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CAD software with a library

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EngineeringDr

EngineeringDr

Mechanical
May 28, 2004
44
Is there a software that comes with a large library of pre-built 3D models of engineering components and assemblies? For example, in mechanical engineering; we frequently use:
gearboxes (assembly),
cam-follower assembly,
turbines,
pumps,
heat-exchanger,
conveyors belt, chain,
equipments like cranes, excavators,
It would be great if the software comes with these pre-built categorized

PhD Mechanical/Industrial Engineering
Licensed professional engineer
 
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The true advantage of a CAD library is that it gives you something to double-check instead of something to build.
 
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TheTick,
The true advantage of a CAD library is that it gives you something to double-check instead of something to build.
Click to expand...
That is true, that is why I am looking for this library

PhD Mechanical/Industrial Engineering
Licensed professional engineer
 
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There are online "libraries" where you can get individual models. Most companies just build their own library models of the components they most often use as they can include the features and functions that make their job easier.

Anyway grabcad.com may have what you are looking for.

This is a list of more sources:
 
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3DDave said:
There are online "libraries" where you can get individual models. Most companies just build their own library models of the components they most often use as they can include the features and functions that make their job easier.

Anyway grabcad.com may have what you are looking for.

This is a list of more sources:
Click to expand...
Thank you for your response. Most of online libraries contain parts/components, usually assemblies are of low quality or not working unless you pay a lot.
I am looking for a pre-built library that is offline hopefully it comes with the software itself.

PhD Mechanical/Industrial Engineering
Licensed professional engineer
 
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In my experience, there are numerous online libraries of various models submitted by members, like GrabCad. All the items you listed are commercially available. The most reliable source for those models would be the manufacturers themselves. Most industrial manufacturers today offer 3D models of their products. I use them every single day. On the other hand, there are "standard" parts, like fasteners, that are made to certain accepted standard. Those are also available from various sources.
 
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The issue most companies have with providing a generic library of components is that it costs them money to build those libraries. You can get individual components from McMaster-Carr of most of their components, but it is one at a time. There are some companies who sell libraries of components, but they are not cheap. You can also get some componentry with your CAD software, depending on which license bundle you buy.

"Wildfires are dangerous, hard to control, and economically catastrophic."

Ben Loosli
 
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I assume your purpose is for use in education. My 3D experience is with Solidworks. Most versions of the software come with a feature called Toolbox, in which a user may build their own model library of everything from fasteners to O-rings and Retaining Rings (and more) based on selected international standards such as ANSI, ISO, DIN, JIS, and MIL. It even includes machining features that will allow the user to add O-ring grooves or Retaining Ring grooves to existing part models based on those same standards. The user has the option of creating models of each individual part or setting it up to just add configurations to existing part models as they are required.

I already mentioned the availability of 3D models from individual manufacturers. I think it would be very good for your students to learn about interfacing with those manufacturers. They should learn about selecting a product from a catalog.

In fact I would STRONGLY recommend it! Here's why - a rough perusal of this forum will reveal MANY questions from newbies asking how to do this or that, or how to use a certain product, or what kind of options might be available. I have found that MOST new engineering graduates seem to see Google as their single, solitary source of information. If it's not on Google, it doesn't exist. It never once crosses their mind to actually pick up their ever-present phone and CALL the manufacturer to talk to a live person. How many times have I informed them that all those manufacturers have Application Engineers whose only job is to make sure your use of their products works correctly? How many times...?

I think you will find that generic models of those commercial items will be inaccurate at best.
 
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In every place I have ever worked I set up the library in PDM and built our own library of purchased components and assemblies. I have not found a full 3D library that I could download or was free. I merely used Grab CAD, or other companies that would provide their CAD models to create a library of pumps, gearboxes, radiators, and whatever company I was working for at the time. Now it's an electronic company so I my library is full of screws, nuts, LEDs, light pipes, etc.. and we build it as needed or as we utilize purchased files in our designs.

Check out Traceparts.com you can download lots of files there. If you use PDM you can set up your data card to bring in or store all the important information about the file. If you don't have PDM, then put it in the custom properties of the file. It will save you time later.


Scott Baugh, CSWP [pc2]
Mechanical Engineer
Ciholas
"If it's not broke, Don't fix it!"
Click to expand...
faq731-376
 
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I've made a fairly good living saving Ph.D.'s from hurting themselves with tools.

Don't choose your CAD based on libraries. No CAD packages provides libraries of the kinds of things you're looking for. Only hardware, and even that is suspect.

Get your "library" models from vendors. Maybe you can get something from GrabCAD or similar. But you're not getting it from the CAD people. McMaster-Carr has a good library.

Inspect; don't expect. You absolutely will find design-killing errors sooner or later (Never mind. Just sooner). Triple-true for models from EE-centric vendors. Library models are usually made by low-grade cad jockeys with a primary focus on getting it done, not getting it right.
 
