Re: My CNC Router Adventures
Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 6:02 pm
Not sure what tools Alibre has so I can not do a proper comparison.
I do know Rhino has some mesh tools and more are being added in the next release. I know you can import .obj files into Rhino and IIRC convert them into solids then modify with regular tools. IIRC they also have a "point cloud" to mesh conversion.
Parametric modeling does have some advantages. Your drawing does not have to be perfect first time. Instead you do a rough sketch then adjust parameters. One line may be horizontal, another perpendicular to that, a third line is at 23 deg to the second and has a line at 45 deg to it, a series of holes is xx distance from the edge and centered. You can change a parameter and the drawing is adjusted instead of manually redrawing.
I do know Rhino has some mesh tools and more are being added in the next release. I know you can import .obj files into Rhino and IIRC convert them into solids then modify with regular tools. IIRC they also have a "point cloud" to mesh conversion.
Parametric modeling does have some advantages. Your drawing does not have to be perfect first time. Instead you do a rough sketch then adjust parameters. One line may be horizontal, another perpendicular to that, a third line is at 23 deg to the second and has a line at 45 deg to it, a series of holes is xx distance from the edge and centered. You can change a parameter and the drawing is adjusted instead of manually redrawing.