Please list your favorite 3d modeling/structural software (like autocad) and list how easy you think it is to learn, use.

the ones i've heard used in these forums include Autocad, Rhino3d, Solidworks, and Googlesketch (the only free one, though Rhino3d does have an eval version)

thanks

I use the Inventor Series suit of programs at work. Mostly Autocad 07 and Inventor 11. Inventor is Autodesks answer to Solidworks. I have used both and prefer Inventor.

I would say they are both very easy to learn

um I have had 0 3d experience... well cept drawing a 3d city in art. I installed "google sketchup" and within minutes i was creating 3d objects very very very easy. My vote is good sketchup b/c anyone can use it and anyone can create 3d objects to scale.

In GoogleSketch- apparently you can create components. please consider this question/challenge:

Some talented lumenlabber who is fluent create a googlescketchup file that has various common DIY PJ components built in and pin it under the tools and reference forum!!!! how sweet would that be. I remember something like this being created for Mamecab builders- a utility that allowed you to piece together at-scale controls to layout your control panel.

Though much of what we do is DIY, obviously there are somethings that are pretty common. (and different files could be generated for 15"/17" etc setups, though it might be cool to have it altogether)
remember at scale (or as accurate as possible) would be pretty key
component list could include:

Triplet - standard, pro, and buhl's opaque 18" and 22"
LCD- psp/7"/wuxa/15"/17"/19" without circuit board or edge connectors since these are so variable in placement (unless someone wanted to go crazy and put in some of the more common ones) - 17" is usually a 14x11 size from what i've seen.
fresnels in various commonly used sizes from LL and 3dlens
FS/RS Mirror for fold builders- just a simple size - people can scale it to their own setup
Reflector - LL Pro? maybe other commonly used ones?
Bulb Ushio, eye, or others that we can get measurements of.
Mogul ceramic standard one- halogen users may want to create a halogen setup to add to this file
eBallast
Coil Core - with starter and capacitor preferably
Terminal bar for grins
Fans - PC fans and/or EVERCOOL EC-PCAC
Some of the smaller items like Fuse, switches, wires etc could prolly be added by the user or drawn in later as they are totally variable.

thats what i could think of as mostly common items with less variance than things like the exterior, framework materials etc. but wouldnt it be great to have a sketchup file that had these components so that you could have a real head start on getting a full rendering of your own PJ idea completed?! I'm just starting with 3dmodeling, which is why i mention it here in case someone who is fluent with it would like to start on this (in other words, if I was good at googlesketchup, this is something i'd like to do for the LL community).

I should add that we paid 9k for the software suit so it may be better to use google sketch lol!

there are a couple of lumenlab things there already, a t15 bulb is one...do a search om lumenlab

I'll be using Inventor 11 to do my next PJ. Just gotta find the time to do it.

SDRC I-DEAS

As Miky says, when you download sketchup you can register (free) to get access to sketchup's 3D warehouse. Quite a few forum members have uploaded drawings of various components to it. Just use the search function within 3D warehouse to look for "lumenlab" etc as Miky suggests. I did the following drawing using the lamp, reflector and various nuts and bolts from the warehouse. Lots of other projector parts are there too, I just haven't got around to drawing them into my model

Click to view attachment

I have Autocad 2006, but don't really know it well yet. Sketchup seems a quicker way to convey ideas, and I like to work the finer detail out in the workshop with power tools at hand

Ah, thanks guys! i'd not registered with google yet (I tend to not to register for stuff by default) perhaps I or someone can get around to bringing some of those already made parts together into one file someday for convenience on future builds.

I am liking Sketchup 6, especially the Instructor module that actively reminds you what a tool is and does (to help the low memory curve) other programs like Photoshop, Autocad etc should implement this as it really does aid in learning the program.

Also you are not alowed to upload drawing except to the 3d warehouse on Google.

Thanks again for tipping me in on the 3d Warehouse. some nifty stuff there by David NYC, Minous,QuantumSingular and fulcrum to name a few. it'd be great if some ofthe other "hall of fame" builds were also virtually rendered into sketchup models so that newbs can more readily figure out how it all comes together rather than trying to decipher photo's that can be tough to figure out sometimes.

I've messed a little bit with a trial version of Rhino3d which i noticed Sculptor using. It seems pretty cool too, again, the instructor module in Sketchup will helps with the learning curve, i wish rhino3d and other apps had such embedded help utilities. My first impression of Rhino3d is how it can have a quad view showing a 3d (sketchup like) perspective; as well as a top down, and from the side type perspectives to help you see where on the map you actually have your object sitting.

Who is SDRC? lol

I-deas, Solidworks, Catia or Unigraphics are good with me.

I use Maya. It's a lot more than 3d modeling, it has it animation / dynamics and rendering, but I use it as it's what I am familiar with. I am a trained 3d animator. btw, Maya is the most common software used in films, think lord of the rings, king kong etc

A frame sample from one of my modeling / animation shorts.
Click to view attachment

Cinema4D

Blender works and it's and open source project http://www.blender.org
It's missing a few of caddish tools that would make it really friendly... but it's works.

@ FatScreen, most of the components you listed are already in the google sketchup 3Dwarehouse.

Check it out! Get your components right here! --> http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/search?q=lumenlab

Just serch for lumenlab and you'll find components to scale. W00t.

err, UGS lol, or whatever it is now...

I use Solid Works. Its very good, user friendly, but advanced 3d modelling package. I have stress analysis and several other packages with mine.

My preference lies with AutoCAD, specifically with AutoCAD 2007. The new dashboard on the right makes it much more intuitive and easier to modify 3d models. They also include a new features workshop that will explain how to use the new features in the package.

Every 3d program has it's learning curve and I don't believe this one is any harder than the next. I've also used Inventor and Pro/Engineer which are excellent programs as well, but AutoCAD (despite some limitations with surface modeling and parametric modifications) I feel is still the easiest to navigate and doesn't leaves you with as many questions as to why something isn't doing what you think it should be. For example, making a precise sphere in Sketchup is a real headache. However in AutoCAD you just click on the sphere primitive and tell it the radius.

Here's a screenshot I found from this site showing some of the ways to work in AutoCAD 2007:
Click to view attachment

Thanks for the great input. I'm still currently messing around with google sketchup as it is fairly easy to learn thanks to its instructor module reminding me what the tools are and do. I concur that a sphere is annoying to make in sketchup, maybe they'll add a sphere tool in the next version.