Difference between revisions of "Open collaborative design/Free and open-source computer-aided design"

From AdCiv
Jump to: navigation, search
 
 
(12 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
It is likely that at some point advanced open-source CAD software with built-in [[w:Physics engine|physics engines]] and the ability to model [[w:kinematics|kinematics]] will aid engineers and designers greatly in this respect by allowing a lot of testing to be done virtually. The availability of user-friendly open source [[CAD]] software will be essential to this field, along with open standards for associated file formats, and file converters to extract data from models created with proprietary CAD packages.
+
{{:Free and open-source computer-aided design/Intro}} {{more|Free and open-source computer-aided design}}
 
+
The virtual nature of the designs mean that far-flung people via the internet can easily work together on the same design, either working individually on various sub-assemblies of the whole or collaborating directly on the same part. The restrictions of having to finding people local to yourself with similar interests and desires becomes much less of an issue.
+

Latest revision as of 01:21, 28 February 2007

Renault rendered in Blender 3D modelling software

One of the core components necessary for open collaborative design to truly take flight is an advanced free and open-source computer-aided design (CAD) program to allow anyone to easily generate new designs or customise existing ones. The program should include a special browser to enable finding and importing open-source components and machines from the 'universal commons' as well as analytical tools and 'physics engine' 11px-Wikipedia_logo.jpg which allow a significant amount of simulation and testing to be done 'virtually', saving significant amounts of time when it comes to construction.

The availability of user-friendly open source CAD software will be essential to allow the widest number of people to engage in this creative activity, which should help create a more diverse ecosystem of objects, machines and solutions. There is no reason, with thoughtful implementation, why this software shouldn't be intuitive enough for children to use easily. It could explain mechanical and engineering principles along the way if the user wished, and also be a place to store detailed contextual development notes, wiki style, to help others understand the workings and decisions made.

The virtual nature of the designs mean that far-flung people via the internet can easily work together on the same design, either working individually on various sub-assemblies of the whole or collaborating directly on the same part. The restrictions of having to finding people local to yourself with similar interests and desires becomes much less of an issue. 35px-More_large.png