Getting decent looking aluminium plate in my renderings is something I have been trying to do for a while now, I am quite happy with what I have come up with. Although in a months time I’ll probably change my mind. Starting out I was determined to use procedural textures, as too many image mapsContinue reading “Sheet metal for Blender”
Category Archives: Software
Fusion 360 for sheet metal
After spending years with Inventor, I have spent the last few months getting my head around Fusion 360, some of which can be detailed here: https://backstaydesign.com/2020/06/07/fusion-360-for-boat-design/ . I have been working on smaller, faster jobs lately, that have dovetailed beautifully with Fusions top-down workflow. This has extended into the sheet metal tools, with the moreContinue reading “Fusion 360 for sheet metal”
(Proper) Parametric Modeling
I just wrapped up a smallish job, modeling up a hull attachment that is driven by around 70 parameters! The rationale behind this was that while the number of model components remain fixed, the hull attachment has to be able to be modified to suit a wide variety of hulls. And as such the geometryContinue reading “(Proper) Parametric Modeling”
Preparing a scale model-part2
Following my initial model handover, I requested a Skype with the boatyard and the company who will be doing the 3d print. I was looking for clarification on my initial model, as well as the other details that I would need to include with regard to deck fittings, hand rails and the like. The 3dContinue reading “Preparing a scale model-part2”
My introduction to PolyCad
One again my never-ending quest for top notch free software led me to PolyCad, a hull design, hydrostatics, (and now hydrodynamics) software package. I am not a Naval Architect, and don’t pretend to be one. I am more than happy to leave the number crunching to the experts and to spend my time solving geometricContinue reading “My introduction to PolyCad”
Developing hull plates
A few years ago I found myself in a new job, in the drawing office of a boatyard (again) but for the first time in an aluminium boatyard. I had just spent a couple of years in the drawing office of a composite boatyard, and had to improve my modelling skills to work with theContinue reading “Developing hull plates”
Blender for rendering
I am always on the lookout for top notch free software that I can make use of, and one of the best that I have found is Blender. The output for most of the jobs that I do is either the 3D model, or 2D drawings and cut files, but from time to time IContinue reading “Blender for rendering”
The myth of the ‘full’ 3D model
I am working on a project at the moment where I was supplied with what I was told was the full 3D model, and all I had to do was make a few changes and finish it off. I imported the file and started to go through it, quickly coming to the realization that thereContinue reading “The myth of the ‘full’ 3D model”
2D to 3D Modelling
I wrapped up a series of spooling models yesterday, all sorts of piping systems sprawling over an 87m, 5 deck hull. The problem that the company I did the job for faced had to do with their need for a digital twin, a concept I see coming up more and more in boat design software.Continue reading “2D to 3D Modelling”
Fusion 360 for boat design?
The first time I came across Fusion is when it was bundled with Autodesk Inventor 2013, If I recall correctly all those years ago! I took a quick look at it, but nothing more than that. Last year I became aware of Fusion 360 again and started to take a better look. I applied toContinue reading “Fusion 360 for boat design?”
Backstay Design 