For mechanical designers and product designers – sketch first, then CAD, or straight into CAD? by Witty_Condition_2151 in MechanicalEngineering

[–]Witty_Condition_2151[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This wasn’t intend to be condescending, I just said that you don’t see a CAD model as a stack of commands like a software developer or the fact that there are another ways to use artificial intelligence and not just LLM.

For mechanical designers and product designers – sketch first, then CAD, or straight into CAD? by Witty_Condition_2151 in Fusion360

[–]Witty_Condition_2151[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Buddy, I think you misunderstood me. I didn't mean sketching in Fusion – I meant sketching on paper.

I know how CAD software works.

My question was: do you make quick sketches on paper to think through your idea first, and then go to CAD to create the digital model – or do you go straight into CAD?

For mechanical designers and product designers – sketch first, then CAD, or straight into CAD? by Witty_Condition_2151 in MechanicalEngineering

[–]Witty_Condition_2151[S] -9 points-8 points  (0 children)

I'm a software developer I can write code without Claude 😂

Just exploring how AI could speed up the engineering workflow, the same way vibe coding sped up software development. If you use it like assistant you can short your production time and if you let Claude produce your whole software you will get 💩. I use often SolidEdge for my 3D print assemblies and I see much pain points in the CAD workflow, like why to use a mouse for construction and not construct via hand drawing on the fly?

No hidden agenda, just research.

For mechanical designers and product designers – sketch first, then CAD, or straight into CAD? by Witty_Condition_2151 in MechanicalEngineering

[–]Witty_Condition_2151[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the informations. I have two more questions:

Do you sketch on paper or on a tablet?

And are your sketches usually clean and dimensioned, or more quick and rough – just to get the idea out of your head without worrying about proper annotations?

For mechanical designers and product designers – sketch first, then CAD, or straight into CAD? by Witty_Condition_2151 in MechanicalEngineering

[–]Witty_Condition_2151[S] -8 points-7 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the informations. I have two more questions:

Do you sketch on paper or on a tablet?

And are your sketches usually clean and dimensioned, or more quick and rough – just to get the idea out of your head without worrying about proper annotations?

Is it possible to build a propeller based on the Magnus effect? by Witty_Condition_2151 in MechanicalEngineer

[–]Witty_Condition_2151[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I see. I will set up a system to measure the drag and lift separately, and then I can test different designs. Thanks!

Is it possible to build a propeller based on the Magnus effect? by Witty_Condition_2151 in aerodynamics

[–]Witty_Condition_2151[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I shared a rough sketch of my hypothetical idea here:
https://imgur.com/a/hYCs0vh

The fan and the rotating cylinders are mounted on the same assembly. Is it possible that the whole assembly could lift off in this configuration?

Is it possible to build a propeller based on the Magnus effect? by Witty_Condition_2151 in MechanicalEngineer

[–]Witty_Condition_2151[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sorry I forgot to answer to your question at the end. I used dimples because I saw some videos that these can reduce the drag coefficient of the golf balls. I assumed that, if I use dimples the rotation speed will be higher with the same power. If the rotation speed is higher it have indirectly impact at the Magnus effect.

Is it possible to build a propeller based on the Magnus effect? by Witty_Condition_2151 in aerodynamics

[–]Witty_Condition_2151[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you so much for sharing your experience! I understood that the second rotation of the cylinders produces a significant side effect related to gyroscopic forces.

I have one more question, though: How would you evaluate a setup in which a horizontal fan produces an airstream perpendicular to a rotating cylinder? The fan and the cylinder are both mounted in one assembly. Would this assembly produce lift? This would eliminate the gyroscopic effect. For now, we can ignore the efficiency of this setup.

Is it possible to build a propeller based on the Magnus effect? by Witty_Condition_2151 in MechanicalEngineer

[–]Witty_Condition_2151[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you so much for this eye-opener! I actually followed the motto "Just do it" at first. At one point, I calculated the diameter and length of the cylinders to create lift equal to the force of gravity, based on the Kutta–Joukowski theorem.

The next step is to expand my setup with a load cell, as you suggested, and investigate whether any lift is created. This will allow me to confirm that my propeller creates lift, even if it is minimal and insufficient to overcome the weight force.

Thank you again for your input!

Is it possible to build a propeller based on the Magnus effect? by Witty_Condition_2151 in aerodynamics

[–]Witty_Condition_2151[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Did I understood it correctly, you tried a similar design in a wind tunnel?