Advice sought: planning larger build projects for the hobbyist mad scientist

[ElKabong__]

Ok I'm not a super speedy poster so I am processing responses but just want to say thanks for all the great thoughts.

I generally have the tools and shop space I need. My problem with complex builds is that my head doesn't always full in the details with perfect accuracy.

For example- I am working on a recumbent drill bike. I just made it on the fly out of random parts. It works in that my daughter rode it for a 10-yard test drive.

However... I got the gears backward on the drill drive. For the pedals, the big gear is at your feet and little is at the wheel. Drills go faster than feet so the gears needed to be reversed, but I didn't process that until I started smelling that "cooked drill" smell. Ack

So now I have to take the drill drive assembly back apart and fix it. PITA and totally avoidable. Dangit

I might end up in a CAD program at some point but I don't want to be planning at a level of precision I can't accomplish in real life. Think Harbor Freight, not machine shop.... this is HOBBYIST mad science, remember plus I gotta play guitar in there too somewhere.



Oh man that dashboard is sharp. Nice work!

Good call on Excel. I use it a lot for data stuff, so I'm familiar, but I love the flooring layout. Smart-

Are you making those drawings in PP? I'm pretty solid on PP but never did much with the shapes or smart art features. Or are you importing from Photoshop or similar?





Does this work well for you? I have Adobe CC through work and I've used AI a little bit for some graphics stuff but I never thought about using it for project visualization. I'd be interested to hear how happy you are with AI for this.



Oh yeah, I think we're on the same page here. This is the kind of thing that happens- see above drill bike issue. I can't visualize the project in my head with enough accuracy to ensure the details are all ironed out.



That's awesome. Is that where AI is useful?



That is glorious. Seriously my heart kind of skipped a beat there. I would love to be able to do that.

And the thing is, it sort of seems like overkill if you just look at it from there outside but... no way. I bet I spend as much time sitting and visualizing in my head as it would take to create that Ikea guide... Except the Ikea guide lets you make progress on days when your brain is not cooperating and you just want to have some specific steps to accomplish without having to "boot up" the whole project in your cranial visualizer.

Agreed, sir

 

[StoneH]

Are you making those drawings in PP? I'm pretty solid on PP but never did much with the shapes or smart art features. Or are you importing from Photoshop or similar?

PowerPoint shapes and gauge faces copied from the internet. On the "schematic", curved lines are connected to shapes and the lines stay connected when the shape is moved.

 

[ElKabong__]

Creativity may work differently, depending upon how you're wired... For me, it starts looking at the objective from all angles you can think of...
As I mull this in my head over time, the objective becomes clearer. At some point, the solution becomes clear.
Then I work backwards from the solution, gathering up the info and tools I need.
Generally, I break stuff in between... and sometimes swear a lot.

 

[SRHmusic]

Often I use an old version of Visio, which has a snap to grid mode, for accurate drawings when needed.

For electronics projects I've moved to using KiCad for board design, and have been learning FreeCAD for enclosures and assemblies. I was using Eagle before. But KiCad 6 and later are now better. And you can go between FreeCAD and KiCad with 3D models (.step) and 2D outlines (.dxf). It's taken a few months in my spare time to get fully productive, but being able to see how an enclosure and various components mate up is letting me see problems and alternatives quickly.

Bigger stuff like desks, tables or bookshelves, I usually sketch by hand and go for it. My woodworking skills are rudimentary, so just functional things for the back room office etc.

 

[pipthepilot]

Does this work well for you? I have Adobe CC through work and I've used AI a little bit for some graphics stuff but I never thought about using it for project visualization. I'd be interested to hear how happy you are with AI for this.

I know my way around AI really well so there's very little I can't do with it but I think its the perfect tool for visualising ideas. All the images, except the CNC router were created using AI.

For example, you can use it like a 2D drafting tool similar to Autocad because the Object Properties tab allows you to control the exact measurements of what you're drawing. But I find it less restrictive than Autocad which allows me to be more creative. I create all my guitar plans and templates this way. Dimensioning drawings is a bit more manual than a dedicated 2D drafting tool but it's flexibility outweighs that.

Something I find really useful is that AI is calibrated to your monitor size, so if you draw something at 1:1 scale and view it at 100% you can see exactly what you've draw at full size. For example, I created some really detailed Telecaster templates last year and to check the hole alignment for the Pickguard and Bridge, I displayed the template at 100% and then held the parts up against the screen to check the holes lined up.

I also use AI as it is was Visio. Another example, I've drawn hundreds of electrical components including switches, Pots, resistors, capacitors, pickups etc so I can just drag them in to a drawing and wire it up.

And the thing is, it sort of seems like overkill if you just look at it from there outside but... no way. I bet I spend as much time sitting and visualizing in my head as it would take to create that Ikea guide... Except the Ikea guide lets you make progress on days when your brain is not cooperating and you just want to have some specific steps to accomplish without having to "boot up" the whole project in your cranial visualizer.

Exactly this! The time I've saved in my workshop by being able to just get things done without having to stop and think about it, or not making silly mistakes because I've forgotten to do something, more than makes up for the time I spent drawing the guide.

 

[trapdoor2]

I started as a 5-6yr old making my model airplanes from the parts remaining from my Dad's crashed R/C planes. Making plastic models required following the plans. It seemed that sketching came naturally...and I took Drafting in school.

I always start by sketching. The final draft-sketch will have most of the pertinent dimensions. If I need to sell the project to Miz Diane, like a bathroom or kitchen, etc., I will make a paper or cardboard scale model.

Otherwise, I'll usually go from a draft-sketch to a fully dimensioned blueprint...to scale, of course. My blueprints have degraded somewhat as I no longer have a drafting table or machine. I'm down to 1/4" grid notebook paper these days.

Since I retired, no more CAD. I've used "sketchup" for a couple of projects but I'm just faster with pencil and paper.

 

[thesamhill]

Ok, again, thanks all! Gotta get to work on some stuff and quit messing around on the internet but thank you and I'll process and come back to this

Ultimately, it's not the end product (whatever that is) that has me hooked; it's the process to get there

Ok, I can see this but I've seen a few of your creations and the end products ain't too shabby, lol. I downloaded some pics of your pickguard shapes and if I ever create a new guard for my tele... It's gonna look suspiciously like those...

Visio from Microsoft

old version of Visio

also use AI as it is was Visio

Seems like Visio is a popular program but I've not used it. I'll investigate!

 

[telleutelleme]

Ok, again, thanks all! Gotta get to work on some stuff and quit messing around on the internet but thank you and I'll process and come back to this



Ok, I can see this but I've seen a few of your creations and the end products ain't too shabby, lol. I downloaded some pics of your pickguard shapes and if I ever create a new guard for my tele... It's gonna look suspiciously like those...







Seems like Visio is a popular program but I've not used it. I'll investigate!

You can buy Visio on a number of sites pretty inexpensively. Also there are similar open source versions..
https://rigorousthemes.com/blog/best-open-source-visio-alternatives/