How To Use DraftSight for Knife Design - Free - CAD

[J. Keeton]

A recent thread by KamSingh inspired me to put together a guide for those looking to use a 2D CAD software to create knife templates/Patterns (for free).

KamSingh Thread: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/knife-patterns.1660436/#post-18999426

This video is designed for those who have never used a this program or a program like it... So it's fairly long. In order to jump around efficiently if you have more experience; I put the clickable time stamps in the first pinned comment.

0:00 – Basic Commands
5:54 – Start Drawing the Knife
7:25 – Length guides and Spine Arc
8:52 – Belly of Handle
11:44 – Fillet How To
13:29 – Blade
15:59 – How to Trim
19:25 – Pins for the Handle
22:30 – Getting ready to Print
23:11 – Mirror feature
24:18 – Annotate
26:06 – How to Print

 

[KamSingh]

Excellent tutorial!

I've been using Inkscape (also free) for a few years now and find it very easy to use and create natural looking designs with.

I hope you don't mind me inserting this tutorial I created for another forum here.

Cheers

Kam

Little tutorial on how to computerize a knife design, this is useful for refining the lines, proportions and size.


I'll be using Inkscape, which is free to download and use.


As always start with a sketch.

You can transfer this to your computer by either scanning it or taking a pic with your phone and emailing it to yourself.


Once you have it on the computer fire up Inkspace and select the image from File>Open.

This is the first tool we will use.

Use it to create the basic profile of the knife, start by setting a point at the tip and go around the knife creating points anywhere else there is a sharp corner, finish by clicking on the first point you created to complete the shape.

At this point all the lines will be straight so we'll use the next tool to add some curves.

You can either drag on the lines you want to move or select a line and use the handles.

All done.

From here you can save your file as either an Inkscpae file from File>Save As or you can create a .png by going to File>Export Bitmap. This software will also allow you to create a .dxf file which is what you'll need if you want to send your design to a waterjet cutter.

The rest is easy

 

[Jesse Latham]

James, I already use Draftsight for my knives. But not with your skill. Thanks for making this video. I will use it as a reference.

 

[Ken H>]

James, as Jesse said I've been using DraftSight for a few yr now. Draftsight is also available for Linux OS. Before that I had years of experience with AutoCAD drawing electrical schematics, but not much experience with actual "drawing". The switch from AutoCAD was super easy. I'll follow along with your video - thank you for putting it up.

Inkscape is a really good 3D program, and easy to transfer from Inkscape to gcode ("IF" I remember correctly). edit: Inkscape will export to SVG format which can then be converted to gcode (I think I've got that correct).

Ken H>

 

[J. Keeton]

Excellent tutorial!
I've been using Inkscape (also free) for a few years now and find it very easy to use and create natural looking designs with.
I hope you don't mind me inserting this tutorial I created for another forum here.
Cheers
Kam

Cool deal! I may need to mess around some with Inkscape. And I absolutely don't mind.

James, I already use Draftsight for my knives. But not with your skill. Thanks for making this video. I will use it as a reference.

Glad you liked it!

James, as Jesse said I've been using DraftSight for a few yr now. Draftsight is also available for Linux OS. Before that I had years of experience with AutoCAD drawing electrical schematics, but not much experience with actual "drawing". The switch from AutoCAD was super easy. I'll follow along with your video - thank you for putting it up.
Inkscape is a really good 3D program, and easy to transfer from Inkscape to gcode ("IF" I remember correctly). Isn't that the program used to create the dragons on one of the big movies?
Ken H>

I was also a former AutoCAD user (via my profession). Draftsight's commands are extremely similar!

 

[JTknives]

Fusion 360 is a really nice program that’s free. I’m just spoiled from all my years with solidworks that it’s hard to switch to somthing else.

 

[Ken H>]

This morning I took time to review the video - VERY WELL made - good job. Somebody who has never used DraftSight before could take your video and get a good start.
Ken H>

 

[Joshua Fisher]

Just wanted to give a heads up in case anyone isn’t aware but draftsight is no longer free and for anyone using the free version they will be shutting down the free version at the end of 2019.

 

[J. Keeton]

This morning I took time to review the video - VERY WELL made - good job. Somebody who has never used DraftSight before could take your video and get a good start. Ken H>

Thanks Ken!

Just wanted to give a heads up in case anyone isn’t aware but draftsight is no longer free and for anyone using the free version they will be shutting down the free version at the end of 2019.

Gosh dammit... Didn't know that.....

 

[Ken H>]

Just wanted to give a heads up in case anyone isn’t aware but draftsight is no longer free and for anyone using the free version they will be shutting down the free version at the end of 2019.

Bummer big time! I really hate that - while it's MUCH less expensive than AutoCAD, it's still sorta pricy for the causal hobby user like me. AND the older versions will cease to run I'm sure since they have to be re-registered each year.

edit: Yep, I found the link: https://www.3ds.com/products-services/draftsight-cad-software/download-draftsight/

• All free versions of DraftSight (2018 or earlier) will cease to run after 12/31/2019.

 

[Ken H>]

I now see there area couple of extensions for Inkscape that will allow exporting of gcode direct. Maybe I need to start learning Inkscape better rather than working with Draftsight.

 

[REK Knives]

Fusion 360 for me, so easy and so powerful. The 3d cad is really nice to learn up front!

 

[tmerkl]

Anyone know of a similar tutorial for fusion 360? I installed it but the it was a lot different than using inkscape which is what I'm currently using.

 

[bjansen]

This tutorial was extremely helpful for me. Thank you very much !

 

[REK Knives]

Anyone know of a similar tutorial for fusion 360? I installed it but the it was a lot different than using inkscape which is what I'm currently using.

 

[J. Keeton]

So looking into Fusion 360; it appears it's only free for the first year. Is this yall's experience?

I've been messing around with "LibreCAD" which is a free open source 2D CAD... it seems workable.

Edit: I kinda take that back... LibreCAD is a pain... maybe I just need to spend some hours with it!

 

[Nick Dunham]

Fusion is free for a year, as many times as you want, until you sell more than $100k/yr.

NanoCAD is a Russian company that puts out a free to use edition. I think it's closer to AutoCAD than Draftsight is. I like it a lot.

 

[Ken H>]

I wish NanoCAD had a Linux version, but Windoz only We'll download and see if it will run under Wine.

edit: I'm downloading NanoCAD now, but they must be on a dialup connection! It's only a 376MB file, but it's showing at least 3 hrs to complete!

 

[Ken H>]

OK, I got it downloaded - doesn't seem to run under Wine. I did install in Virtual Box and it's running just fine there. The little I've used it, seems a LOTS like AutoCAD with similar commands.

 

[Natlek]

A recent thread by KamSingh inspired me to put together a guide for those looking to use a 2D CAD software to create knife templates/Patterns (for free).

KamSingh Thread: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/knife-patterns.1660436/#post-18999426

This video is designed for those who have never used a this program or a program like it... So it's fairly long. In order to jump around efficiently if you have more experience; I put the clickable time stamps in the first pinned comment.

0:00 – Basic Commands
5:54 – Start Drawing the Knife
7:25 – Length guides and Spine Arc
8:52 – Belly of Handle
11:44 – Fillet How To
13:29 – Blade
15:59 – How to Trim
19:25 – Pins for the Handle
22:30 – Getting ready to Print
23:11 – Mirror feature
24:18 – Annotate
26:06 – How to Print

I like what you done we can make that knife if you give us drawing/print