Kay, this was SUPPOSED to be simple...

 

I am looking for a simple program (you know what? i didn't find anything, so even a non-simple would do at this point) that allows me to draw plans for a cut-out for a 3-D design.

 

You know how you buy boxes *flat* and you assemble them? Well I used to do this by hand, but I want a program to help me out -- I want to create my OWN custom 3-dimentional designs for a 3-D "box"...

 

For that matter, I'd love to create my own "Document Tray" for my desk at my office, with my *own* 3D design, which I will make myself from cardboard.

 

Yah, I can do it by hand, but in our technological era, I should have something to help me out.

 

Anyone?

 

~moo

Probably a bit "heavier" than you're after, but there are free demo versions available for download:

 

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?id=5659302&siteID=123112

 

http://www.soft32.com/download_81704.html

http://thepiratebay.org/tor/3552267/3D_Studio_Max_9_-_Complete

Blender 3D?

As far as I could see - from a shallow examination - these are 3D modeling of computer models -- I.E, modelling 3D "characters", or items.

 

I'm looking for something that allows me to see how a cut-out is folded, so I can create real-life models from cardboard...

 

Uhm... was my examination too shallow? I couldn't find that option in the programs' descriptions.

 

~moo

I would suggest something like QCad which is what I used to design my GCSE graphics design on which was a 3D object folded from card... But I don't think this will do quite what you want.

Kay, this was SUPPOSED to be simple...

 

I am looking for a simple program (you know what? i didn't find anything, so even a non-simple would do at this point) that allows me to draw plans for a cut-out for a 3-D design.

 

You know how you buy boxes *flat* and you assemble them? Well I used to do this by hand, but I want a program to help me out -- I want to create my OWN custom 3-dimentional designs for a 3-D "box"...

 

For that matter, I'd love to create my own "Document Tray" for my desk at my office, with my *own* 3D design, which I will make myself from cardboard.

 

Yah, I can do it by hand, but in our technological era, I should have something to help me out.

 

Anyone?

 

~moo

 

SolidWorks would do this well in sheet metal mode, but that seems a lot of power and $ for what you want.

Maybe mathematica:

 

http://stephenluttrell.blogspot.com/2007/09/computer-assisted-sculpture.html

http://www.wolfram.com/products/mathematica/index.html

 

 

I found some other interesting results by googling "computer assisted origami."

Kay, this was SUPPOSED to be simple...

 

I am looking for a simple program (you know what? i didn't find anything, so even a non-simple would do at this point) that allows me to draw plans for a cut-out for a 3-D design.

 

You know how you buy boxes *flat* and you assemble them? Well I used to do this by hand, but I want a program to help me out -- I want to create my OWN custom 3-dimentional designs for a 3-D "box"...

 

For that matter, I'd love to create my own "Document Tray" for my desk at my office, with my *own* 3D design, which I will make myself from cardboard.

 

Yah, I can do it by hand, but in our technological era, I should have something to help me out.

 

Anyone?

 

~moo

 

You might look at Packmeister.com

I have no experience with this but it looks like what you want.

I ended up getting Corel Draw.

 

It's not EXACTLY what I want (you can't see the result after the 'cut out and fold' to check yourself) but i guess it's as good as i get :\

 

 

Thanks guys