Computer Case Design Software Free Download
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Pros: Free, easy to utilize, lots of readily available computer office 3d models available
Cons: Not a solid modeler, very limited export capabilities
Price: Free ($500 for Pro version)
Inventor: Autodesks's principal 3D mechanical pattern software
Pros: Integration with other Autodesk products
Cons: Poor backwards compatibility and support
Price: not certain, free educational version that doesn't crave .edu address
Onshape: Promising mod CAD system from former SW crew
Pros: Web based, easy to utilise
Cons: Still early in development, limited functionality
Toll: Free with unlimited public documents and 5 active private documents. Pro plan is $100/mo for unlimited private documents, other than that no departure in features betwixt free/pro.
This list isn't exhaustive, there may exist other options.
confusis
John Morrison. Founder and Head author SFF.N
rawr
SFF Lingo Aficionado
- #4
confusis
John Morrison. Founder and Head writer SFF.North
- #6
I don't know well-nigh the curvature, I can only practise extrusions and stuff like that, but the virtually of the circuitry on motherboard models is but a texture on the board, they don't paint all the traces on thereSomething I've wondered is how exercise people blueprint these ridiculously detailed models of motherboards/fans/other components? One case is QinX's model of the 92mm Noctua. How did he become the curvature exact? And for motherboards, how does one model all of the circuitry?
For component placement on the boards, you tin can frequently apply the manuals, the drawings in there are to scale in about cases.
Still, no idea how people tin can perhaps make these curved fanblades.
About the original question:
If y'all only want to meet how y'all can fit components inside a box and for outset sketches of the design, SketchUp (as the name indicates) is a very adept tool. Information technology's extremely easy to use, y'all'll find a lot of help online and good office libraries are available as well, as Aibo said. Making up small parts is quite fast equally well, so you can examination what kind of designs you lot'd like quite apace. Using it for actually producing your instance tin can pose a challenge, though. To my knowledge, SketchUp doesn't have built-in tools for the creation of technical drawings. It is possible with plug-ins, but may require a bit more work than other tools practice.
That's where Solidworks or Autodesk Inventor come in. Those programs are equipped with dedicated tools for sheet metallic modelling and bending, press features and of course technical drawings. If you desire a metalworking store to exercise the manual labour for y'all, you lot'll need to make technical drawings that include tolerances and details of more complicated parts of your example, considering the drawings are what a manufacturing contract is based upon, fifty-fifty if information technology's only for one unit.
Both Solidworks and Inventor are bachelor as free educational versions, but that ways that they explicitly are not allowed to be used for commercial use, then if you want to sell your case, y'all'll generally accept to purchase a full version to stay within their license agreements.
IIRC, NCASE utilize both SketchUP and Solidworks in that they first draw upwardly all the stuff in SketchUp and so transfer it over to Solidworks for production, and if you are only starting with 3D modelling, I would recommend you lot do the same. Kickoff with SketchUp, get a few of your components online and meet whether your design ideas would actually work.
- #7
You'll have to exist careful there. Necere uses SketchUp and wahaha360 redraws it in SolidWorks. If y'all don't take someone who tin do the SolidWorks part for cheap/free and then yous may be shooting yourself in the foot by not starting with something like Inventor because otherwise you'll be paying someone $30-$100/hour to convert the SketchUp file.IIRC, NCASE apply both SketchUP and Solidworks in that they showtime describe upwardly all the stuff in SketchUp and and then transfer information technology over to Solidworks for production, and if y'all are just starting with 3D modelling, I would recommend you practise the same.
- #viii
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QinX's model of the 92mm Noctua. How did he get the curvature exact?
Curves on fans are VERY difficult to exercise in sketchup. Have this fan I modelled for a Zalman HSF a few years agone (notwithstanding my favourite coolers btw)
It took me HOURS to get this correct. And I still don't think it's actually correct. Information technology looks OK, simply whether it matches the actual fan, I'thou not sure. Not that it matters, because no one is going to be building a fan from this model.
Yous should model fans in sketchup. Information technology will impale your summer.
- #10
If you can think similar an engineer, and personally know your manufacturer's capabilities and how their tools operate, and then knowing a "real" CAD program through and through will salvage you time and money in the long run.
