Custom Case, need advice

[purplepenguin202]

Hey LTT forum members!

I was thinking about making myself a custom case and was looking for advice on a good program to use to make a model of it, preferably free, as well as a good type of metal to use with good rigidity as well as a good aesthetic.  Thanks in advance!

[torment lm]

Autodesk Inventor.

[W-L]

 

Hey LTT forum members!

I was thinking about making myself a custom case and was looking for advice on a good program to use to make a model of it, preferably free, as well as a good type of metal to use with good rigidity as well as a good aesthetic.  Thanks in advance!

 

 

Autodesk Inventor and Solid Works are really good programs but can be a bit difficult to use if you never used before, something like Google Sketchup is a really good basic program to get started on if it's your first time modelling.

[MatthewEnderle]

Take a look at this topic I replied to on this topic.

http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/160187-my-renders-opinions/#entry2136167

 

As for metals. It will also depend on what you have to use to fabricate such case. If you use anything over 1/8" thickness then you will need to get special tools, like my plasma cutter or use a high school's shop. I would recommend Aluminum, however then you need to use TIG welding technology (same with Stainless) which is the harder one to grasp. I would prefer to use a lightweight steel, like 1/16" and I can weld that with a MIG welder which can be bought at any home improvement stores for $120 usually with $60 in accessories. Some issues that may arise are something like grounding and shorting out of parts. 

[purplepenguin202]

Tools aren't going to be an issue I believe, since a friend owns a machining shop.  You pretty much answered my questions, thanks guys!

[purplepenguin202]

Well apparently Autodesk is corrupted, no way for me to get that to work.  After deleting browsing data, cookies and download data, even the autodesk files on my computer, it still won't give me a fresh download.  Sooooooo.......

[Syntaxvgm]

For a person new to modeling- you can consider using google sketchup. 

If you into 3d modeling like me, you might find sketchup odd. Blender would work just fine.