Slightly OT, but I figured y'all would be the best group to ask

[Lucky Bob]

I've been doing a lot of CAD (Computer Aided Design/Drafting) work in Solidworks, and I was wondering if any of you do knife designs/prototypes on the computer, before making them into metal.

Thanks!

 

[B Finnigan]

I have seen several makers completely design knives/sheaths on a CAD system. Right down to doing the actual colors for the handle material and guards.

 

[Lucky Bob]

Well, I was hoping for some actual advice (and I have a specific question), so I'm glad it's not unheard of, but I'd love to hear from the people that actually do it!

 

[Patrice Lemée]

What are your questions? I do a little CAD drawing using AutoCad myself.

Pad

 

[Lucky Bob]

My problem is, using chamfers (best way I know of to do the bevels on the blade) I can't get a ricasso, or even a tang, without using seperate pieces. I'm trying to do the design realistically, so that everything that should be one piece is one piece, and I can't find any way to "end" the chamfer.

 

[Patrice Lemée]

Bob, any pics of what you are talking about? I am not sure I understand what you mean by "end" the chamfer. Normally you chamfer a corner so no need to end, it just blends??? You can email me the pic if you dont have a way to store it online.

Sorry for the late reply.

Pad

 

[Lucky Bob]

http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/1492/wharncliffeblade4ep.jpg

I've been using chamfers to create the primary bevel, but you need to be able to end that bevel, to form either the ricasso or the tang, depending on the design of the knife.

 

[Patrice Lemée]

Sorry Bob but I am too dense.
I dont see the problem. Why not just draw the ricasso or tang where you want it and extend the bevel to there?

Hopefully somebody with more knifedrawing experience will se this.

Pad

 

[Lucky Bob]

Do you work in 2D or 3? Cuz I'm working in 3 (thus the full rendering), and from what I'm reading, sounds like you're giving advice in 2.

 

[Patrice Lemée]

Yes 2D, I hate 3D.

See, I wasn't kidding when I said I was dense.

Sorry.

Pad

 

[Lucky Bob]

Salright, 2D is damn useful... I just can't make any real knives at the moment, so I want my models to be as realistic as possible

 

[Darrel Ralph]

Bob,
I do 3D,
Putting chamfers on and radius's on what we do can be done but is it not a fun event.

 

[Lucky Bob]

Well, I get the feeling that what I'm trying to do is fairly easy... I just need to split the surface, so it considers it two seperate polys, instead of one. I know it can be done in 3D anim programs like 3DS Max, but I don't know how to do it in Solidworks, or even Vectorworks (or my least favorite, AutoCAD)