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Thanks everyone, I am very happy to read all your inputs and respond to each
Jboggs said:
In my experience, there are numerous online libraries of various models submitted by members, like GrabCad. All the items you listed are commercially available. The most reliable source for those models would be the manufacturers themselves. Most industrial manufacturers today offer 3D models of their products. I use them every single day. On the other hand, there are "standard" parts, like fasteners, that are made to certain accepted standard. Those are also available from various sources.
Click to expand...
It is a great idea to actually use the manufacturer models.

PhD Mechanical/Industrial Engineering
Licensed professional engineer
 
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looslib said:
The issue most companies have with providing a generic library of components is that it costs them money to build those libraries. You can get individual components from McMaster-Carr of most of their components, but it is one at a time. There are some companies who sell libraries of components, but they are not cheap. You can also get some componentry with your CAD software, depending on which license bundle you buy.
Click to expand...
Just checked McMaster-Carr some components are available in 3D Solidworks, Thanks

PhD Mechanical/Industrial Engineering
Licensed professional engineer
 
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Jboggs said:
Jboggs
I assume your purpose is for use in education. My 3D experience is with Solidworks. Most versions of the software come with a feature called Toolbox, in which a user may build their own model library of everything from fasteners to O-rings and Retaining Rings (and more) based on selected international standards such as ANSI, ISO, DIN, JIS, and MIL. It even includes machining features that will allow the user to add O-ring grooves or Retaining Ring grooves to existing part models based on those same standards. The user has the option of creating models of each individual part or setting it up to just add configurations to existing part models as they are required.

I already mentioned the availability of 3D models from individual manufacturers. I think it would be very good for your students to learn about interfacing with those manufacturers. They should learn about selecting a product from a catalog.

In fact I would STRONGLY recommend it! Here's why - a rough perusal of this forum will reveal MANY questions from newbies asking how to do this or that, or how to use a certain product, or what kind of options might be available. I have found that MOST new engineering graduates seem to see Google as their single, solitary source of information. If it's not on Google, it doesn't exist. It never once crosses their mind to actually pick up their ever-present phone and CALL the manufacturer to talk to a live person. How many times have I informed them that all those manufacturers have Application Engineers whose only job is to make sure your use of their products works correctly? How many times...?

I think you will find that generic models of those commercial items will be inaccurate at best.
Click to expand...
Yes my purpose is for education. I prefer to have relevant animations in my lectures. I use SolidWorks toolbox and wish it was a larger library.

Again, you are totally right. I try my best to teach my students based on practical experience, and use available catalogues or tools.

Generic models will be used for educational purposes and for students to picture or imagine the machine.
Thanks

PhD Mechanical/Industrial Engineering
Licensed professional engineer
 
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ctopher said:
Most of the young people I have met over the past 10 years that understand programming, they want to program games. Gaming is big in their world.
They can also sit anywhere and program, especially in bed.
Click to expand...
True, that's why I'd like to communicate with them using CAD entertaining graphics

PhD Mechanical/Industrial Engineering
Licensed professional engineer
 
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I learned far more from drawing than from watching. Have your students make the models and animations.
 
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SBaugh said:
In every place I have ever worked I set up the library in PDM and built our own library of purchased components and assemblies. I have not found a full 3D library that I could download or was free. I merely used Grab CAD, or other companies that would provide their CAD models to create a library of pumps, gearboxes, radiators, and whatever company I was working for at the time. Now it's an electronic company so I my library is full of screws, nuts, LEDs, light pipes, etc.. and we build it as needed or as we utilize purchased files in our designs.

Check out Traceparts.com you can download lots of files there. If you use PDM you can set up your data card to bring in or store all the important information about the file. If you don't have PDM, then put it in the custom properties of the file. It will save you time later.
Click to expand...
Sorry, I did not understand
SBaugh said:
If you don't have PDM, then put it in the custom properties of the file
Click to expand...

PhD Mechanical/Industrial Engineering
Licensed professional engineer
 
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TheTick said:
I've made a fairly good living saving Ph.D.'s from hurting themselves with tools.

Don't choose your CAD based on libraries. No CAD packages provides libraries of the kinds of things you're looking for. Only hardware, and even that is suspect.

Get your "library" models from vendors. Maybe you can get something from GrabCAD or similar. But you're not getting it from the CAD people. McMaster-Carr has a good library.
Click to expand...
Thanks, McMaster-Carr had components
TheTick said:
I learned far more from drawing than from watching. Have your students make the models and animations.
Click to expand...
This depends on the taught course, if I am teaching:
[ul]
[li]Thermo-fluid and wish to show my students a pump or a turbine ... etc.[/li]
[li] Machine/Mechanism design and wish to show them a gear-box, a cam-follower, ...[/li]
[li] ...[/li]

[/ul]

PhD Mechanical/Industrial Engineering
Licensed professional engineer
 
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EngineeringDr said:
Sorry, I did not understand
Click to expand...
Making your own library is all I was saying... and you have figured that out.

If you do not understand "Custom Properties" then you need to read up on that so you can teach your kids. CP's are very important in the real world and they will save you time when making drawings, of course, you need to set up and link your drawing info properly.

Scott Baugh, CSWP [pc2]
Mechanical Engineer
Ciholas
"If it's not broke, Don't fix it!"
Click to expand...
faq731-376
 
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