1 Topic by badspell68

  • badspell68
  • Newbie
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2013-03-26
  • Posts: 8

Topic: Most Widely Used software? AutoCAD was a mistake?

I'm excited to get involved in 3D printer object modeling, but find myself very confused on what software to use for basic modeling as well as complex.

Autodesk Revit?
Solidworks?
Are there free ones that can do simple work and detailed complex models?

I have just begun and Autodesk CAD course and it seems it is the not the correct software to be learning if I'm looking to do object modeling?

Any advice?

2 Reply by Claghorn

  • Claghorn
  • Member
  • Offline
  • From: Delray Beach, FL
  • Registered: 2012-10-22
  • Posts: 730

Re: Most Widely Used software? AutoCAD was a mistake?

Maybe because I'm a programmer, my brain really seems to like openscad- no GUI to fool with, I just tell it what to build, and I can sneak up on it by building it one bit at a time and rendering it to see what it looks like after individual changes to make sure I'm headed in the right direction. It also costs the right amount: Its free :-).

Claghorn's Website

3 Reply by rjp350z

  • rjp350z
  • rjp350z
  • Member
  • Offline
  • From: Bloomfield, NJ
  • Registered: 2013-01-11
  • Posts: 249

Re: Most Widely Used software? AutoCAD was a mistake?

I use Acad 2014 for all my modeling.  But then again I' ve been usung CAD for about 15 years now and know it like the back of my hand

4 Reply by pirvan

  • pirvan
  • pirvan
  • Member
  • Offline
  • From: San Francisco
  • Registered: 2013-03-27
  • Posts: 1,797

Re: Most Widely Used software? AutoCAD was a mistake?

Solidworks is great, but it ain't free...:(

You migh want to give SketchUp a try.  Pretty easy learning curve, easy to use for simple things, but it can be very frustrating at time with things that you might think should be simple, but SU just handle.

To print or, 3D print, that is the question...
SD3 printer w/too many mods,  Printrbot Simple Maker Ed.,  FormLabs Form 1+
AnyCubic Photon, Shining 3D EinScan-S & Atlas 3D scanners...
...and too much time on my hands.

5 Reply by TahoeTim

  • TahoeTim
  • Member
  • Offline
  • From: Lake Tahoe
  • Registered: 2013-09-05
  • Posts: 22

Re: Most Widely Used software? AutoCAD was a mistake?

I took a look at most of them out there. I know AutoCad but I ended up buying Viacad. It seems to fit well with me and they have a good series of videos to get me up to speed quick.

Hardware: SD3, Octoprint, Raspberry Pi
Software: Cura and ViaCad

6 Reply by badspell68

  • badspell68
  • Newbie
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2013-03-26
  • Posts: 8

Re: Most Widely Used software? AutoCAD was a mistake?

Is Viacad for modeling objects?

What software is free, or cheap,  can do detailed and complex along with simple stuff?

7 Reply by IanJohnson

  • IanJohnson
  • Moderator
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2012-08-07
  • Posts: 2,815

Re: Most Widely Used software? AutoCAD was a mistake?

Creo Direct Modeling Express is full featured and free.  http://www.ptc.com/products/creo-elemen … g-express/

8 Reply by TahoeTim

  • TahoeTim
  • Member
  • Offline
  • From: Lake Tahoe
  • Registered: 2013-09-05
  • Posts: 22

Re: Most Widely Used software? AutoCAD was a mistake?

www.punchcad.com

What is your definition of cheap?

Hardware: SD3, Octoprint, Raspberry Pi
Software: Cura and ViaCad

9 Reply by badspell68

  • badspell68
  • Newbie
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2013-03-26
  • Posts: 8

Re: Most Widely Used software? AutoCAD was a mistake?

A few hundred bucks

10 Reply by cckens

  • cckens
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2012-09-13
  • Posts: 591

Re: Most Widely Used software? AutoCAD was a mistake?

I recommend Freecad... works for me for a number of uses.  It's not as full featured as some, but it still packs enough "Umph" to do some pretty complex modeling.

11 Reply by macouno

  • macouno
  • Newbie
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2013-09-27
  • Posts: 7

Re: Most Widely Used software? AutoCAD was a mistake?

A lot of people get started by using Sketchup nowadays.
I'm a big Blender 3D fan... free, open source, can do anything, but hard to get started with (but once you know your way around it's great)