to a stop : : : : Use case 3 : : : : Goal: add a spring : : : : 1. choose object type "spring" : : : : 2. select parameters such a size and spring force : : : : 3. attach one end of the spring to the pendulum arm, the other to the disk : : : : 4. spin the disk and see how it behaves : : : : : : : : This is by no means going to be an easy project. But hopefully we can reuse a LOT of work out there that has already been done. I have seen lots of programs that do little pieces of the problem, but none that put it all together. : : : : What do you all think? : : : : Best, : : : : Scott : : : : : : : : : : Can anyone recommend a freeware cad program with gravity, friction etc variables? If some one could write a simple/flexible cad package for gravity wheels it would have amazing consequences.
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