AON

I am so very sorry to read of your loss.

Derek, the answer is yes. I've used the WPL main branch 3D printer for my 1:12 scale 9 pdr gun barrel which is another build log on the forum here. The charge $0.00 (free) to print but inticate parts might be a disappointment. One of the fellows in our local club has a 3D printer that will do it. He printed all my gun barrels for this build (3 different sizes) at 1:64 scale.

Thank you Mark but you give me far more credit for my actual skill level than I deserve. Practically every other designer I've had the pleasure to be associated with had thousands more practical hours at it then I, and were far more proficient... this is what comes from moving into lower level management! Well, after more time than I care to admit, I completed a 3D nameplate in Fusion 360 that I will attempt to print in PLA-wood filament. Hope it looks half decent for a first attempt when done. Although there is a learning curve I believe the free Fusion 360 program will work fine for me and fill my needs. With some more practise over time I should become as quick as I am attempting to type this out with all my fingers as learnt early in High School many MANY years ago, as opposed to the mere two fingers that got me through the final years of employment after computers entered the work force.

Spent a few more hours today doodling with the free Fusion 360 hobbyist version and the test drive of Inventor LT. Discovered fusion refers to mates as joints and I can easily create a fusion 360 assembly from stp files of my inventor parts. I may become a convert yet.

Why thank you Derek. When I started I estimated this would take about 10 years. 🤔 You may start the clock now. 😉

I have installed P-forward and P-aft. Now I start putting spacer chocks in.

I am still assessing the two programs (Fusion 360 versus Inventor LT 2020). With out the assembly of parts option I will have to build my assembly in a part file which will be a change in thinking. Like stepping back to the days of pencil and paper.

So the answer to my latest problem is that the user must join Fusion Team, create your own "team" of one, and away you go. This seems to be what they are migrating towards. If so why don't they just delete the personal hub option from the new program downloads? Fusion Team was created to answer the problem of businesses having employees with company models on the employees personal data log in the cloud. If the employee leaves the company they still have the models. Plus it was difficult to manage who gets access to projects or files in projects. With the Team creation the business company administrator controls it all and it all remains with the business. That makes sense to me.

Jeez, sorry for not answering that question Derek... I didn't get an e-mail notification of your posting. So I am still tooling about with Fusion 360 and Inventor LT (2020 version) with about 20 days left in the free trial for the Inventor. I had successfully create a Project to put my 3D hull models and rebuilt my assembly. On Saturday Fusion would not let me make a new Project to insert my ropewalk design models. Try as I might it will not cooperate. I checked on the board and there seems to be a glitch they don't explain but they need to perform some tweek at their end. So I posted my problem in the support group, requested help and an explanation. Sunday, no success... and no one in support viewed my request. Monday, no success... and 10:54 am... no one viewed my request. hmmm.

All forward cant frames are installed. I have P-forward and P-aft (both square frames) to install before I move to the next stage. P-fwd is cut and glued. P-aft is cut and the foot is assembled tested, adjusted and finally dry fit. Now I can complete gluing it together. Hope to be installing frame spacer chocks by Thursday so I can bring it back to our club meeting this Sunday.

Should have also mentioned I purchased #6-32 threaded rod, hex nuts and flat washers a Lowes in Niagara Falls on Tuesday. This will be to mount the model to the build board through the keel, but I will do this after sanding the cant frames which at my pace may be next year. Right Derek? Have to repair my uncles coffee table first.

Now I just discovered STEP files are better than IGES files because they are newer, IGES is 20 years old and can convert with gaps or missing info. still trying them both out. Inventor LT (at $520 Canadian a year) is closer to what I am use to using and all my files are on my computer. Fusion 360 for hobbyist is free, very similar, but cloud based... your stuff goes off site like all those celebrity photos that never should have seen the light of day. I've read you can save to your hard drive and work on it. I'll have to give this a try. I am not a fan of having no choice but to have my files being "out there". Is that privilege worth $520 a year?

Thanks for the reply. I just discovered it only works with a paid supscription. If you use the free hobbyist version the ipt files needs to be converted to an igs, stp or similar type file. I tried this moments ago and it worked.

I just downloaded the free hobbyist version of Fusion 360. I've been able to create new parts and save the files without issue. The problem arises when I attempt to OPEN an Inventor 2011 or Inventor 2015 part file. They (two different versions) upload fine. I can see them in the project folder I created. When I pick them and the menu opens there is no OPEN option displayed as when I opened the new parts I created and saved to the same project folder. Does anyone have experience with this program; uploading/opening Inventor part files? I also understand the program is supposed to convert the file to a Fusion 360 part extension but that didn't happen. Does it happen after successfully opened in the program and then saved? Or is it that it is the free hobbyist version and that function is not available in that free download?? Thanks for any help offered.

So much happening. It took a while, but after having looked at it from every angle, and realizing all my guide marks would eventually be chipped away... then getting some words of encouragement, I started removing material from the block of Costello that with some prayers will hopefully become my ship's figurehead. I was told to imagine a cloth draped over the finished part... now remove everything up to the cloth. Then with the help of the maquette to visualize the finished part, remove everything else. I have also had to deal with my 3D program loss. It was from my last employer for working at home (you are allowed to copies), but since I am retired now I cannot re-register the copy I had. So I am test driving Inventor LT 2020 - paid annual subscription required (which does not allow assemblies as the full version does but you can import other parts as blocks into a part to essentially create an assembly.. see screen capture below... I rebuilt my hull assembly in about 20 minutes), and Fusion 360 for hobbyists - free version (an Autodesk program which is very similar to Inventor ... same people make it). It is suppose to open Inventor parts but so far I have had no success with it. If anyone has experience with Fusion 360 I could use some directions. I will post this elsewhere on the forum. I've also purchased an upgrade to my music sheet creation/playing program but it doesn't work properly either. Why do these guys release these upgrades before they are ready? Oh yeh... they want your money. I am presently assembling my last forward cant frame (P1 at 0.9° offset) and will install P-aft and P-fwd prior to adding the spacer chocks between frames to stiffen it up as Druxey advised. Then I will pin the heels of the 1st futtocks to the deadwood with treenail type pins in lieu of the monofilament bolts as I want the extra strength... again as recommended by Druxey. I've read that if making treenails from round bamboo skewers, they should be cut square (remove the round edges) by way of two cutters clamped between a spacer block in a vise. So that will be one more thing to McGiver.