FreeCAD Model of a Mini Wind Tunnel

Show off your FreeCAD projects here!
Forum rules
Be nice to others! Respect the FreeCAD code of conduct!
User avatar
bitacovir
Veteran
Posts: 1570
Joined: Sat Apr 19, 2014 6:23 am
Contact:

FreeCAD Model of a Mini Wind Tunnel

Post by bitacovir »

I want to share this small project where just recently I used FreeCAD and its Arch Panel Tools to complete an open source documentation. The original design was made two years ago with Rhino 3D, but I always wanted to include a full 3D model in FreeCAD to have a full open source project. When the Arch Panel Tools were incorporated into FreCAD (thanks, Yorik) it was the right moment to built the 3D model, because this design is inspired by the WikiHouse Project: all its parts are MDF panels (3-6mm) cut in a laser cutter machine. So the Arch Panel Tools is the ideal for this task.

The project website is here: https://miniwindtunnel.wordpress.com/
The mini airflow tunnel project is an easy to use and low-cost tool for wind analysis with an empirical approach on physical wind simulation. This tool is a mini airflow tunnel that can provide graphical representations of airflow data for a quick feedback, visualisation and analysis, for architects and designers in the early design stage.
The mini airflow tunnel project is an association of analogue and digital technology: it uses electronic components for arduino technology, Rhino 3D software with Grasshopper3D and Firefly plugins for graphical visualisation of airflow data in real time.


The web includes all the documentation and tutorial to build and operate this mini wind tunnel. But it did not have a 3D model of the MDF parts to work as a template for fabrication. Only DXF files. Now I created a FreeCAD file with all the MDF parts of this project as Arch panels. As I mentioned before, the design of this mini wind tunnel is based on the wikiHouse concept. All parts can be cut with a laser cutter machine and assembled without tools or screws. In a second post I'll share the FreeCAD files.
2017-04-29_10-09-59.png
2017-04-29_10-09-59.png (269.23 KiB) Viewed 9427 times
2017-04-29_10-11-51.png
2017-04-29_10-11-51.png (277.27 KiB) Viewed 9427 times
2017-04-29_10-15-02.png
2017-04-29_10-15-02.png (272.11 KiB) Viewed 9427 times
Here the built mini wind tunnel (2015)
p1020382.jpg
p1020382.jpg (796.62 KiB) Viewed 9427 times
Here the mini wind tunnel working with micro wind sensors for graphical visualisation of wind intensity around a building model.
visualisation.jpg
visualisation.jpg (375.5 KiB) Viewed 9427 times
::bitacovir::
==================
One must be absolutely modern.
Arthur Rimbaud (A Season in Hell -1873)

Canal Youtube Grupo Telegram de FreeCAD Español

My personal web site
My GitHub repository
Mini Airflow Tunnel Project
User avatar
bitacovir
Veteran
Posts: 1570
Joined: Sat Apr 19, 2014 6:23 am
Contact:

Re: FreeCAD Model of a Mini Wind Tunnel

Post by bitacovir »

Here the FreeCAD files and more images of the template extracted from the panels of the 3D model.
With FreeCAD I could fix some errors from the old DXF templates. To import these DXF files to FreeCAD and using them for Arch panels was easy. But I had problems with the curves lines from DFX to create wires.
2017-04-29_10-13-37.png
2017-04-29_10-13-37.png (266.76 KiB) Viewed 9425 times
2017-04-29_12-52-33.png
2017-04-29_12-52-33.png (231.59 KiB) Viewed 9425 times
2017-04-29_12-53-23.png
2017-04-29_12-53-23.png (205.54 KiB) Viewed 9425 times

Files:
Full Mini wind tunnel
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0BwlhE ... VRCZENuMUU

Module and MDF template
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0BwlhE ... Fpncmgyb2M
::bitacovir::
==================
One must be absolutely modern.
Arthur Rimbaud (A Season in Hell -1873)

Canal Youtube Grupo Telegram de FreeCAD Español

My personal web site
My GitHub repository
Mini Airflow Tunnel Project
Linden
Posts: 109
Joined: Wed Aug 19, 2015 10:35 pm
Location: Canada/Philippines

Re: FreeCAD Model of a Mini Wind Tunnel

Post by Linden »

Cool
Linden
User avatar
Kunda1
Veteran
Posts: 13434
Joined: Thu Jan 05, 2017 9:03 pm

Re: FreeCAD Model of a Mini Wind Tunnel

Post by Kunda1 »

So friggin' cool!
Alone you go faster. Together we go farther
Please mark thread [Solved]
Want to contribute back to FC? Checkout:
'good first issues' | Open TODOs and FIXMEs | How to Help FreeCAD | How to report Bugs
Sawfish
Posts: 62
Joined: Fri Aug 22, 2014 10:50 am
Location: Denmark

Re: FreeCAD Model of a Mini Wind Tunnel

Post by Sawfish »

This is one of several user showcases recently, where I think FreeCAD is lifted to a higher level. No one can be in doubt of FreeCAD's capabilities, when they see these pictures. Congratulation with the result. After all the hard work, now you have a serious tool. I wish you a lot of time playing with you new ”toy”.

Best regards
SF
User avatar
yorik
Founder
Posts: 13640
Joined: Tue Feb 17, 2009 9:16 pm
Location: Brussels
Contact:

Re: FreeCAD Model of a Mini Wind Tunnel

Post by yorik »

Amazing work @bitacovir!!! I'm really happy you "jumped" into FreeCAD :D
This whole Path/Wikihouse/Arch panel tool is really a turning point I think... There is really something new happening there.
Your "cross" clip system is really interesting. Did you invent it?
User avatar
bitacovir
Veteran
Posts: 1570
Joined: Sat Apr 19, 2014 6:23 am
Contact:

Re: FreeCAD Model of a Mini Wind Tunnel

Post by bitacovir »

yorik wrote:Amazing work @bitacovir!!! I'm really happy you "jumped" into FreeCAD :D
This whole Path/Wikihouse/Arch panel tool is really a turning point I think... There is really something new happening there.
Your "cross" clip system is really interesting. Did you invent it?
Thanks for the comments.
Yorik. This project was developed in the SIAL (Spatial Information Architecture Laboratory) in RMIT University. Other people help me to develop it. The constructive system of clips for the module's parts was created by Daniel Prohasky. https://miniwindtunnel.wordpress.com/about/

Currently, to operate the mini wind tunnel you need Arduino+Rhino 3D+Grasshopper3D+Firefly. Maybe in the future, FreeCAD could be used instead Rhino+Grassopper to work with Arduino for graphical visualisation of data.
::bitacovir::
==================
One must be absolutely modern.
Arthur Rimbaud (A Season in Hell -1873)

Canal Youtube Grupo Telegram de FreeCAD Español

My personal web site
My GitHub repository
Mini Airflow Tunnel Project
User avatar
regis
Posts: 725
Joined: Sun Jul 12, 2015 8:17 am
Contact:

Re: FreeCAD Model of a Mini Wind Tunnel

Post by regis »

viva la revolutione en open source, amazing stuff
triplus
Veteran
Posts: 9471
Joined: Mon Dec 12, 2011 4:45 pm

Re: FreeCAD Model of a Mini Wind Tunnel

Post by triplus »

Looking good!
zohozer
Posts: 119
Joined: Mon Jul 28, 2014 8:35 pm

Re: FreeCAD Model of a Mini Wind Tunnel

Post by zohozer »

Looks good. I'm wondering how do you get the flat patterns from the 3D model? You used some custom scripts?
Post Reply