mainbutter Posted October 18, 2009 Report Share Posted October 18, 2009 Does anyone use CAD systems for designing lures and molds? How do you go from a general design idea to having a finished product? Is this something that is in any way financially reasonable for a hobbyist, or is this something that is generally limited to companies designing new molds or lures for themselves to sell? I think it would be a wonderful tool to make new soft plastic molds and molds for plastic resin hard jointed swimbaits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delw Posted October 18, 2009 Report Share Posted October 18, 2009 Does anyone use CAD systems for designing lures and molds?How do you go from a general design idea to having a finished product? . simple way draw bait program bait run bait in cnc machine. Pour Bait Is this something that is in any way financially reasonable for a hobbyist, or is this something that is generally limited to companies designing new molds or lures for themselves to sell? . it depends what you think is Financially reasonable. as most CAD-CAM softwares for 3 d work run about 10-15k with a yearly update licence of 2-4k (per year) traning generally runs about 100 per hour, for someone off the street figure 2-3 weeks of class and a few hundred dollars in books. NO they dont train you if you buy 10k software, if you want to learn how to use it you have to pay for it Most Cam systems( what you need for 3d work to generate machine code) are drawn in a program like solids works 5-10k again. You can get 3d cad programs from 1k-10k also, but you get what you pay for. IN all honesty your better off making a prototype bait by glueing molding or even drawing on a piece of paper and let someone who knows what there doing do it. as in most cases if faster then working with someones 3d file most of the drawings on 3d cad sent by guys that have designed there own baits are useless , Not the bait as the baits look absolutely fantastic, however making a mold for such a thing requires alot of editing ( which you will always be charged for) just to get it to the Cam stage, trying to figure out how to run it to make it actually produce a bait. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delw Posted October 18, 2009 Report Share Posted October 18, 2009 heres a few links that were recently discussed http://www.tackleunderground.com/forum/soft-plastics/18176-can-someone-check-my-mold-designs.html http://www.tackleunderground.com/forum/lure-making/18139-anyone-use-cnc-router-make-lures-molds.html My opinion you can draw it on a piece of paper faster than you can on a cad system, its much cheaper also. or you can make a prototype out of clay, wood, pieced together plastics etc etc faster and cheaper then buying a cad system Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gator44 Posted October 18, 2009 Report Share Posted October 18, 2009 There is another option if you want an aluminum mold and have or can make one out of RTV or POP. Sand casting. There is a local foundry that has been making molds for someone looking to start a lure business. He gives them an RTV mold and they copy it in aluminum. He then uses the mold in his high pressure injection machine. I"ve inquired on the cost and am told it runs about $50 - $75 per mold. This may not be cost effective but for someone looking to do production runs, it may be an option to keep in mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassRube Posted November 29, 2009 Report Share Posted November 29, 2009 Being an engineer, this topic is very interesting to me. Thought I would throw in my 2c. Does anyone use CAD systems for designing lures and molds? How do you go from a general design idea to having a finished product? If it were me, I would model the bait rather than the mold. I'd want to see my finished product, not the cavities. Any of these CNC mold makers on TU should be able to subtract your model from a mold base to make the cavities. But like some have said, the model has to be "moldable" and "millable" (No undercuts, and no excessively small radii). Is this something that is in any way financially reasonable for a hobbyist, or is this something that is generally limited to companies designing new molds or lures for themselves to sell? The only "affordable" 3D CAD software I have seen out there is Alibre at ~$300. I would download the Trial Version to see how user friendly it is. I think it would be a wonderful tool to make new soft plastic molds and molds for plastic resin hard jointed swimbaits. I agree!!! Once I upgrade my home PC, I plan on putting software on it for that exact purpose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cadman Posted November 29, 2009 Report Share Posted November 29, 2009 (edited) I'm a sheet metal design engineer and a CNC turret and laser programmer. Buying a cad system to do small projects at home is not practical. I use Solidworks, and I don't know of a cheap 3D cad software that you could use to accomplish what you want. Delw hit the nail on the head. There are so many variables to consider. There is the cost of the software mine is about $7000.00 per year, then the updated yearly maintenance agreement about another $3000. Now you have to learn the cad software and no you are not going to design baits after a 2 week course. The course is a basic training course to show you commands and how the system works. I would say if you have had any prior cad experience on another 3d cad software than you could be somewhat proficient at it in a year. If you have no idea about 3d cad design and know nothing about radii, fillets or trigonometry than add another year with some one teaching you daily. Now that's the cad design side. Now you have to work with the Cam side and a machinist, unless you are one, to know the ins and outs of what the machine and the machinist can do. That's a whole different ball game. Just because you design it doesn't mean it can be made, or it can be made but it would be too cost prohibitive. I have been in design for 30 years and I design my own molds for spinnerbaits and jigs for myself. I still have to consult with machinists, since machining isn't my specialty. Not to discourage you, but everything can be done if you have the time and the money. If you have the money it's easier to work with a machinist and have him design everything around his capabilities and your design. Edited November 29, 2009 by cadman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
