My dream sword in CAD
May 11, 2022 22:15:27 GMT
Post by johnathan on May 11, 2022 22:15:27 GMT
As of making this post I think it's an 18aV8 or 18bV8, but I'm not completely sure which.
I have found myself very proficient with sword design and CAD, and as I was learning both, I tried making swords in CAD, I've probably spent a few hundred hours in CAD doing trial and error to get to this point, only half my knowledge in CAD was formal education. This is my most recent sword and I think it's just about perfectly made. This is my current dream sword, the culmination of all my knowledge and preferences. I want to make it for real and after that make some to sell.
I haven't really seen anyone else do this. Albion CNC machines their blades, so they have models for their blades pre heat treat. Mordhou has swords that are generally to shape. I modeled just about all the details a sword has. CAD (I have Autodesk Inventor) is great for sword design because if you know how to set it up, you can quickly and easily make adjustments and see the results until you have what you want. Then when I go to make it for real, I will have the foreseeable details sorted out with a pretty good idea of how it will turn out. I did this one for myself, though I think it could be fun to try and make more swords in CAD for commissions. I could explain my process, though I have the inclination to do that if/when it is requested, and perhaps on a separate thread. I can also elaborate about my design choices, but basically, I want a cut and thrust hand and a half sword that can actually be used in one hand and is more than just "manageable in one hand", with all my favorite stats, fittings, proportions, colors, etc.
Overall length: 45"
Blade lenght: 36" from grip to tip
Point of balance: 4.75" from grip
Overall weight: 2.65 lbs
Base: 1.75" wide by 0.25" thick
gentle concave distal taper in between
9" from point: 1" wide by 0.157" thick
convex distal taper to point
flat ground to 0.025" at the edge (except at point), sharpening angle convexed over
Primary hand grip: about 1.5" wide by 1" thick, elliptical cross section
Grip/pommel junction: 1.125" wide by 0.7" thick
I didn't model the peen, the pommel edges aren't rounded over exactly how I want them to be, and the grip is all one piece and color, I didn't model the wood, risers, and leather individually. I couldn't easily get a rounded hexagonal grip cross section to work with the risers in CAD, though I might when I make it for real. I have yet to figure out how to get the data needed for a sword dynamics chart from a CAD model.
My harmonic proportion skills aren't quite as developed as I would like them to be, but they're still okay. I did some generally traditional things with a few unorthodox additions that I faded for this picture. It's somewhat difficult to see, but the width of the blade and the cusp of the cross are defined by a square inscribed in a circle 1/3rd of the guard span.
As for historical accuracy, I think it's close to being as good as Albion's next generation swords. My favorite pommel and guard are contemporary with the each other and the blade, but aren't a standard family and I haven't seen any originals with this cross and pommel combination. The middle of the cross tapers into a chamfered diamond shape rather than remaining a central ridge like the rest of the guard. The points of the cross are downturned to about 60 degrees rather than the usual 45 or 90. The size and weight is functional but historically somewhat unusually light for its length, as it's designed for someone who is not a conditioned knight/man at arms/soldier. A bit of an oddball, but a very historically plausible oddball. If sent back in time, I think it would deviate from the norm, but wouldn't be too weird (other than the modern materials obviously). I think it would have been in use during approximately 1400-1475.
While I am proficient, I still have some ways to go before I'm an expert. I may have gotten some things wrong. Tell me if I did so that I can learn.
I have found myself very proficient with sword design and CAD, and as I was learning both, I tried making swords in CAD, I've probably spent a few hundred hours in CAD doing trial and error to get to this point, only half my knowledge in CAD was formal education. This is my most recent sword and I think it's just about perfectly made. This is my current dream sword, the culmination of all my knowledge and preferences. I want to make it for real and after that make some to sell.
I haven't really seen anyone else do this. Albion CNC machines their blades, so they have models for their blades pre heat treat. Mordhou has swords that are generally to shape. I modeled just about all the details a sword has. CAD (I have Autodesk Inventor) is great for sword design because if you know how to set it up, you can quickly and easily make adjustments and see the results until you have what you want. Then when I go to make it for real, I will have the foreseeable details sorted out with a pretty good idea of how it will turn out. I did this one for myself, though I think it could be fun to try and make more swords in CAD for commissions. I could explain my process, though I have the inclination to do that if/when it is requested, and perhaps on a separate thread. I can also elaborate about my design choices, but basically, I want a cut and thrust hand and a half sword that can actually be used in one hand and is more than just "manageable in one hand", with all my favorite stats, fittings, proportions, colors, etc.
Overall length: 45"
Blade lenght: 36" from grip to tip
Point of balance: 4.75" from grip
Overall weight: 2.65 lbs
Base: 1.75" wide by 0.25" thick
gentle concave distal taper in between
9" from point: 1" wide by 0.157" thick
convex distal taper to point
flat ground to 0.025" at the edge (except at point), sharpening angle convexed over
Primary hand grip: about 1.5" wide by 1" thick, elliptical cross section
Grip/pommel junction: 1.125" wide by 0.7" thick
I didn't model the peen, the pommel edges aren't rounded over exactly how I want them to be, and the grip is all one piece and color, I didn't model the wood, risers, and leather individually. I couldn't easily get a rounded hexagonal grip cross section to work with the risers in CAD, though I might when I make it for real. I have yet to figure out how to get the data needed for a sword dynamics chart from a CAD model.
My harmonic proportion skills aren't quite as developed as I would like them to be, but they're still okay. I did some generally traditional things with a few unorthodox additions that I faded for this picture. It's somewhat difficult to see, but the width of the blade and the cusp of the cross are defined by a square inscribed in a circle 1/3rd of the guard span.
As for historical accuracy, I think it's close to being as good as Albion's next generation swords. My favorite pommel and guard are contemporary with the each other and the blade, but aren't a standard family and I haven't seen any originals with this cross and pommel combination. The middle of the cross tapers into a chamfered diamond shape rather than remaining a central ridge like the rest of the guard. The points of the cross are downturned to about 60 degrees rather than the usual 45 or 90. The size and weight is functional but historically somewhat unusually light for its length, as it's designed for someone who is not a conditioned knight/man at arms/soldier. A bit of an oddball, but a very historically plausible oddball. If sent back in time, I think it would deviate from the norm, but wouldn't be too weird (other than the modern materials obviously). I think it would have been in use during approximately 1400-1475.
While I am proficient, I still have some ways to go before I'm an expert. I may have gotten some things wrong. Tell me if I did so that I can learn.
Attachments:
Things have changed!