Jeff Myler

Sorry, attachment did not work for me.

That's a puzzle! I made an attempt a different way, but did not quite get there. Had fun trying. 1. Made a simulated sheet metal part using standard intellishapes (not using sheetmetal tools) just to get geometry to pull from. 2. Created thicken shape part from outer surface geometry. 3. Then created flat pattern from surfaces to see how close it looked unfolded. I got some little joggles in flat at the bend line, but heck it could tell me where to bend it. Now back to work! bend_puzzle.bmp

I have been experimenting with the MYRAID 3D viewer and opening different file formats exported out of Ironcad. When you open a VRML file exported from Ironcad it is cool because it can show a texture map in MYRAID, like a decal graphic on a side of a box. I think VRML is the only file format to show texture maps. However, for some reason the decal map gets mirrored so the graphic text reads backwards. The map image origin file itself is not mirrored, but gets mirrored as it opens in MYRAID. Looking for any comments & advice on using this viewer from Ironcad users. Thanks,

We had the same graphics problem with 9.0 & PU1. We re-installed 9.0, then the Hot fix for 9.0 and it runs fine. The problem is in PU1. Iron from OH

Typically my IronCad drawings are in a scale, for example 1:10. When I export to AutoCad.dwg I want to provide them 1:1 useable drawings. That is where IC export of dwg is a bit weak. I usually will export to Acad 14, non exploded, zero width lines and check ignor view scale so it exports 1:1 scale into Autocad. The problem with this is when you open the Acad file the views are piled on top of each other and you have house clean by re-arranging views and scaling up the drawing border. The other way would be to export it in the 1:10 scale and then scale it up in Autocad. The dimension fonts stay small when you scale up views 1:1. When I need to provide files for laser cutting or turret punching metal I export unfolded metal view by itself on a sheet, 1:1 in true precise mode. Anyways thats what I do. I too would like to hear how others export to dwg's so I can do it better.

Mike explained the model well and WIM showed an example, thanks. I got to the same results by editing two cross sections and adjusting corner reliefs through trial and error. I thought it would be more intuitive as it is such a simple part in the real world. I don't understand the negative depth value I'm punching in at the corner relief, closed, orientation left or right values. I'm sure there is an explaination. I like the model challenge though. It's like a puzzle. My jpeg shows my development left to right. Far right unfolds to a simple strap band.

Ok through trial and error I'm close: I adjusted corner reliefs from square to "closed". And setting the top and bottom orientation depths to -.073 I get close to the real thing. I don't understand the math part, but I'm real close. I'm sure some sheet metal wiz can explain what I'm doing. strapband unfold.gif

If I physically bend a piece of flat bandmetal , for example 1" wide x a stock thickness x 4" length: I can bend accross the 1" width at some angle. I can smash the metal or unfold it back to its normal 1"w x 4"long strap band state. I can't seem to model this and unfold it without it looking angle cut/die cut looking in its unfold state. I could sure use help on this, as I'm is the middle of what should be an easy project! Thanks Iron dudes. JM sheetmetal-strip.ics

Wow, I get the same message when the file opens! I thought I goofed up something. Animation still is fine. ?????? JM

I'm still on win2000pro. I guess I would need video editing software. Any software suggestions? Thanks for all animation advice. I don't know about exporting and compiling tiff's, but I would like to learn to get the best results. Other tips welcomed...JM

I've created a fly in animation with IronCad and it needs a cool music beat to bring it to life. Is there an easy way to attach a music beat right within Windows media player 9? Or do I need something like Adobe Premier to do this. I would like to send customers animation with sound built in. Any advice welcomed. Thanks fellow IronCADers...

I changed the coordinate system in Hoops and ACIS model is OK now! Give Hoops a try...I really like it. I like the continuous spin mode. How about Iron-View? This is great for sharing/viewing models with our sales people and customers. They really like rotating 3-D realtime! What are you guys doing for sharing?

I've been trying the 3-D ACIS Viewer called Hoops by Spatial. It is very cool. I am looking for a good way for my customers to view, rotate and discuss my models. I export to ACIS 7.0 and open it in Hoops, but the part comes in mirrored. Also no luck with seeing model if exported as a VRML. Anyone out there having any luck with IronCAD parts to Hoops? Or other suggestions?

Thats it, thanks JM

When creating an extrusion profile I often will only draw half the profile and then mirror the geometry in edit cross section mode. When I'm editing the cross section and mirror a curve it does not mirror the curve correctly. I have been dealing with this 4.0-6.0 so perhaps I am doing something wrong. Any advice? Thanks

Back in the old days I used a program called TrueSpace and it allowed me to apply several decals on a face. For example two lables on a wine bottle. I too miss this ability. I get around it by building real individual shapes for each decal, but it takes longer. I would like to see improvement in this area too.

I am an Industrial Designer/Engineer for a display design firm. Our firm has several guys on Macs using formZ who struggle to to bring concepts to production because of its 3D-2D associative weakness and inability to communicate with PC dominated manufacturing vendors. Everyone has been amazed of how I can produce photo realistic renderings, quickly produce detailed part drawings for quote and provide usable electronic files for manufacturing to vendors on just about any platform. Our only other PC engineer who uses AutoCAD no longer does part drawings as it takes too long. Try revising parts and drawings in FomZ, forget it. I could not do without IronCad's sheet metal and unfolding capabilities. With IronCAD I provide usable electonic files for SLA modles, cutting molds, cutting metal or plastics and get parts for approval quickly and at less cost. I can email unfolded parts and have them cut and back to me the next day. I quicly got buried with all the engineering and the mac guys said we can't do that, so we hired another PC guy who wanted to work on Pro-E since he had been trained on it. I was anxious to see what this big expensive package could do. I see a lot of frustration, feature failures, and head aches to achieve parts and communications that are a breeze in IronCAD. The Pro-E guy is always asking how would I model a part in IronCAD and I show him in a few minutes. And to top it off, I drag on realistic materials, image maps with graphics and spin it by simply dragging on animation. Management was bummed to find they spent so much money on Pro-E and they could not get realisitc renderings from it without shelling out thousands more. My IronCAD catalog is full of display related models ie: push fasteners, casters, ect. that I can drag and drop. IronCad's fastener module is the best I've seen. I like learning new better software, but I have not found one yet that beats Ironcad's features and intuitiveness. Our business, like advertising, is fast paced and IronCAD gives me the freedom and speed to try out quick ideas and the CAD power and ability to detail and produce accurate parts. Animation could use some additions, but as for most of us, it's not a priority in getting our daily work done.