Or for $99 have ViaCAD which will do both. (As often mentioned)

Just trying to point out that Free/low cost options are available to suit needs--not all need Ferraries!
Brian

"seems pretty simple"
All is very pretty simple in GSketchup!

only problem to use SU is that it imports only polygons. So don't expect accurate measurements except for planar surfaces which are also parallel. Otherwise, you can not be sure to get accurate snapping for centers, radius/diameter, quads, midpoints, etc... if i were trying to find a free solution, i would use Rhino's printing directly to PDF with vector output... Or you could also use Alibre's free version

https://www.alibre.com/Register/RequestInfo.aspx

jonah

I guess that I either don't understand the context of dimensioning in this forum or everyone is using this package as a toy.

I don't believe that Alibre is a tool that can be used by anyone that has ANY artistic ability. I own it and it is useless to me.

I provide a 2d cutting service for clients using a 4' by 8' cnc router. I cut 2d objects and do some graphics and text "carving" using v shaped bits and 2 1/2 d software (Artcam, Vcarve Pro, Photo Vcarve, etc).

I would like to leave the arena of 2 and 2 1/2 d behind. It's boring, very price competitive and BORING. As anyone shopping for anything, size does matter! When you buy shoes don't you like to get them to fit your feet?

When I cut out station forms for a strongback for a boat it's real important to build the stations for the size and shape of the customer's design, not just some numbers out of the blue.

Consequently, when I consider 3d I also think that sizes are important. I'm not talking about dimensioning, per se, like an arrowed dimension on a drawing, I just need to know what the size of the object is in x,y and z and what it's coordinates are of a point that I choose. This software has to have this information or it couldn't display the objects in relationship to it's surrounding environment! I just need a way to check the object by highlighting it, especially if it's an object that has been sent to me. There has to be more than one person out there that needs this information too.

I really hope that I'm wrong in believing that this information isn't available in this package! If it isn't please let me know and I will look elsewhere. If it isn't will it be available in version 2.

Thanks for your patience.

Hi Gary, yes a readout of the size of the currently selected object will be available in v2.

It's actually been in the v2 betas since the Nov-21-2008 beta release, for more information see here:
http://kyticka.webzdarma.cz/3d/moi/doc/V2releasenotes.html#Nov-21-2008

Here is a screenshot of it:




The x,y,z coordinates of a point are available in v1 - when you are in any drawing command the x,y,z coordinate of the point being picked is available in the xyz control at the bottom of your screen here:




So for example if you want to know the coordinates of a particular point, start any drawing command such as the Line command, snap the point to where you want and look down there and you will have your answer. Similarly there is a distance readout which is below the xyz control to the left side (and angle to the right) - while you are drawing a line that will show you the distance of the line, you can also enter values in there to constrain to a specific distance.

I do want to add a variety of other measuring tools in as well, but I'm not sure exactly when that will happen, possibly not until v3 is underway later this year.

- Michael

By the way. I do CNC work and MoI is very precise!

Hi Michael,

I guess I need to get the v2 beta. It looks incredible. I believe that this product can drop me kicking and screaming into learning another technology and program.

The upside is that it won't be boring and it leads me into a totally different market which is more fun than 2d.

I think that you have done a marvelous job on this product.

Thanks

Any news of measuring tools in moi v3?

Thanks

Hi Herbert,

> Any news of measuring tools in moi v3?

Sorry, no v3 is just about wrapped up and new measuring tools did not make it in, I'm hoping to be able to get some done in v4 though.

- Michael

Since I'm in the middle of dimensioning like 40 different elements, I can't wait for V4 haha

I only need basic dimensions (and angles) nothing else :)

Hi Shapenoid,

Have you try Spaceclaim? This software price tag is in different league of Moi, but i think they have a free trial fully working.
Those 40 could be done in 1 day - depending on each complexity - but Spaceclaim is very easy and fast, even when dealing with complex data.
Spacecalim is much more then a dimension tool but this aspect is very well developed.

Cheers

Carlos

Hi, I'm already using Rhino for my dimensioning and happy about it :)

Only downside is that it add another software to my workflow!

Hi Michael,
what software do you use for dimensioning?

Thanks

Hi Herbert,

> what software do you use for dimensioning?

MoI v3 can now export to DXF format which can then be brought in to various 2D CAD programs, one good one that's free is DraftSight:
http://www.3ds.com/products-services/draftsight/download-draftsight/

If you want to bring the 3D model data over to put dimensions on, either ViaCAD or Rhino can work well for that.

- Michael

Or the free Sketchup with the SKP format! ;)

DoubleCad Xt v5 Free from the developers of Turbocad is an excellent piece of software, and could fulfill all your dimensioning requirements.

Here is a link to the download page.

http://www.doublecad.com/DoubleCAD/DoubleCAD-XT-v5