Meshmaker (see 9-May-2015) seemed a good place to introduce computer-based design because it feels flexible and responds so directly to input. The various brushes and other tools are grouped under “Sculpt”.
Autodesk 123D design (free download http://www.123dapp.com/design) feels more engineering like.
Sample p1-133
I started with some simple text – two dimensional.
Sample p1-133a
Next the text was selected, copied and pasted, and the new 2D text was moved above the original text.
Sample p1-133b
In the centre I’ve circled in red the controls that came up when moving – arrows allow me to move the text on x, y or z axis (which could be described as left/right, forward/back, up/down). There are also circular controls for tilting. Circled on the right is a place to type in the value you want – the precision I was talking about. On the left I’ve put an arrow to show where I’ve moved the new text upwards.
…
Didn’t go as planned.
Sample p1-133c
Above I used extrude to go from 2 to 3 dimensions – but not the way I had in my mind.
Sample p1-134
Simpler solid shapes – a cube, and a cone that I have rotated.
Sample p1-134a
I used the Loft tool to join them together.
Sample p1-134b
I undid the Loft and sketched a new enclosed shape with Spline.
Sample p1-134c
…
Didn’t go as planned.
Sample p1-135
I have no clear idea of how I produced this. A range of new videos watched, walking away in frustration now and then, a cube swept along a spline curve, a corner tweaked, a boolean merge with a rectangular prism, and another edge (or possible vertex) tweaked. At least I now have an irregular, non-standard solid.
Sample p1-135a
Sample p1-135b
Sample p1-135c
I suspect this could almost be printed – although that lovely slit window thing would probably be a snag. Still, I have achieved a Something.
Views a – c above are the same solid from different directions. View d below:
Sample p1-135d
A circular pattern of Somethings!
Sample p1-135e
Another perspective.
Next turned upside down, lots of little tweaks, and a change of materials.
Sample p1-135f
I save in STL file format and opened it in Meshmixer.
Sample p1-135g
Wow! That looks different.
But I haven’t been able to edit it. I think I’ll have to start simpler – another day.
Overall I haven’t got as far as I’d hoped with this. Remembering my early days in other software – say when learning Gimp – I think I’ve made an OK start. No need to focus on the long road ahead 🙂
T1-MMT-P1-p6 Personal extension project: Autodesk 123D design
Textiles 1 – Mixed Media for Textiles
Part 1: Surface Distortion
Project 6: Personal extension: Autodesk 123D design
Fibres of Being 