What software do you all use to create your files?
I’ve been using tinkercad, but I want to upgrade to something a bit more robust. I’d love to hear people’s favorites, and why they prefer them over other other software they’ve tried.
I’ve had people recommend blender, but since my local community college has Photoshop classes I’m thinking of trying that instead. But nothing is set in stone just yet. (We should change that saying to something 3D printing related! lol)
How would Photoshop help you with making 3d models?
@Ilya_Radchenko , Photoshop now includes 3D modeling software in its latest versions.
I use FreeCad all the time.
It is easy to learn with this tutorial:https://youtu.be/xs1mFiJBYIo?list=PLg0NyxHKYXpSng4ssmD9U13X6dwxR_eZ1
@Robert_Gorman_GoGoCh wow… I wouldn’t go with Photoshop, but that’s my opinion. I’ve used Sketchup and Blender and both work well. Blender is very powerful, and might be overkill for 3d printing models.
Depends on what I want to make. For organic models I like http://wings3d.com , but I mostly make “technical” models like these: http://repraprip.blogspot.no/2015/04/everyday-practical-use-of-my-reprap-3d_22.html?m=1 and for those I much prefer OpenSCAD.org with some http://inkscape.org work when more complex 2D shapes are needed.
I really love OpenSCAD because I can make variables that tweak a model extremely simple and precisely which I need for making the fewest number of prototypes before one fits perfectly.
I much prefer to use open source software when I can, and these programs suit me well.
Tinkercad is easy to use. Blender is hardddd.
Tinkercad for easy, then when you want more, Fusion 360, and then for organic sculpting, Meshmixer. That is what we have taught to our students.
I have been hearing about using http://123dapp.com, but don’t know if they will meet your needs. 123d Design is the CAD package, but they all seem to mesh together. If you don’t need the commercial version it is free. It isn’t parametric like Blander, but you will find it pretty good. I follow James at http://xrobots.co.uk and he uses it for printing and building lots of stuff (including a starwards type droid that is one of his current projects)
123D Design is OK, but Fusion360 is the step up from that, and fully parametric. The nice thing about Fusion is that it is free for personal use, and free for commercial use until you make more than $100K from the designs in the program, and then $25/month after that (or I think $120/month for the ultra-version).
Openscad is an excellent free choice for non-organic but highly parametric CSG designs - really a programmers’ cad since everything is scripted as modules.
Openscad is great for many objects, but you do need to understand the structure in detail before you state building the model. You need to have a plan, and know what to place where.
Blender is not hard to use, it is extremely hard to make dimensioned objects. It is a program written to make things look real, not be real. When you are making art, you don’t care about exact hole placement… That is the problem.
Last time I used sketch up there were major issues with making manifold objects. The reason for this is you don’t make solid in sketchup, you make surfaces, and when you make surfaces the inside/outside is not meaningful, and sketchup would export the model with a hole more often than not.
From @Nick_Kloski1 comment I may actually try fusion 360, it is one of the few free ones I have left to try.
@Camerin_hahn very well said. Actually I know no all-in one solution, especially with free software :s
For most modeling, @Autodesk_Fusion_360 seems to me to be the best…it has the normal prismatic modeling environment, but also a T-Splines environment that allows for organic modeling (still within parametric CAD). If you want organic-organic, then you would need to go to another software program (Meshmixer is my choice), but then you are not in the parametric world any more, which might or might not be good for your end goal.
…and to add on to that: Fusion had CAD modeling, CAM toolpath generation, a rendering environment to make your designs look pretty, an animation workspace, and will soon have design branching so you can iterate down design paths personally or within a team, and choose which design works best.
@FreeCAD ! There are wonderful tutorials all over YouTube to learn how to use it (Sketcher and Draft workbenches are key). For making mechanical parts/assemblies it does just fine. Blender is great for making models but it has a very steep learning curve IMO.
My main use is things like cosplay props and game terrain. So less animal shapes and more wood, stone, metal, and crystal.
Try skulptris or blender. Skulptris is like clay, blender has the clay feature, but it isn’t as good, but blender has more “geometric” features
Note skulptris starts with a 1mm diameter circle and has no way to dimension anything, so you need to scale it in a second package.
Freecad… this software is the exepsion to the rule of you get what you pay for. The more you use it the better it gets