Not wanting to derail Burl Rice’s thread any further, I figured I’d open a thread on the various 3d modeling software that people use for 3d printing. I was using Tinkercad, but find it limiting. I downloaded DesignSpark Mechanical a couple of weeks ago, and have played with it a bit, but havent put enough time into it yet to feel comfortable. I also dont, yet, have a 3d printer.
What else are people using, and how do you like it?
Bob - I use Sketchup - it is free (for the simpler version called Sketchup Make - the pro version is more for architects) and there are hundreds (perhaps thousands) of videos on how to use it.
There is a plug-in (also free) that allows you to export STL files, which you are likely to need to feed your printer
dave
PS best bang for the buck (IMHO) is the Prusa 3D printer - I got a kit about a year ago and it works very well - instructions for the build were well done, too.
Since then there are two updated printers - the one I have can be purchased as a kit for $599 + shipping - see:
https://shop.prusa3d.com/en/3d-printers/59-original-prusa-i3-mk2-kit.html
For people and various small parts, I use Blender. It’s got a bit of a learning curve but it’s very powerful. And its free.
This is also an interesting program-
http://pixologic.com/sculptris/
And for making quick humans:
For flat and engraved stuff I cut out on my router table thingie, I use Inkscape.
I don’t have a printer. I’d like one but for the peoples I like to make the resolution requires a pretty pricey one. Or it did last time I looked around. So I just have shapeways print mine.
Back in my high school teaching days I taught digital media and used a variety of programs. I have long been an Adobe guy and still have a full Creative Cloud subscription but, while getting better (some new products released on Tuesday), their 3D and especially CAD tools, don’t meet my needs. I have used Blender and some of the Autodesk tools like Maya and 3ds, and I looked at Tinkercad and ultimately settled on SketchUp Make (the free version). Then I was advised by a 3d printing consultant to try out Fusion 360 and Meshmixer, another free program from Autodesk specifically for creating figures.
I am mostly happy with SketchUp and will likely continue using it for the bulk of my work, but I have also been a little frustrated by it lately, so when Fusion came along I jumped at it and am learning how to use it. One of the things I like is the free license of their Ultimate version for hobbyists, not like a watered down SU Make.
I do not have a 3d printer either but I use the free printers from our public library, and I also use Shapeways. Just as an experiment, I have provided exactly the same .stl file to Shapeways and to two different libraries, and the library versions came out pretty much the same as Shapeways. I am limited to plastic and whatever color they happen to have in the machine but, hey, it’s absolutely free!
I use Fusion 360 from AutoDesk. I’m impressed so far, but am really a novice. I have used Sketchup in the past for architectural applications, but haven’t tried it for 3D object design. I never really warmed up to it.
One of the things that drew me to Fusion 360 is that it allows for design of multiple interlocking parts. You can also grab many things (fasteners, etc.) from the Grainger catalog and insert them. Perhaps other programs do this as well, but I tried it and liked it, and haven’t gone any further. I find it to me pretty intuitive.
I teach college part time, and have an educational license. I think there’s a no-cost hobbyist license, too, though.
Bob,
I would try fusion 360. I have heard good thinks about it but have yet to try it as I have Solid works to fall back on. Depending on what you want to produce you should probably try one of the service bureaus first. You have seen some of my parts I have made over the years, and I have used the professionals all the time. I did try one of the string trimmer type of 3d printers for just under a month and sent it back, because the Quality and resolution just didn’t cut it for much more than making windows (which I did). there is a lot of trial and error with these and I made mostly scrap when I used the one I had. unless you want to spend a lot of time playing with settings to get the desired part to come out right, use a service Bureaus. you will get finer detail at a competitive price.
AL P.
This is probably obvious, but here goes.
There’s a huge difference between 2D CAD / laser cutting, and 3D CAD / 3D printing. You can go a long way with the former, using designs based on pieces cut from flat stock. But for 3D parts, especially smaller detail bits, 3D CAD / printing is best. It’s important to know the difference. And both processes may be involved with a particular project.
Point being, if your main objective is to make parts that are flat, perhaps you only need a 2D CAD software tool. However, a decent 3D CAD tool should be able to do either 2D cutting (via DXF pattern) or 3D printing (via STL solid file).
Sorry, I’m rambling…
===>Cliffy
BTW, I haven’t seen anyone mention FreeCAD. I don’t know anything about it, but its open-source philosophy makes me feel better that other platforms that start out free, and then start charging quite a bit after you’ve settled in.
I tried FreeCAD before I got Fusion 360. I had a very hard time with it. It looked like it could do a lot, but the learning curve was incredibly steep. Open source projects tend to have a very different support philosophy, in my opinion.
