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Categories: [Drafting] [Photo-Etching]
This presentation was given during the July 2020 meeting. In it, I introduce the primary functions within Solid Edge 2D, a free drafting program offered by Siemens. You can download this application for free!
Solid Edge 2D is introduced by way of an example - creating a pattern for an unfolded cone. I used this technique to create wooden buckets for my model of a Portuguese Culé. It would very useful for other cone-shaped objects, such as an equipment foundation or a gun mount. Gene Berger's gun mounts for the USS Olympia are excellent examples of the latter, and offer just a glimpse of how useful Solid Edge 2D (or any 2D drafting software) can be for creating photo-etching artwork.
One of the key facets demonstrated is how quickly patterns for different cones with different slopes, heights, and diameters can be created using Solid Edge 2D's powerful dimension and constraint manager. The same benefit applies to any repeated shape.
Note: Gene used a paper trial-and-error approach along with PhotoShop to create his templates, and the results are undeniably excellent. In this presentation I am offering an alternative method for future efforts.
