3D Software to assist scratch builds?

I've been using autocad for awhile to do my customs. It only lets me do 2D. I was wondering if anyone uses a decent 3D modeling program to make their ideas come to life so things like "fit" can be checked before wasting supplies? It's just kind of hard to get things perfect in a 2D representation of something that's gonna be 3D sometimes...

And just to make this thread an official scratch built, here is a shot of my old War Within Shockwave that I made using autocad a few years back.

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I've used RHINO to build my primus scratchbuild. It was all flat panels that i then printed out 1:1, than assembled. Only way to make everything fit in a perfect 12" sphere is in 3D. I've been to the week long training for Solidworks and plan on making my next one in that program, and then rapidprototype some of the pieces (buget willing).

For someone beginning 3D work, hands down RHINO is easier to learn (and cheaper) than solidworks. the bonus about solidworks though, is that it has kinetic aspects to the programming, so you can fully trasnsform your design in the computer before making anything. i'm planning on adding some "auto-morph" and other types of geared mechanisms to my design. Just adding more tools to my toolbox for when i work for Hasbro.

Randy!

why not just use google sketchup, it is both free and easy.

I'll second that - much easier to learn than most. Also take a look at Bonzai 3d which was recently released - it looks fairly intuitive and has a months free trial.

I'm a big fan of Solidworks, you can pick it up cheap as a student (or if you know a student), otherwise its expensive as hell and only good for 2 years. Its VERY user friendly.

I've also used the Autodesk 3d modeler and I don't know if its because I used Solidworks so much, but I found it hard to use. I tend to draw everything in AutoCAD and then import it into Solidworks (I don't care for hte Solidworks CAD tool, go figure)

Since creating the 3d model is my end goal, using the above process has made me a horrible CAD modeler because I only do enough to build the 3d model, I don't want anything else there that is going to mess with the 3d model.

With solidworks, you can check for errors where parts would be overlapping, or see how parts can move. Here are some examples of stuff I've done:

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That looks like HOS shockwave.

I guess my problem with solidworks is i've tried to do everything in that program. just trying to learn. otherwise I have been making things in RHINO, then importing them into soidworks. and i don't think Solidwroks is THAT user friendly. i guess it is if you know the model and program well. it's great once you get things in there correctly, and is easy to manipulate afterwrods, but it's that whole "correct" thing that takes time.

Thanks for the reminder about the google sketchup, i've been wanting to try that.

Randy!

If you like it there are also some very nice free plugins available for it to make it more versatile.

Solidworks sounds like what I'd like. I'm VERY good at learning programs (hell, I taught myself how to use autocad to the point where I can pretty much do what I want, even make stickers and stuff with it), so I'm sure I'll be able to pick solidworks up.

Thanks for the info!

It is, I had started a thread here and haven't updated it in a long time. I have about 85-90% of him modeled in Solidworks.

I agree that getting things into solidworks correctly is a steep learning curve, but after that its smooth sailing.

honestly, just use google sketch-up, it is the easiest and is also free. once you understand the basics, then you can do some trials of other things if you need to, and have a proper idea of what you are comparing against.