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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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  • Very interesting inputs and here are my two cents worth.

    The need to make a drawing stems from problems that need to be designed around. Example is the fan duct and there are many other examples in the Ben Heck Show builds. Today's 3D modelling tools can be confusing and can have a learning curve which is really not the issue. The focus should be to find out a workflow that works for you and then the tools that can assist.

    Ben for example draws everything using illustrator and then makes 3D drawings in software. Shabaz sir uses power point and coincidently, so does my mother who is exceptionally well versed with those concepts.

    I still have a white paper drawing book with me always and make pencil drawings all the time.

     

    Once you have the basic idea, it can be converted into a model which is what the initial question was. Timble Sketchup is great for beginners but you can end up with shapes with zero thickness and hence unprintable objects. The upside is that there is a large amount ready made models out there and can be used as a base to build upon.

     

    Autodesk 123D is also a user friendly software and Rick Winscott is someone I have seen build a Star Wars BB-Droid in it.

     

    Andy of the workshopshed has preferred OpenSCAD which uses code to model objects.

     

    I personally prefer Autodesk Fusion 360 because even though it seems a bit overwhelming at first but it has the ability to make incredibly complicated organic shapes using T-Splines.

     

    Then there is Blended which is used for animated films but can also be used for 3d printing.

     

    hope that helps.

    cheers

    ip

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  • Very interesting inputs and here are my two cents worth.

    The need to make a drawing stems from problems that need to be designed around. Example is the fan duct and there are many other examples in the Ben Heck Show builds. Today's 3D modelling tools can be confusing and can have a learning curve which is really not the issue. The focus should be to find out a workflow that works for you and then the tools that can assist.

    Ben for example draws everything using illustrator and then makes 3D drawings in software. Shabaz sir uses power point and coincidently, so does my mother who is exceptionally well versed with those concepts.

    I still have a white paper drawing book with me always and make pencil drawings all the time.

     

    Once you have the basic idea, it can be converted into a model which is what the initial question was. Timble Sketchup is great for beginners but you can end up with shapes with zero thickness and hence unprintable objects. The upside is that there is a large amount ready made models out there and can be used as a base to build upon.

     

    Autodesk 123D is also a user friendly software and Rick Winscott is someone I have seen build a Star Wars BB-Droid in it.

     

    Andy of the workshopshed has preferred OpenSCAD which uses code to model objects.

     

    I personally prefer Autodesk Fusion 360 because even though it seems a bit overwhelming at first but it has the ability to make incredibly complicated organic shapes using T-Splines.

     

    Then there is Blended which is used for animated films but can also be used for 3d printing.

     

    hope that helps.

    cheers

    ip

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