Please list software you use for Modelling & Design (Page 3 of 6)

I am using a Solidoodle printer. Skeinforge does not convert my STL's saved out of Solidworks to gcode. I have tryed saving out in every way I could find in the STL format, and noting works. any thoughts? As Well, the test STL sent with the Skeinforge software does work.

Saving from Solidworks:
1. Make sure your origin is correct, and your XYZ are in the right direction
2. Make sure units of the part are set to mm (Tools|Options|Document Properties|Units|MMGS
3. Save As|STL| Options
4. Output as Binary, Resolution Fine, Uncheck Show STL info, Check "Do not translate STL output data to positive space" 
5. If you've made a secondary coordinate system, pick your coordinate system from the dropdown

Those are the settings I use and works most times.  Occasionally (1 in 30) I have to run through cloud.netfabb.com for some cleanup. 

Hope it helps

Started out with Sketchup.  Got frustrated when even the easiest things took multiple steps and opened too many holes in the solid, unpredictably.  Things like using the 'follow me' just to do chamfers or fillets. 

Downloaded Alibre, but read a few horror stories about support and pushy sales (including here) and wasn't sure I'd be willing to pay the $200, so actually haven't installed it yet.

Muddled thru a few parts with FreeCAD.  Bugs out regularly, find it horribly clunky overall.  All the features, no coherence.  BUT that said it does tend to make a nice model eventually, and is still my go-to for final steps after exporting STLs from elsewhere (see below).

Recently found Creo Elements myself from a pretty good listing

(which I can't link now as a new poster.  do a websearch on 'craftsmanspace free 3d cad' and it should show up)

also recognized it from a post of Ian's (been reading here before I registered) and downloaded it, and think I'm in love.  Free?  Amazing...and totally eliminates any urge to pay for (or even try at this point) Alibre.  The only thing it seems I can't figure out how to do that I wish I could is the 3D text as someone else mentioned, and it will Export but will not Import STL.  But it does surface blending, varying-radius chamfers and fillets, all very smoothly and easily.

So, I think my 'real' part designs will be done in Creo now - features remain easily editable for tweaks after prototype printing and the like, has some nice clash analysis for multipart assemblies that need to be glued after printing.  Hold on to Sketchup for outputting 3D text STLs, and use FreeCAD to import and unite the two if I want text embossing on the part.  (Plus I find Creo's coordinate system "origin" a little hard to figure out since everything is working planes - seems to be the origin of the first working plane w1...but I tend to delete working planes to keep the clutter down as I make parts.  Just as easy to push the STL over to FreeCAD briefly, reorient if necessary, and re-output.  Then again, I confess to using Repetier's bedding to do the same: import 2-3 STLs, place and rotate how I need to, then slide them all over to "off the bed" around the (0,0) origin to resave and then do actual slicing/printing in Skeinforge/Pronterface.

Thanks - I was trying to post the link to a good listing of different 3D software options I found on a guy's website, 'craftsmanspace', not the Creo link.

But I remain really pleased with Creo, none of the FreeCAD open-source inconsistency and bugginess, none of the cost of Alibre, virtually all the features I could want (aside from the 3D text, again).

Hello everybody,

i'm new there and i use truespace 3.2

i don't know if the objects i create can be printed with the solidoodle...

Truespace should export to Wavefront format (.obj).  From there, download Meshlab and you can use it to convert to an STL and fix any issues that may be occuring with your mesh.

Thanks a lot to everybody !
With Truespace 3.2 i can export in :
.cob
.asc
.x
.dxf
.can
.rsd

and if i use a special extension, i can use the .obj
(i tried to upload an object i made to shapeways.com but i have a big problem of scale)

With truespace 5.1, i can save object as .3ds too.

With truespace 7.6 i can't open my old files... that's too bad.

If someone can try to print one of my models to try if it works, that would be really nice (i really have a lot of creations). Then he will keep it, of course !

I'm working on some creations of toys made from the old tv animated i watched.
Some examples :

Thanks a lot.
Of course, i can't print in air... ! I really didn't think about it. I saw the 3d printers on youtube and when the object was printed, the outside was like dust. Only the object stayed on the support.
I think the solidoodle isn't really the kind of printer i can use for some of my creations.
But i think too that it can be useful for some other !
I can try to put the parts like a model kit... not only 2 parts but more.
Your advice is very useful !

poor little cat !
That must hurt ! lol.

That's ok, i understand.
I'll put a picture of what i can do with my models !

Thanks again for your help.
I'll post the ninja turtles van as soon as i can.
For it, i think the best is to make it without wheels and the back of the van on the ground, then the cannons can be printed in 3d with the rest of the body.
the mirrors and the small radar can be printed with the wheels.

I tried meshlab. It's amazing but i don't understand half of the options... I'm french and it's hard for me... lol.

I add a challenge for those who wants to have a cool futuristic vehicle. Its name is storm.

Say no more...    j/k