CAD drawings

RedFury

RedFury

Joined
Jun 17, 2015
Messages
325
I'm older than dirt so I tend to resist moving to new technology but........ being older than dirt I don't have time to waste. I really do adopt new tools and materials if they make the work go faster and better.
When making fixed blade knives I have an idea in mind and just grind away material until what I have in mind appears. I like that freedom and the material can direct my design to some extent. However, when I tried to make a folding knife it was a complete mess. I had no appreciation for the precision required to make the parts of a folding and locking knife all work together. I then bought the little book by Mark Malmros. Lightbulb moment! I was able to Xerox the drawings in his book and then glue the Xerox directly to the steel and work to the lines. This was such a breakthrough for me.

Now I wonder if there is a library of drawings similar to those Mr Malmros put in his book? I'd like more styles to pick from and a fresh CAD drawing should be even more accurate.

Hope I don't have to learn CAD and re-invent the wheel.

Thanks
 
Now I stumbled on something called www.knifeprint.com Anybody have experience with it? It appears to have public CAD files but so far I'm not getting into them. The real pitch seems to be that they will laser cut from CAD either something you do from scratch or from one of those public files that you choose. Could be really good for somebody increasing the number of of knives they do or it could be just too good to be true????
 
Ekim knives on YouTube has an EXCELLENT tutorial on how to design a folder in a program called draft site. It's free and VERY easy to use.

Link is below
 
Justin Schmidt said:
program called draft site. It's free and VERY easy to use.
Click to expand...
You're referring to "DraftSight" CAD program? It's no longer free, they just started requiring purchase of program. They said 2019 would be last version that was free, but my 2019 version stopped working wanting money. I when with nanoCAD, but it's windoz only. No Linux version available.
 
RedFury said:
Hope I don't have to learn CAD and re-invent the wheel.
Click to expand...

Amen! I started in CAD many, many years ago & progressed to 3D modeling running a HAAS. What's next? Do I have to learn to cut metal wearing VR goggles in virtual space? Ok...that might be awesome.
 
Ken H> said:
You're referring to "DraftSight" CAD program? It's no longer free, they just started requiring purchase of program. They said 2019 would be last version that was free, but my 2019 version stopped working wanting money. I when with nanoCAD, but it's windoz only. No Linux version available.
Click to expand...

Oh man that's a shame!
 
Ken H> said:
You're referring to "DraftSight" CAD program? It's no longer free, they just started requiring purchase of program. They said 2019 would be last version that was free, but my 2019 version stopped working wanting money. I when with nanoCAD, but it's windoz only. No Linux version available.
Click to expand...

How do you like nanoCAD compared to draftsight?
 
I think there are several possible scenarios here:

1. You want a paper template from an existing design
a. You get it from a book
b. You download it from the internet
2. You want a paper template from your own, new design.
a. You learn CAD and draw it that way.
b. You draw it by hand, then photocopy the orginal
3. You want a CAD drawing to get laser, waterjet, or plasma cut
a. You download an existing design
b. You learn CAD and draw it that way

Knifeprint's main selling point is that they have a simple, web-based CAD platform that you can get directly cut. However, I've heard their prices are a bit high. I think a better option if you want stuff CNC cut is to send it to JT. One major upside is that JT can work from scanned drawings if necessary, or you can learn CAD if you wish. HE can also do the heat-treat, which isn't super common to find in a one-stop provider.

On the other hand, if you want paper templates, you can use CAD. However, if that doesn't interest you, there are many other options. Along with the options Stacy mentioned, Dan Comeau has many templates: http://dcknives.blogspot.com/p/knife-profiles.html
 
Guys I appreciate all your input, but I’m really looking for help getting to the precision required for folding knives. The various links provide so many profiles for fixed blades it makes me think there is nothing that hasn’t been done LOL.
However, in plowing through them I found only one drawing of a folder that detailed the internal pieces. The detail that lets the pieces of a folder work together is what I’m looking for.
 
RedFury said:
Guys I appreciate all your input, but I’m really looking for help getting to the precision required for folding knives. The various links provide so many profiles for fixed blades it makes me think there is nothing that hasn’t been done LOL.
However, in plowing through them I found only one drawing of a folder that detailed the internal pieces. The detail that lets the pieces of a folder work together is what I’m looking for.
Click to expand...

Watch the video I posted mike goes through everything
 
Justin Schmidt said:
How do you like nanoCAD compared to draftsight?
Click to expand...
I've only used nanoCAD (https://nanocad.com/) a small amount but it does seem to be pretty good. Since most commands are about the same as AutoCAD/DraftSight the learning curve isn't has heavy as it could be. The REALLY BIG plus is nanoCAD is FREE (https://nanocad.com/products/nanoCAD/ free version) and open source!!! Wait, if it's open source there should be a Linux version. Here's the github link: https://github.com/nathanpc/nanoCAD I need to do more research on this program because that nanoCAD doesn't seem to be the same as the windows version. Perhaps this is just the engine, and the nanoCAD windows version has a GUI?
 
Justin Schmidt said:
Watch the video I posted mike goes through everything
Click to expand...
Thanks again Justin. I took a crack at watching the Ekim video. He sure covers everything but he's helping me learn another software package. I would give that job to my grandson if I could get him to stay in one place long enough.
 
Sorry i had to laugh a little. I think the term xerox went away in the 60s . You might be older than dirt.

Good thread. I want to try a folder but have been dreading learning acad fusion.

RedFury said:
I'm older than dirt so I tend to resist moving to new technology but........ being older than dirt I don't have time to waste. I really do adopt new tools and materials if they make the work go faster and better.
When making fixed blade knives I have an idea in mind and just grind away material until what I have in mind appears. I like that freedom and the material can direct my design to some extent. However, when I tried to make a folding knife it was a complete mess. I had no appreciation for the precision required to make the parts of a folding and locking knife all work together. I then bought the little book by Mark Malmros. Lightbulb moment! I was able to Xerox the drawings in his book and then glue the Xerox directly to the steel and work to the lines. This was such a breakthrough for me.

Now I wonder if there is a library of drawings similar to those Mr Malmros put in his book? I'd like more styles to pick from and a fresh CAD drawing should be even more accurate.

Hope I don't have to learn CAD and re-invent the wheel.

Thanks
Click to expand...
 
I have very limited exposure to CAD software, but downloaded LibreCAD to try out. It is open source, and does not require any license. Not sure how it compares to other CAD programs as far as useable output formats. There are tutorial videos out there for it.
 
I think auto cad fusion 360 is probably the easiest cad software to use. Being a machinist by trade I have used a lot of different programs over the years. It’s a little confusing at first but once you get the handle of it you will be drawing knives in no time. I was lucky enough to be granted a startup license as a business. But I know thy do offer hobby licensing as well for free. Right now I have 4 cad programs on my laptop and fusion is what I reach for first it drawing customers Knives.

would there be any interest in a short how to video o how to import hand drawn sketches and convert them to a cad drawing?
 
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