Testing Aerodynamics Through Software
 

I have found a way to test my Del Sol's aerodynamics and (if i can figure out 3D graphic design a bit) modify my car through software to test aerodynamics before actually modifying my car. I used Google SkechUp 8 to and through its "3D Wharehouse" I downloaded a 3D model of my car. Then you can download a 30 day free trial of a plugin called CADspan, which will allow you to export the file as a .STL file. After you have completed exporting the file you can open it in a wind tunnel simulation program called Project Falcon and look at your aerodynamics in many views.

If you have any experience with Google Sketchup or 3D graphic design, or maybe just want to give it a shot... You can modify your vehicle and test different designs with Project Falcon to come up with the best results for your vehicle. I know it seems like a lot of work (it isnt really) but I just thought it was really cool to see how the flow of air for my car and plan to test some different things (once i figure out Google Sketchup).

Here are some pics of my car in Project Falcon
http://img834.imageshack.us/img834/2...solaerotop.png
http://img684.imageshack.us/img684/1...olaeroside.png

In 3D
http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/2427/delsol3dtop.png
http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/4035/delsol3dside.png


If anybody has graphics experience i would love a .stl with a kammback, grill block, and rear skirts on that thing :)

How much does the software cost, and how hard is it to use ?
Thanks for posting !

Shortie771 -

This may be a big thing for us, because all of the wind tunnel simulators I have seen have cost bucko bucks. In the past we have documented 3D model locations on the web.

When I go here :

CADspan :: 3D Printing Solutions

It *appears* that the plug-in is not the 30-day trial. When you use the plug-in during Sketchup sessions, does it say "X days left"?

I also think that the wheels on the model are "solid", so I think you are emulating wheel covers right now.

CarloSW2

Shortie771, what are the specs on your computer ?
( I have a 2.2ghz MacBookPro . Is it useless ?

I'm willing to spend days on a render if that's what it takes, since I have been a 3D hobbyists since the late nineties and remember when it took that long to render a low-res 5 second preview .)

That's really cool. I don't have experience in Sketchup, but do you need to "stitch" the model (make sure there are no holes) before using the 3D program?

The bottom two look very close to what the air "should" be doing. In other words, it follows the aero template. Follow those lines and you will have yourself a (theoretically) perfect boat tail.

I have used this with 3 vehicles today. A Honda Del Sol, Ford Explorer and a Jeep Cherokee. Well, I have only been using this for about 2 days, with no experience. Stitching is a new term to me, but I think I know what your talking about. All I have done is downloaded somebody else's model and exported it using the plugin as a .stl. I have done no stitching, but maybe I have just been lucky. The plugin I mentioned might do the stitching when you export the file, if that is even possible.

All of the software is free. I could be wrong about the CAD being a trial because it does not give any message when I use it. I checked a lot of software to find what works and may have had it mixed up with another. Also yes the wheels are solid, along with the underbelly being smooth, but as I have no 3D graphic design experience I was forced to use somebody else's model that they designed Anand this was the best I could find. As I get more experience with Sketchup I may be able to hollow out the wheels, put an exhaust under it and add some aero mods.

I use a 2.83 quad core and it runs fairly smooth although the 3D is slightly laggy, hardly noticeable. I'm sure if you look at the website for Project Falcon, you will be able to find a section with system requirements. I would send you a link but I'm on my phone at the moment.

This is Autodesk software, and being the evil monopolize giant that they are, I suspected this to be a trial and sure enough, the software only works for a few days.
Does anyone know the cost ?

I knew this was too good to be true.

Sorry, I just realized that I had bot made "Project Falcon" into a hyperlink (fixed). I do not see anything mentioning Project Falcon as a free trial. Today will be my 3rd day using it, so when 7 days comes around I will let you know if it kicks me off.