WHICH 3D PROGRAM ?

[lance]

I am going to take another stab at this 3d stuff as it is clearly the future, I will either adapt or vanish like other extinct species (my money is on extinction). So what recommendations do you all have? thanks, Lance

[indycals]

My experience is that all 3d software sucks. I have yet to find any 3d related app that adheres to standard interface protocols - things we take for granted like copy and paste, open, save, scrolling/moving, etc. The apps are clearly designed by people who don't use software in the real world. I have to use four apps in the design/printing process and they are all nightmares to use in varying degrees. (one app for design, one app for printing layout, and two apps to fix all the things that go wrong in generating the designs and print layouts).

When I started out I had to find an app that thinks most like I do. I landed with Rhinoceros 3d - which is still far from perfect but to date the best 3d app I've found.

Blender is a popular free app, but IMO it's more for animation than CAD design. Yes, people use it for Cad, but to me using it for Cad was akin to painting a car with a brush - it can be done, but it's not the right tool.

Sketchup might be a good place to start.

Keep in mind I haven't used Blender or Sketchup in over 10 years when I was first learning this stuff.

The learning curve is insanely steep, but it can be climbed.

[Calvin]

Indycals said it best.

I have rhino 3d but I never get around to mastering it.

I've used sketchup to do basic things.

I have no idea if I'll ever fall in love with it? I'm not much for sitting in front of the computer for days on end. 😝 I'd rather hire someone because I really don't like doing layout 😝

Luckily, the model business is not my main source of income so if 3d kills me, so be it! 😂 also Luckily, it's still way faster and efficient to use 3d printing as masters for old fashioned resin casting. But I totally see successful print on demand services starting to do very well.

[pje]

A while back I noticed that Jaunjo was using FreeCad, so I downloaded it. As an old AutoCad guy, my little time I’ve spent with FreeCad has not been that positive, but it seems to do the job for Jaunjo, so you might give it a try. Since it is really free, you won’t be out anything.

Paul Erlendson

[diego204]

I agree with indycals.

I also use Rhinoceros to model the pieces I want to print.

I started using it over 20 years ago, when it was at version 1.1 and it only ran on PC. Rhinoceros It has now arrived at version 7.0 (but I use the oldest version 5.5 on my beloved Mac). Over time many functions have been added that have completed it (and complicated it...), but basically the way of modeling is always that of 20 years ago, and if the program offers you 200 features, in the end there are more or less the usual 20-30 features that are used.

The important thing, I think, is to learn to use well those (and, maybe more important, understand well the basic concepts of modeling…)

Mine is not, therefore, the recommendation of a software chosen among various options. I don't know other softwares; I have always enjoyed Rhinoceros and never felt the need to try others.
For modeling needs, we need a program that allows to reproduce in scale with the best possible accuracy the real objects, and to do so often count even tenths of a millimeter (and Rhinoceros is perfect in that).
I know that there are cheaper or even free software, and for some basic jobs maybe they are enough, but in my humble opinion they worth for what they cost.

[jj66]

I used Freecad because it was free and modeling is not my business, but I think this software has positive and negative things:

NEGATIVE: visual interface is unreal, workbench and tools are not friendly, it is difficult to obtain complex surface (but you can obtain aproximately)

POSITIVE: some tools are like modeling with lathe and mill, precission is absolute 0.01 mm (this software was developed for precission machinery), if drawings are not precised forms are not created, then you have not wrong parts, and more I am discovering

As others have said, the learning curve is slow, so it's best to start small and work your way up.

I'm going to open a thread with a small tutorial so you can see that it's not that difficult.

[indycals]

Jun 19, 2023 7:24:21 GMT -5 diego204 said:

IMine is not, therefore, the recommendation of a software chosen among various options. I don't know other softwares; I have always enjoyed Rhinoceros and never felt the need to try others.

The important thing is finding one that works best with how you work.

There are a lot of pay and free options out there. My software compliment is over $1000 - the killer was fusion 360 - $460 for that, and I only use that sporadically to repair bad files. But without it I can't print those files. (This app used to be NetFabb basic and was free - there might be free PC options still but like you I'm on a Mac).

[krosnyak]

Fusion360 all the way, there is a free version for startups/makers.

[indy]

I had some 2D/3D CAD experience in previous schooling and jobs.

Blender, I tried and I watched videos. Never could figure out anything.

Sketchup, Michael P recommended it and I took to it very easily. Lots of YouTube videos to get the basics. Can be frustrating at times but overall, very powerful. Working on very complex shapes in it currently.

Fusion360. Started learning it and it was solid, just never kept up with it.

Jordan

[arcticwolf]

Jun 20, 2023 13:57:45 GMT -5 krosnyak said:

Fusion360 all the way, there is a free version for startups/makers.

There is, but unfortunately it is a cloud based software that will not run on anything older than Windows 11 or late version Windows 10.

[indycals]

In all fairness if you'e doing 3d you don't want to be on old equipment. There is no such thing as "enough power" when it comes to something as intensive as 3d design.