[OpenSPIM] CAD Files

Fri Oct 4 21:28:58 CDT 2013

Sorry, I think I got the wrong reply emails somehow.  Here's what I sent 
to Michael Weber only:

Hi all, thanks for the numerous replies.

I have the .step files from the wiki, and in fact I used MeshLab 
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MeshLab) to convert them to .dxf files to 
give to my machine shop guy.

My request is that of a complete unit, in it's functional form, i.e. all 
the CAD files in one window.  I think it would be a useful asset to have 
available for those just starting the process.  I am thinking about the 
options of multi-color and other extensions and I wanted to know how 
much extra breadboard I might need, and how much space I have in various 
places.

I would be ok with any file type that included everything. SolidWorks 
would works if it's versions 2003 to 2010...  These files go straight 
into AutoCAD:
     *.prt, *.sldprt (part) - versions 2003 - 2010
     *.asm, *.sldasm (assembly) - versions 2003 -2010
Obviously AutoCAD files .dwg, .dxf would be cool too as I have the 
student version of AutoCAD from my graduate studies.

In the spirit of Open Source, Blender has an option to import VRML 1.0 
files exported from SolidWorks 
(http://wiki.blender.org/index.php/Doc:2.4/Tutorials/Render/Import/SolidWorks). 
I haven't had any experience with this, but it might be a good place to 
keep things easy access for rendering.  Blender also .3ds files, so 
exporting from AutoCAD or 3dsMax to .3ds would also keep things open.  
.stl files are also an option, see here: 
http://wiki.blender.org/index.php/Doc:2.6/Manual/Data_System/Files/Import

I'm not sure if there's a 'Blender' of the CAD world, so to speak, so I 
can't comment in that direction.  Be nice to know if there were.

If anybody has such a complete file, in nearly any of the aforementioned 
(don't you just love it when you get a chance to slip words like that in 
here and there) file types, please feel free to send me a link (be nice 
to get it on the wiki too).

Thanks in advance for your time.

Neil
On 10/1/2013 7:51 AM, Michael Weber wrote:
> Hi Pete,
>
> I have no idea, but the specifications have to be explained somewhere...
>
> Michael
>
>
> On Oct 1, 2013, at 1:30 PM, "Peter Gabriel Pitrone" 
> <pitrone at mpi-cbg.de <mailto:pitrone at mpi-cbg.de>> wrote:
>
>>
>> Hey Micahel,
>>
>> This is true, however I am unsure as to which version to use. There are
>> two main formats, do you have any info as to which is better that I do
>> not?!
>>
>> Pete
>> -- 
>> Peter Gabriel Pitrone - TechRMS
>> Microscopy/Imaging Specialist
>> Prof. Dr. Pavel Tomancak group
>> Max Planck Institute for
>> Molecular Biology and Genetics
>> Pfotenhauerstr. 108
>> 01307 Dresden
>>
>> "If a straight line fit is required, obtain only two data points." - 
>> Anon.
>>
>>
>> On Tue, October 1, 2013 1:21 pm, Michael Weber wrote:
>> <|> STEP files are the way to go. All the parts on openspim.org 
>> <http://openspim.org> are already
>> <|> available in STEP format so it would also be consistent.
>> <|>
>> <|> Best,
>> <|> Michael
>> <|>
>> <|> On Oct 1, 2013, at 12:25 PM, Jan Krieger 
>> <j.krieger at dkfz-heidelberg.de <mailto:j.krieger at dkfz-heidelberg.de>>
>> <|> wrote:
>> <|>
>> <|>> Hi!
>> <|>>
>> <|>> about CAD:
>> <|>> 1. OpenSOurce formats are nice, but I'm not sure whether the
>> <|>> professional CAD programs can load them.
>> <|>> 2. Autodesk has a university program, where you can download a free
>> <|>> full (in the sense of really everything except Maya) version of all
>> <|>> their programs, as long as you have an e-mail-adress of a 
>> university or
>> <|>> are associated to one. For me that worked nicely with my adress from
>> <|>> university of Heidelberg, but also with adresses from the german 
>> cancer
>> <|>> research center (just said that it's a non-profit research 
>> institute).
>> <|>> So this is an easy way to get a professional CAD (Autodesk Inventor)
>> <|>> without paying, but with all the features ;-) If anybody is 
>> interested.
>> <|>> Here's the link:
>> <|>>
>> <|>> http://students.autodesk.com/
>> <|>>
>> <|>> So could you do any of the Autocad Inventor formats, or one of the
>> <|>> formats, most companies provide on their homepages (e.g. STEP, IGES,
>> <|>> DXF - but that's not 3D), as most CAD programs should be able to 
>> read
>> <|>> that.
>> <|>>
>> <|>> Best from Heidelberg,
>> <|>> JAN
>> <|>>
>> <|>>
>> <|>> Am 01.10.2013 12:16, schrieb Peter Gabriel Pitrone:
>> <|>>>
>> <|>>> Howdy Johannes,
>> <|>>>
>> <|>>> I'll see what file formats I can save the plans into. Then I'll 
>> upload
>> <|>>> them as soon as I can.
>> <|>>>
>> <|>>> Pete
>> <|>>>
>> <|>>>
>> <|>>>
>> <|>>
>> <|>>
>> <|>>
>> <|>> _______________________________________________
>> <|>> OpenSPIM mailing list
>> <|>> OpenSPIM at openspim.org <mailto:OpenSPIM at openspim.org>
>> <|>> http://openspim.org/mailman/listinfo/openspim
>> <|>
>> <|> _____________
>> <|>
>> <|> Michael Weber
>> <|> PhD Student, Huisken lab
>> <|> Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics
>> <|> Pfotenhauerstrasse 108, 01307 Dresden
>> <|> Tel. 0049 351/2102837
>> <|>
>> <|> http://www.mpi-cbg.de/huisken
>> <|>
>> <|> _______________________________________________
>> <|> OpenSPIM mailing list
>> <|> OpenSPIM at openspim.org <mailto:OpenSPIM at openspim.org>
>> <|> http://openspim.org/mailman/listinfo/openspim
>> <|>
>>
>>
>
> _____________
>
> Michael Weber
> PhD Student, Huisken lab
> Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics
> Pfotenhauerstrasse 108, 01307 Dresden
> Tel. 0049 351/2102837
>
> http://www.mpi-cbg.de/huisken
>

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