If yous are an artist who wants to see their thought made so using Sketchup is probably going to exist your best bet. I have built out a couple chassis using Inventor/Solidworks for customers and both times the manufacturer rebuilt the model with their own software and templates to match their tooling (information technology had zero to do with the quality of my model). The truth is that there is no industry standard modeling program and everyone has their preference. I don't bother with engineering software anymore for design and merely use Sketchup and export 2D parts to DXF and 3D parts to Stride.
TLDR; unless you are willing to learn all the supporting features of engineering software and tin communicate capabilities finer, so only stick with "art" software. With the right plugins you will have plenty to communicate your pattern.
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My _opinion_If you tin think like an engineer, and personally know your manufacturer's capabilities and how their tools operate, then knowing a "real" CAD programme through and through volition save you time and coin in the long run.
If you are an creative person who wants to meet their thought fabricated and so using Sketchup is probably going to be your best bet. I have built out a couple chassis using Inventor/Solidworks for customers and both times the manufacturer rebuilt the model with their own software and templates to lucifer their tooling (it had nothing to practice with the quality of my model). The truth is that there is no industry standard modeling program and everyone has their preference. I don't bother with technology software anymore for design and just use Sketchup and export second parts to DXF and 3D parts to Step.
TLDR; unless y'all are willing to larn all the supporting features of engineering software and tin communicate capabilities finer, then only stick with "art" software. With the right plugins you lot volition have enough to communicate your design.
I guess in the end the most important office is indeed to be able to brand DXF files for the sheet metal parts.
Personally, I find it easier to use the sheet metal tools of inventor, though, maybe because I as well sometimes use it at work.
Hmm I tin see how that might be a wise choice. I've been request effectually and about are saying "SolidWorks" or "Inventor", simply those are the ii more pop ones, mainly used for CNC I guess. For sheetmetal bending and pressing, something else might exist preferable. I'm curious though how expensive it is (or can get) to let the company convert a Sketchup-made file to something the machines understand.
Inventor does have extensive sheet metal tools with a lot of options that permit you automatically adapt your parts to the capabilities of your manufacturer and make creation of DXF files very easy. The latter is pretty important because those technical drawings are the base of operations of your contract with the manufacturer. Then once more, I don't know much well-nigh the SketchUp Plug-in world, and then mayhap there are skillful plugins that practise exactly that for you lot, Josh seems to point that.
For conversion of SketchUp files to annihilation useful, you lot'll accept to count the hours information technology takes to rebuild the model in manufacturing software and then multiply that by the hourly wage of an engineer at least. Pretty darn plush. They'll besides have to ask you nigh any bug inside the model where manufacturing problems could arise, and a lot of them don't do that and only solve problems equally they see fit, and then when you go the last production, it might not be what you expected. Information technology'southward probably a improve idea to brand the drawings yourself, because as I said, those are the base of operations of your contract, so if the manufacturer does something incorrect, they'll take to redo the part on their price. Depends on your contract, of form.
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Unless it's a pretty unproblematic pattern with few bends I'd recommend sending a 3D model rather than DXF'south of the flats. Each shop has their own bend allowance formula that they employ based on the materials they use, their equipment, feel, etc. so it's better to send a 3D model of what yous want to cease upward with and let them figure out how to get in that location.
@Josh | NFC What are yous using to convert SketchUp files to STP?
- #14
At least in North America SolidWorks is most universal among small-scale to mid-size sheet metallic shops. Big shops, especially in the aerospace industry, volition tend to more sophisticated software like CATIA or NX.Unless it's a pretty uncomplicated pattern with few bends I'd recommend sending a 3D model rather than DXF's of the flats. Each store has their own curve allowance formula that they use based on the materials they use, their equipment, feel, etc. then it's better to send a 3D model of what you desire to end up with and let them effigy out how to get there.
@Josh | NFC What are yous using to convert SketchUp files to STP?
Is that the way yous've been doing things and then far? Because the designers at my workplace are putting a lot of work into the DXFs, in that location'due south no way one of our manufacturers would accept a 3D model from us. And so again, we work with a primary contractor that gives out the real work to smaller manufacturers, maybe that'southward 1 of the reasons.
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Solid Edge is definitely the best sheet metal pattern software, and information technology'southward solid/surface modeling is just as practiced as Solid Works.
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confusis
John Morrison. Founder and Caput writer SFF.N
- #19
From my agreement, Sketchup is still one of the all-time, alongside the resources nevertheless available online in regards to models and componentry.
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