ok.. im trying to see about a cad program t make a custom front skirt for my 82 rx-7, but not 100% sure exactly how to use the program or make an original model of the car in the cad program.. i have AutoCAD 2008 free trial that im using right now, and going to try to see if i can get something to work.. does anyone happen to have a model already made up? or any help / ideas?

 

You'll never get a complex piece like that modeled in AutoCAD. AutoCAD isn't a very good 3D program and really more designed for for things with straight lines and right angles, not lots of elaborate curved surfaces. I've heard Solid Works can model those sorts of shapes, but I really don't know much about it.

 

look into solid works(?) i know a buy who uses it and hes a genius

 

As posted above you will need a solid modeling package to do what you want.

Solid works is a great choice. it is slightly expensive.....Around 5K

Another alternative is Alibre. The software is allot like solid works in the methods and structure but there is a free version you can download. IIRC, the limitations of the free version is number of parts within assemblies.

Here is a link:

http://www.alibre.com/xpress/softwar...ign-xpress.asp


-billy

 

I work in SolidWorks daily... awesome program, easy to use... but pricey for personal use. I do know you can find Chinese ripoffs of previous versions if you ask the right sort of people... not that I would ever condone such a thing.

If the only limitation in Alibre is in number of components, that sound like it's worth a try! If I get some free time this weekend maybe I'll download it and do some comparisons...

 

cad can make some awsome 3d objects but its way to hard, i would go with a program like inventer

 

Im surprised no one has mentioned 3d studio max yet. That and Maya are two great programs for that sort of thing.

You can download these programs ILLEGALY with a P2P program, but if you get caught your on your own.

EDIT:

Here, I searched google for "3ds rx7" and found this




And heres the full URL for it...I think you can download the original file on there somewhere...
http://www-c.inria.fr/gamma/download...&name=MazdaRX7