CAD Software 3D modeling + Pepakura? (turn 3D design into foldable paper design)

[BigMacDaddy]

Ok, so maybe everyone already knows about this but a search on the forum mostly finds articles from back in the day...For those (like me) that did not know...

There is a well-established approach for converting 3D designs into paper models with pre-created tabs for gluing etc... See the article below about this: https://makezine.com/projects/hallo...-costume-armor-with-paper-pepakura-and-bondo/ -- For the mask that he made in the article above I would have just 3D printed the whole thing but we all know that there are weight trade-offs with model rockets.

https://tamasoft.co.jp/pepakura-en/ << this website has the free CAD software for converting models to papercraft (site is really slow but I was able to download the software eventually).



This site has some cool designs that are ready to build. I wonder how a hardened version of one of these models would fly with some centering rings and a motor mount (should be really easy to get CG forward of CP with a small amount of nose weight): https://creativepark.canon/en/categories/CAT-ST01-5591/index.html



The tamasoft page also has some aerospace models...



Anyway, there are tons of pre-made paper models out there but this is the 3D / CAD forum so I will stick to mostly sharing the CAD software link.

 

[GlenP]

I wish they made that software for the Mac. I have found a few paper models that I made into model rockets, see the cardstock forum.

 

[GlenP]

I found a paper model for an X-wing, where I just used the nose cone for part of this Centuri Design Contest winner plan:

 

[GlenP]

RE: making body armour from flat patterns.

This reminds me of an article in my first issue of Boy's Life magazine when I joined Cub Scouts, and got started in rocketry, Jan 1977 page 42.
https://books.google.com/books?id=qPHiNX1nhoQC&printsec=frontcover&rview=1&lr=#v=onepage&q&f=false

 

[BigMacDaddy]

Cool models!

I knew that lots of people modeled rockets from paper (I saw the fliskits model when I was making my Thunderbird) but did not realize there was software to convert a 3d design into a folding paper models. I also had not realized it was so easy to harden paper with diluted wood glue, wood hardener, etc...

 

[tjkopena]

I haven't used Pepakura, just because its Windows-only publication is a big hassle for me.

But Blender includes an add-on you can enable called Paper Models that does similar unfolding. I've used it for some simple projects. I assume Pepakura is easier to work with, but the Blender add-on gets the job done.

 

[neil_w]

I wish they made that software for the Mac. I have found a few paper models that I made into model rockets, see the cardstock forum.

I really need to try some papercraft (not for purposes of flying models, just something to do with my hands). I'm confident I have the skill to do it, but presumably would want to work my way up in difficulty. Any recommendations where to start?

 

[BigMacDaddy]

I really need to try some papercraft (not for purposes of flying models, just something to do with my hands). I'm confident I have the skill to do it, but presumably would want to work my way up in difficulty. Any recommendations where to start?

I started on one model of a Puppy to learn how this works -- it was not documented particularly well but I can imagine with practice it would be much easier. I downloaded a bunch of designs from here: https://tamasoft.co.jp/pepakura-en/gallery/list.php (you can see the printed pages to get a feeling for how complicated the design will be).