Originally Posted by
Arie Kabaalstra
I make my designs in 3D, with a program called GeoMagic, it is similar to programs like AutoDesk Inventor, or Solidworks, but less expensive, that's how i have professional 3D CAD from the time i was still a hobbyist.
The Fileformats of this program are AD_PRT and AD_ASM files, PRT stands for "Part" and ASM stands for "Assembly"
With this program, you create 3D models of parts, and you can put the parts together in an assembly. just like in real life.. the beauty part of it is.. you can make parts fit other parts, even if the dimensions change, the entire Assembly is then re-calculated.
I also make Watchmakers workbenches, i started with a bench for myself, and sold 13 others sofar.. my design is made up so that the main dimensions are stored in a separate table, when i alter the dimensions, a new 3D model is generated, and drawings are automatically updated.
So when someone "orders" a workbench, i just ask for the desired dimensions, i enter those in the table, and re-generate the drawings, so i can order materials to the correct sizes..
From the 3D models, i can "Project" flat drawings, which i use to program the machines, the lathe is programmed at the machine, by just "Slicing up" the part in easy to program operations, which are programmed as "Cycles" the Mill on the other had is mostly programmed with CAM software, making the program from a 2D drawing, or directly from a 3D STL file.