I am seeking some input, from the user community to see if MOI is the tool for me?

See attachment below.
So at the top you can see where I designed the 3D portion of this project, to be 3D printed.
In the middle, I created the enclosure in a 2D vector application for laser cutting.
At the bottom you can see the final assembly, for my custom Atari 2600 cartridge.

The problem is I had to build the 3D and 2D sections in different applications.. this is a pain when trying to get things to
align perfectly and fit properly. I am wanting to be able to build my entire solution in one tool, but be able to easily, export portions as 3D printable files, and other portions as 2D files for laser cutting. I am also hoping the program has a built in tool, to easily add finger grooves, and the ability to compensate for kerf/material thickness etc.

Is this workflow something MOI can offer to me, and improve my development time, using a single tool?


thanks for any input
Sam

I have downloaded the trial, and tinkering with it, but have not got a good handle on it all yet, so figured I would as more experienced users.
PS (I know the laser cut file doesn't show the screw holes, I forgot to unhide that layer when I took the screen shot, but you get the point)

Hi Sam,

Looking at your examples and reading your requirements, MoI should be a fine choice for you. It combines accuracy with an accessible user interface, elegant user experience and helpful community.

Kind regards,

Metin

visualizer • illustrator • 3D designer ─ metinseven.nl

Sam -

I use MoI as a companion to my Robo R2 3D printer. I've designed fixtures for my shop as well as electronic enclosures, brackets, ect. The 3D object in your post would be easy to make.

http://moi3d.com/forum/index.php?webtag=MOI&msg=8944.1

I have no experience with laser cutting, but MoI works very well for 2D drawings. The finger joints should be quick to draw as you can adjust the screen grid to any size and then use "snap to grid" to draw the outlines. You can also make a re-usable "cutting object" in the shape of the finger joints and easily trim (cut) a rectangle in half and the pattern would match both pieces.

MoI has an "offset" function that should handle kerf/material thickness compensation - but not in an automated way. You would manually need to apply where needed.

Do you have some kind of semi-automated software now that makes the finger joints, or are they hand drawn?

Ed Ferguson

Since all my laser work is currently in 2D I can use hand drawn or online generators for basic box shapes.

But I want to convert to a full 3D platform and just skip the 2D task, and just export the flat sections out of 3D as a 2D object for later cutting.
I will need to tinker more with it to see if it suits my needs

thanks

Sam,

You'll have the 2D shapes by default as you need them to create the 3D model. You can easily make Offset curves from these as needed to compensate for material thickness.

You can select and export just the 2D curves in a variety of formats. So yes, one MoI file will contain both the 2D curves and the 3D objects.

Ed Ferguson

Be sure to ask questions here for a good evaluation while modeling.

Kerfing? Not in the sense of calculation "setup sheets". But there are tools to use on a more home level. So you can model a 90° then fillet to represent a bend then "uwrapcurve" to get the length of the 2 sides with the fillet.

But actual kerfing as in sheetmetal calcs when bending various types and thicknesses, you will need more specialized "sheetmetal" software for that...

And a hint for exporting is, the export command works on "selected objects". So a full assembly scene, with all components, just select 2d plan objects and export, only those.

Hi Sam,

I think you will find MoI to be well suited to the tasks you mention, though you may need to learn to think a little differently than the way a given task might be done in other CAD packages. It absolutely will do the 2D and 3D tasks, and as Ed mentions, starting with 2D curves is a very good way to develop accurate 3D models. MoI's tools are fewer and more "elemental" (if you will) than some of the big CAD packages, but they are thoughtfully produced, powerful and work well together. While I do not do 3D printing, I use MoI to model everything that I build (from machine parts to buildings), and then produce 2D construction drawings that I use to actually make things. I have also exported parts for laser cutting and have had no issues (though I've not done that a lot). While many use MoI for more artistic purposes, I find it extremely helpful for making things. Suggest spending some time with the manual as well as the forum as both are helpful in learning "the MoI way". If you're used to something like SketchUp, it would also be helpful to learn a little about NURBs vs. polygon modelers...approximated curves in SketchUp dove me nuts, with MoI they're the way the good lord intended them to be!

--Larry

Hi Sam!

Sure! I believe MOI 3D would be a very good choice for that! ( I was able to recreate your box/container geometry in MOI in matter of minutes! ( take a look at the attached file)

Note_1:In MOI 3D every thing is built around speed :-) So, for your box if you make top part and side part you can quickly mirror top/and side part to get bottom and other side part! By assembling them you are able to get your back part just by drawing a box and extrude it ( until now you would have a simple extruded box with height of your desired final box and width of it would be equal to width of your desired final box needless to say it thickness is equal to thickness of your plexi sheet you want to cut your box out of! ) in next step you put this raw box on the place your back part would rest; then you can perform boolean subtract operation and subtract top+bottom+sides from your raw box! and there it is! your back part! ( in a matter of seconds well maybe few minutes)

Note_2: if you assign a short key to below script you would be able to select a face and quickly extract outline of the selected face! ( that would help you to quickly get the outline of your back part for your laser cutting project!) MOI is able to save files in DXF format and to my knowledge most laser cutting machines can read that format! :-)

script: /* Select edges v1.4 */ var gd=moi.geometryDatabase, so=gd.getSelectedObjects(); function ss(o,v){o.setProperty("selected",v)} function sl(o){ for ( var i=0; i<o.length; ++i ) o.item(i).getEdges().invertProperty("selected");} gd.selectLoop(); sl(so.getFaces()); sl(so.getSolids()); sl(so.getOpenBReps()); sl(so.getSingleFaceBReps()); ss(so.getBReps(),0); ss(so.getFaces(),0);

Note_3: Recreated box is based upon the image you sent! therefor the holes are missing! The gaps that would be created due to laser cutting in not calculated! and my estimation is that the dimensions of your box are approximately as follow: 98 mm by 120 mm by 30 mm (Or 3.85 inches by 4.72 inches by 1.18 inches)

You say "Outlines" from a selection of faces
seems it's more Outlines of "each faces" ?
Am I right ?

Yes! You are right :-)

But for sam's case it works! ( I mean if he generates the back part using boolean subtracts and then selects just of face he would be able to extract outlines for his laser cutting project ) :-)



1- shows the object generated using boolean (subtract)
2- if you select the face shown and then using the script you are able to select edges connected to that face
3-Outline which is needed for Sam's laser cutting project :-)

Sam, I use Moi every day to create models for 3D printing using SLA and LCD technologies. I also use it for laser cutting, sometimes using the 2D base of a 3D model. It works FLAWLESSLY in this capacity. It is "engineering grade" 3D design, not just a toy for doodling.

Spend the *tiny* sum that Moi costs. I also use Inventor and Solidworks, and their price tag is jaw dropping, but their workflow is not. Moi has an amazing price point and an excellent intuitive workflow.

See some of my work here: www.facebook.com/ADKrail and https://flic.kr/s/aHsmVakUvj

Chris

Good day.
After trying allot of other 3d softwares..sketchup,Rhino, blender etc I bought Moi since it was very easy to learn and getting thing done quickly.

I use Moi3d with Prusaslicer for all my 3d printing needs, also for 2d drawings and just for about anything I want to build and design.
Right now I have a 4x8' cnc router and rotary axis on its way...For this I will be using Moi3d, VcarvePro and maybe 3dcoat for more artistic stuff.