I'm looking for a very simple CAD type software that will let me do basic motion calculations of simple machines. Basically, I'm building something like this:
but I want to experiment with non-parallel arms so I can tune the movement of the camera head to be more or less aggressive. I'd like to be able to mock it up virtually and move it around and see what it looks like.
Does such a thing exist?
jg
It does... but of course, everything about the product escapes me at the moment.
Here you go - FreeCAD
There may also be a SketchUp plugin that handles it. I loves me some SketchUp.
Thanks for the tease, Duke. I actually quoted you in an upcoming story. I'm thinking of taking it back now.
jg
Hey! Hey! I fixed it! Look above! 
Finding a "buddy" with a copy of SolidWorks and the skills to rapidly mock something up in it might be a good option... or if you are interested enough to learn it IIRC an education copy was affordable and the guidelines were pretty loose... kid in school, took a CC class on cooking, teach parrot training at the SPCA etc
Duke wrote:It does... but of course, everything about the product escapes me at the moment.
Here you go - FreeCAD
There may also be a SketchUp plugin that handles it. I loves me some SketchUp.
Ooh, that looks like just what I'm looking for.
I played with SketchUp a bit, and it seems pretty awesome as well. It's tough to get your mind out of Adobe-land when it comes to any other drawing software, but I started getting used to it pretty quickly.
I'ma downloading FreeCAD tonight.
jg
What about that Java game where we built the goofy machines? That was actually a pretty decent kinematic simulator.
DILYSI Dave wrote:What about that Java game where we built the goofy machines? That was actually a pretty decent kinematic simulator.
Heh, I thought of that, too...
