I was just forwarded a link to Zalman's site. Of particular interest are the Flash based install 'videos' (link on lower left side of page 'How to Install'). I'm really impressed by the quality/clarity of this and have some interest in attempting to get some of my comany's training videos into a similar format.

I imagine it's done from a rendering package inside a CAD program. Does anyone here have experience with this type of thing? I just design the parts, I've not done any work with animation or Flash before, so I don't know where to start looking.

-Zeke

My brother, who goes by Cybjorg on this site, does flash work, animation and CAD work. I'm sure he could do it easily. He does take on contract work, but his time is limited. I'll send him a link to this post.

The videos are very nice. It's always nice to see a company go to such lengths for some passive customer support.

I assume that the models were created and animated using Swift3d, which allows a designer to import a DXF file and animate for a Flash environment.

You know, I've only just noticed that you two are related! I think you've mentioned it before but it's only sunk in now. JBjorgen and Cybjorg. Duh

JBjorgen, Cybjorg,
That looks like some pretty decent software, especially for $190. The attached file is a screen shot of the type of modeling I do for design work. I've mostly used dxf for 2-D work, can it be used to import 3-D items, or do you have to use a polygon'd .3ds model for this tool? Best case would be using the engineering models (I use Solidworks & Mechanical Desktop) we already have.

I've got to bounce this idea off of the service & marketing heads, that's where the money would come from (well, the money for someone's time, $200 is just a trifle).

Thanks guys.

-Zeke

My 3-D experience is mainly with AutoCAD back when I was in the architectural industry. Back then, we rarely exported anything to a non-native formula, as most programs weren't designed to play nicely. But I believe Swift3D has an extrusion tool that allows one to extrude a 3-D shape from a 2-D drawing.