For those with a 2d drafting background: Fusion 360 encourages a sketch foundation. In other words, you start out with a flat drawing, then use the push/pull tool to start a 3d object. Autodesk has also has a ton of tutorials on YouTube, as well as their own support forum.
I suppose I will weigh in here. I have in my professional career used all the major 3D Modeling packages, ie. Solid Works, Solid Edge, Autodesk Inventor, and Pro E. There are all packages that are way beyond the average hobbyist user’s price point. Recently some folks that were part of Solid Works broke away and developed a totally web based package called ‘On Shape’. The package has all the features and capabilities of the full Solid Works, and for hobbyists, at a monthly fee. Pay for the month, and you can use the program. The down side is all the files are maintained on the ‘Cloud’ servers, not your local machine. I have posted on their forum a couple times questioning ‘Intellectual Property’ issues and have never received clarification. Normally, if it is on their server, THEY OWN THE RIGHTS. I was able to determine that you can copy your files to your local machine, but they will not be usable in any other product.
I am not familiar with Fusion 360, but I would bet the EULA is going to be quite similar to the On Shape business model. I have watched about half of the Youtube sales video by Autodesk and the product looks very much like Autodesk Inventor. The major difference between Fusion 360 and On Shape is that Fusion 360 is still an Autodesk product with all the Autodesk support behind it. Both programs will use files from places like 3Dcontentcentral.com for On Shape and GrabCad for Fusion 360. Do keep in mind that I believe both programs will ‘Import’ STEP files. A STEP file is for lack of a better way to describe it, a DXF file for 3D.
I only bring this up due to some folks like Burl using these products for a business venture. Forewarned is forearmed. I am not sure I would want to invest the time in a product to find some other company immediately producing it from my effort with no legal recourse because the software product I use retains the Intellectual Property rights.
FWIW, Bob C.
Hmm we can’t use this anymore ?
I remember when I had trouble using this …never mind 3d… Or cad … (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)
I also use DesignSpark Mechanical. It can do 2-D for cutting/etching machines and 3-D for 3-D printing machines.
Sean McGillicuddy said:
Hmm we can’t use this anymore ?
I remember when I had trouble using this …never mind 3d… Or cad … (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)
Yea, I have one of those, and a few of them triangle things, and a protractor, and a compass… Sometimes I even use them. I just haven’t found my slide rule. I guess I musta lost it somewhere along the way.
Sean McGillicuddy said:
Hmm we can’t use this anymore ?
I remember when I had trouble using this …never mind 3d… Or cad … (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)
Cool. Does that attach to your CRT? Or, can you only use it with an LED monitor? (https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-foot-in-mouth.gif)
Bruce Chandler said:
Sean McGillicuddy said:
Hmm we can’t use this anymore ?
I remember when I had trouble using this …never mind 3d… Or cad … (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)
Cool. Does that attach to your CRT? Or, can you only use it with an LED monitor? (https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-foot-in-mouth.gif)
Mine was portable, 'guess it goes with a tablet!(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)
David Maynard said:
Sean McGillicuddy said:
Hmm we can’t use this anymore ?
I remember when I had trouble using this …never mind 3d… Or cad … (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)
Yea, I have one of those, and a few of them triangle things, and a protractor, and a compass… Sometimes I even use them. I just haven’t found my slide rule. I guess I musta lost it somewhere along the way.
Hehe. While I still have my slide rule, I’m really not sure I still I know how to use it. Why do I need to learn about a decimal point, anyway?
If I recall from my first year of college chemistry (where we couldn’t use calculators because they were too expensive and most people couldn’t afford them), square roots were the easiest thing to do on the slide rule and “following the decimal place” was the hardest.
Back to my first post, I must eat a little crow and give cudos to Autodesk. After doing a bit of digging, I found the following in the Autodesk forums.
I will not argue where one is better than another, it is like saying Chevy is better than Ford or Dodge, you can find many to say each one is the best.
I have used Sketchup for 9 years in my business and very deeply in the hobby. I have even taught several people SkUP and some even in the
national convention clinic. It can do so much more than I do or can do with it. It does what I want it to do, There are so many plug ins that can be
added to the programs, virtually to make it do just about anything. The only difference between Pro and the free version, is the free version not being able to download a
DXF DWG to be loaded into a laser or router program. Now there is a free plugin to allow that to be done now.
I have well over 100 different structures drawn up in different levels of completion, I design redwood kits for many of my structures, all drawn in sketchup.
I own a 3D printer a ROBO R1 Plus brand, yes a filament machine, it is lots of fun, does it produce as good as 80-200,000 dollar models? NO but it sells for around 500.00 dollars
yes it has a learning curve too, and even with all my drawing experiences it stretches me sometimes in the drawings. Learning both 3D CAD and 3D printing at same time could
be at best frustrating.
Fun Though
Dennis
