Modeling Case Mods?

[aom]

What is the best program for modelling custom cases/mods/etc. I've been just doing some rough sketches on paper and want to turn it into a more precise layout on a 3D model. I heard about SketchUp and Autodesk Inventor(dang its expensive, glad I can get the student version), but I am not sure what to use.

[Mcdoorknob]

Google sketch up is easy and free. probably the most popular one used around here for mods

[dragosudeki]

You can always grab cardboard boxes and try set something up with that.

[OGFatal]

In school we use Autodesk Inventor, if you don't know how to use it don't bother. I've been using it for 2 years and still trying to work with it.

[SeanAngelo]

i use google sketchup, its so easy to use

[sirtoby]

I allways use Sketchup.It's simple to use and free. By the way: It isn't developed by Google any more. They sold it to a company called "Trimble" in 2012. But they seem to do a good job, continuing Googles work.

[aom]

Google sketch up is easy and free. probably the most popular one used around here for mods

for sketchup, is there a way to render the model because I prefer higher res images instead of screenshots. Though not really necessary, but would certainly want that feature.

[Scheer]

Solidworks and Autodesk Inventor for money, Blender and Sketchup for free.

 

I've never spent much time with Blender, but Sketchup is extremely basic. It will get the simple things done, but coming from an Autodesk background it seems to be missing a lot. Solidworks was initially a PITA for me as well since I was used to Autodesk products, but after a while it became just as intuitive as Autodesk was. Autodesk is EXTREMELY confusing for a little while, and it makes no sense why you need to do things the way they want you to when you make simple things like helixes, etc... and all of a sudden it just clicks and makes sense. Its hard to explain, you just need to sit down and play with it for a bit.

 

All in all, If I had to pick just one it would be Inventor mainly because you can hop onto Revit or AutoCAD and everything remains familar and you don't need to learn it all again other than they inverse the mouse wheel zoom direction between Inventor and CAD for some stupid fucking reason...

 

AFAIK, there is absolutely no way to get Solidworks for free, even with an .edu account they still want like $150 per year for it. Autodesk lets you get a 14 month "educational trial" of their software once a year, so long as you have a .edu account and keep upgrading to the newest version. If you like it, before you graduate you can purchase an educational suite for ~$250 which is a lifetime license for that product (no yearly updates to the latest) for non-commercial use.

[AMaleWhale]

Can you use sketchup to somehow import a picture of a graphics card and stuff? or do I need to make one my self in the program?

[gylmir]

@AMaleWhale yes you can import pictures in sketchup but they have to be from a 90° angle to fit the surface

[aom]

Solidworks and Autodesk Inventor for money, Blender and Sketchup for free.

 

I've never spent much time with Blender, but Sketchup is extremely basic. It will get the simple things done, but coming from an Autodesk background it seems to be missing a lot. Solidworks was initially a PITA for me as well since I was used to Autodesk products, but after a while it became just as intuitive as Autodesk was. Autodesk is EXTREMELY confusing for a little while, and it makes no sense why you need to do things the way they want you to when you make simple things like helixes, etc... and all of a sudden it just clicks and makes sense. Its hard to explain, you just need to sit down and play with it for a bit.

 

All in all, If I had to pick just one it would be Inventor mainly because you can hop onto Revit or AutoCAD and everything remains familar and you don't need to learn it all again other than they inverse the mouse wheel zoom direction between Inventor and CAD for some stupid fucking reason...

 

AFAIK, there is absolutely no way to get Solidworks for free, even with an .edu account they still want like $150 per year for it. Autodesk lets you get a 14 month "educational trial" of their software once a year, so long as you have a .edu account and keep upgrading to the newest version. If you like it, before you graduate you can purchase an educational suite for ~$250 which is a lifetime license for that product (no yearly updates to the latest) for non-commercial use.

I see. Well considering on how I have a CAD class coming soon, might as well get a head start in Inventor since you said that the interfaces of AutoCAD is similar. Thanks.

 

I used to use Blender, so when I tried SketchUp, it was way too simplistic and almost constraining. I would use Blender, but it is just down right terrible for needing to make accurate models with dimensions imo, not really a fault since it was never made to really do so (though I will probably use it to render objects)

[B NEGATIVE]

Im a big Solidworks and CATIA fan,I use both,Solidworks is my primary tho.

 

Sketchup is good for beginners as it has a large base of premade models of PC components available.

 

Math>Mesh modellers.

 

 

BTW,Keyshot is a great render tool.