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3D Modelling Software Recommendations

spannerspencer

Morning all!

 

has been posting some superb tweets that follow the progress of his Pi IoT design challenge, which include some great 3D models that (I assume) he then sends to the 3D printer. Is that right, Enrico?

 

And often makes great use of some 3D diagrams for exploded views of his amazing projects, like the HAL-CAM 9001 – Building a New Security Camera he just posted.

 

I've not much experience with 3D modelling software, which is my real obstacle to entry when it comes to playing with... er, I mean making use of, a 3D printer. It's not the hardware that's stopping me -- it's the software. Years about I used to dabble with Lightwave, but I was wondering what software you guys use to build your 3D models for printing (or for any other maker tasks, for that matter), and if you had any recommendations for beginners.

 

Maybe if you guys could sound out the popular platforms, we could then run a poll to see which ones people prefer? That being said, if you're already familiar with all the popular options, do feel free to put a poll up and we can get opinions that way, too.

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  • in reply to D_Hersey

    Hi Dan,

     

    this method is not bad in some cases but it unfortunately it is ot reliable to make many other forms.

    I see that many other uses several different software together to generate - also good quality - design. But the question is: assumed that anyway a software is needed to make objects for 3D printing and this needs anyway studying in depth the features, is it not the case to study just a software specifically good for 3D design?

     

    I am using Rhino 4 that is almost easy to manage. It is not opensource but it is easy to find licensed versions for few $ or nothing as this is a product distributed with no protection. The reason is that their business is mostly connected to the CNC machines they sells with.

     

    In past I have used more complex professional CADs but these are strongly oriented to design objects that should be milled to the effort to study them if you had not the need to create complex mechanic object is excessive. For example you should eliminate all the parts that are related to the kind of material, 3D printing has not design limits related to the tool needed and so on.

     

    In past, for both 3D printing and CAM design I have used artcam, another product distributed by Chinese companies together with the Mill Machines. It is very good but very specific for the art design with poor 3D features for mechanics. All the Artcam 3D features are oriented to create artistic objects so the approach is structurally different.

     

    Another 3D design complete tool I have used intensively is Blender. I consider it one of the best opensource 3D modelling projects but it is almost exclusively for animation. There are some recent plugin and development sub-projects for STL export but are not so reliable and are not yet complete.

     

    Together with these there are many online high level CAD programs well supporting the 3D printing features including a free usage version for personal use.

     

    All these cases are anyway based on a single program, that means a single environment and it is what I suggest.

     

    Enrico