What’s the easiest to learn, the most user-friendly 3D-modeling software out there (free or to buy)? I like Tinkercad for it’s ability to import STL files clean, unlike Sketchup, but it’s very limited when it comes to, for example, rounding the edges of models like this Coat Hook by hoeken - Thingiverse
There is a new 3D modeling software that claims to be the simplest (DesignSpark Mechanical) but it does not allow editing STL files, only when you create the models yourself…
Can anyone recommend a 3D-modeling software that is easy to use but powerful enough to edit/create STL files for 3D printing?
A lot of people are using 123D Design from Autodesk these days, claiming it’s the easiest. I’d check there to see if they have the ability to import STL files.
I can recommend Rhinoceros by Mcneal. Its fast, intuitive and produces excellent STLs. Its not super cheap though. You do get what you pay for with this stuff. Also look at Auto desk fusion 360. Free while its in beta.
If money is not an object, then I always recommend SolidWorks. It is very intuitive software, has excellent tutorials, and has an excellent base of advanced users. It is capable of using weldments, sheet metal, and many more methods that together allow you to design an entire machine according to the manufacturing processes you want to use for each component. SolidWorks is not good for editing STL files directly, that’s where Rhino excels.
A close second to SolidWorks is Autodesk Inventor. You can get most of Autodesk’s fancy software packages for free if you have a student email address.
I have used Rhinoceros some. Admittedly I am not very familiar with mesh or polygon modeling techniques (I primarily use SolidWorks and solid modeling) but from what I can tell Rhinoceros is very robust for those approaches. I have used Rhinoceros to convert point cloud data to STL and then clean it when SolidWorks and MeshLab were crashing due to memory limitations.
@Normand_Chamberland I explicitly said Rhino wasn’t free and I’d argue that (relative to Solidworks at least) it’s reasonably user friendly. I know a couple of schools that use it and the feedback is that the kids pick it up quickly. The McNeal tutorials are also excellent.
I do agree that there is generally a pay-off between accessibility and complexity. However, good intuitive interface design and hierarchical toolchains can make a complex tool accessible to the novice user (IMO)
@Tim_Rastall I know you said Rhino was not free, but there’s a huge difference between saying “oh it’s not free” and saying it costs a thousand bucks. Who here can justify that kind of money to create models for their 3D printer? The 3D printing community’s definition is “A community centered around open-source and hobby-level 3D printers and their enthusiasts.” Well to me, bringing up tools that cost thousands of dollars in a hobbyists community is inconsistent at best.
I’ve been using/trying out quite a few CAD packages in the past 15 years, some of them were not very user-friendly, and when I need to do something in Rhino (I got the free demo with 25 saves at work, down to 17 I think), I’m always struggling. That GUI is very oddball.
@Normand_Chamberland firstly, I answered a question that had no such caveat. Irrespective of the communities audience and intent, the definition of hobby level is entirely subjective; for me, Im prepared to spend money on quality intuitive software because Im more time constrained than financially constrained, that doesn’t stop me from being a hobbiest.
Secondly, the open source options for modelling software are limited and not exactly the pinnacle of user friendliness .
Thirdly, If I’m spending a thousand plus bucks on a quality printer, you can argue the tool to build the models to print is equally as important and worthy of equivalent expenditure .
And finally, I’ve been using modelling software since 1998, starting with some archaic Corel product and I’ve used 3ds, Maya, Lightwave, Blender, Solidworks and Inventor (to name a few) and Rhino is IMO the easiest software to use and quickly produce models.
@Tim_Rastall If you are willing to spend $1000 in software for hobby use, you are definitely in the minority. I maintain my view of Rhino, and if we put aside its huge number of features, I’d take any other app any day. Except maybe Blender.
