Started a drawing in CAD - wondering where to go from here:

A

Apec

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Oct 30, 2007
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So I opened a new drawing and used the spline tool. So far here's what I have.
picture3kx.jpg

It has been a very long time since I used a CAD program. I did this in Solidworks. The last application I used was Inventor, which had a completely different interface from what I recall.

For CNC blank cutting (if I were to order stock and have a shop cut blanks), I would like to know what else I need to complete what I have so far. Right now I'm still trying to figure out how to constrain dimensions.

Any advice from here?

I still have to place holes for handle screws/pins.

http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/108/knife1us.jpg
 
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Not sure about your spline question. (I don't use solidworks regularly, but I have in the past). You may want to think about having them waterjet cut.
I found a great shop that specializes in waterjet cutting of knife blanks. They say they will even draw your design in cad at no charge if you provide a hand drawing. Here's link. (haven't used them yet but probably will in the future)
http://www.greatlakeswaterjetinc.com/waterjet_info.html
 
Thanks for the info. If I recall, Great Lakes used to have a subforum here, but stopped taking requests and went on hiatus. I'll look into that.
 
I think great lakes mostly hangs out at Knifedogs now. But back to your question, What I do when designing knives in Solidworks is I start with a rectangle that is 1.5 x 12 and extrude that to the thickness you desire in your knife blank. THe two dimension above are just randam numbers but represent the rough blank I use to start. I generally make the blank the same length as I want the knife to be in the end. Next I create the drawing on the extrusion I created, doing this you have an idea of length, and its easy to keep it roughly dimensioned.
Chris
 
As far as I know Apec, if you can export a .DXF file, most cnc shops can import that into whatever CAM software they use with ease. A 2D profile should be pretty easy for them to work with. Hope that helps.
Cheers
Shant
 
Just a quick snapshot of the last knife I threw together and how I did it. Hope it helps.
Once I am done I convert it to a dxf file for a laser shop that I use.
Chris
PS Edited to add I also put a dashed centerline both vertical and horizontal to help in my sketches.
 

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Thanks for the answers so far.

Drawing the design on top of a blank is definitely a good idea to nail dimensions and conserve material. I should be able to rescale my current progress, still have to get the hang of the program. Still deciding on grinds and thickness.
 
Apec said:
Thanks for the info. If I recall, Great Lakes used to have a subforum here, but stopped taking requests and went on hiatus. I'll look into that.
Click to expand...

I didn't stop taking requests at all. Just been really busy. I still check in here once and a while. Contact me anytime. Thanks for the plug bennyb!:cool:
 
Thanks for offering your waterjet services. Once I'm complete with the design process I'll definitely consider approaching you to get my projects under way.

Either way, here's what I have so far - a rough estimate of how I'm going to shape the handles. I just extruded the shape of the handle off the initial sketch, but odds are I'm going to redo each handle individually and put the entire knife together in an assembly file, assuming I can also obtain a parts library for screws and such.

As I am new to knifemaking, I'm still debating how to mount the handles to the tang, though my preference is leaning towards screws - but I have yet to find a supplier that has what I'm looking for.

35064153584715684112547.jpg
 
David (GLWJ) sent me some good stuff, it was blanks advertized on his website. It took 6 months, and many unpleasant e-mails to get the order. Personally, I won't do business with him again, but that is just my opinion. My advice, do a little research.

Matt
 
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