FEM or The finite element method (FEM) is a popular method for numerically solving differential equations arising in engineering and Mathematical modelling. That sounds Posh dont it !
So I wanted to make a seat for my Royal Enfield . A seat I could remove easily.
So, I bashed out a seat base in 1.6mm steel, cut the foam, cut out the leather and promptly screwed it all up!
The seat base was easy ...but Yes I can sew, but leather and around corners ! ...more difficult than I thought. The leather bunched up then wouldnt feed through the machine.
Then I designed a clip, so that I could slide the seat onto the frame rail. Heres where I used "Freecad".
FreeCAD is a general-purpose parametric 3D computer-aided design modeler and a building information modeling software application with finite element method support. It is intended for mechanical engineering product design but also expands to a wider range of uses around engineering, such as architecture or electrical engineering. https://www.freecadweb.org/
Drew the part, then used my 3d Printer to print the part.
Thanks to the cost of 3d printing, I can screw up left right and centre !
So, as you can see attempt number one didnt fit !, attempt number two didnt fit , attempt number 3 wasnt strong enough!
Then I decided to roll out FEM. Threw the SAME drawing into the Freecad FEM workbench. and loaded it up !
A small tweak to the drawing, back into the FEM workbench, and bingo just ok !
Off to the 3d printer and yes it works !
Why this long winded diatribe?? Well the combination of open software and 3d printing save me a lot of time and money!
Time, once it is drawn, changes and checking can be a "click away" . 3d Printing. Taking the same drawing, once checked and changed, exported as a STL file sliced in a Open source "slicer". Given to a 3d printer, printed out over night or while I am doing something else.
Fitted to the seat; Job done!
While the seat covering will be done again the use of open source software and 3d printing opens up areas of creativity previously unheard of !
Comments