AW Albermarle

It is truly mind blowing what can be done with CAD and a laser cutter!
I may be wrong but in my heart of hearts I cant help feeling that those lovely complex ply structures would virtually 'disintegrate' in any sort of impact.

We have contact .......

The plan is not to crash em

1st half of nose section complete

Building on a vertical keel is a lot easier isn't it Dylan.

Does it make a big difference to the price if you are supplied with the CAD models ready to go? If so, what CAD package is preferable?

Cheers,
Simon

If it is all CADed up I would need DXF and DWG files and yes, basiclly you would save a fortune because all I have to do then is lay it up ready for cutting and well erm cut lol. What do you have in mind?

Before I became a maths teacher I used to teach 3D CAD systems (mainly Catia). I have a plan which I could get cut at a few places, but I was thinking of putting it into a CAD model myself and then comparing the cost. Not sure I have Catia anymore, but I do have solidworks which should do the job.

Just an idea I'm kicking around at the moment. Laser cutting looks spot on, and what a subject. I really like twin aircraft, just waiting for some better weather to maiden my B-25.

Regards,
Simon

Beardie - as Pol said - the original post didn't have the images on, just some computer gibberish.
So now you can go back to sleep! :whistle:

I was a cnc programmer before all of this lot, and never touched CAD at all. But the principles are very similiar and I am thoroughly enjoying learning and working in this media. Solidworks is fine but it is geared up to work alongside AutoCAD if I remember correctly, and I use TurboCAD which does have a few issues picking up some dxf files, which is why I say both dxf and dwg files just incase.

The laser cutting is pretty simple once you get to grips with it, it's basically a large printer, but unfortunately you can't just press "print" lol.

I was inspired to do this plane by a modeller on the RCME forum, he told me the story of one of his family members who used to fly on them, he was unfortunately KIA. so this model is going to modelled on the one he flew in.

bit of drying and I can start applying stringers [badass]

you are drilling through the construction then sir.
looking good so far. careful with the stringers.

Looks very nice LC!

We still need to talk about my projects.....I haven't forgotten, btw....and as I use TurboCad, it may make it more simple.