Topic: 3D software
I am new to this so bear with me and I don't spell. what is a lo cost software to use to design with. I am good with Corel and illustrator. had a cub and was not happy so now I have a solidoodle 4 .
- grob
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Re: 3D software
Welcome to the forum! Hope you enjoy tinkering and printing with the SD4 - if you run into any trouble or need any help with it please ask, and there's lots of good info on here already! 
Have a look at the "3D Modelling Scanning / Design" section for more detail, but many people use Sketchup, some use Autodesk 123D Design. Tinkercad is also popular.
Anything that can output a STL file will do!
SD3. Mk2b + glass, heated enclosure, GT2 belts, direct drive y shaft, linear bearings, bowden-feed E3D v5 w/ 0.9° stepper
Smoothieboard via Octoprint on RPi
Smoothieboard via Octoprint on RPi
Re: 3D software
I've been using creo direct modeling express 4.0. But now I'm switching to fusion 360 from autodesk. It's much more powerful. It's also free for education and start ups. Not too mention, they have a whole host of tutorials and such on their site and you tube.
Even if you pay for it, it's only $40 a month for ultimate.
Bowden SD3, Rumba, E3D hotend, Mk5 with RtRyder changes, Direct drive Y axis and bearings, GT2 pulleys and braided fishing line, Lawsy linear bearing conversion, M3 Z screw.
- grob
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Re: 3D software
accusedmonk wrote:
I've been using creo direct modeling express 4.0. But now I'm switching to fusion 360 from autodesk. It's much more powerful. It's also free for education and start ups. Not too mention, they have a whole host of tutorials and such on their site and you tube.
Even if you pay for it, it's only $40 a month for ultimate.
+1 forgot about that - sounds good, looks like you get proper parametric modelling which is a big step up from sketchup and the like...
SD3. Mk2b + glass, heated enclosure, GT2 belts, direct drive y shaft, linear bearings, bowden-feed E3D v5 w/ 0.9° stepper
Smoothieboard via Octoprint on RPi
Smoothieboard via Octoprint on RPi
Re: 3D software
grob wrote:
+1 forgot about that - sounds good, looks like you get proper parametric modelling which is a big step up from sketchup and the like...
Yes, it comes in very handy to be able to adjust everything you've done without redoing or having to start over. Also the t spines are just awesome to work with. It doesn't seem to export directly to stl. Having to convert the files is a small price to pay though.
They made all the tools straightforward as well, so someone inexperienced can read the names and descriptions to know what things do. It's amazingly more efficient when you know what tools you have and what all of them are capable of.
I've seen that some don't like the cloud storage aspect of it, but you can easily pull up files on your tablet, or groups of people can on their tablets to discuss changes and what not.
Bowden SD3, Rumba, E3D hotend, Mk5 with RtRyder changes, Direct drive Y axis and bearings, GT2 pulleys and braided fishing line, Lawsy linear bearing conversion, M3 Z screw.
Re: 3D software
I too have been struggling with Sketchup. Just can't get it to do what I think should be easy. For instance, intersecting holes. I wanted to make a flexible task light mount for my shop. I created a baseplate which could be mounted to a horizontal or vertical surface. Consequently I needed holes to put the lamp in at 90 degrees to each other depending on how I mounted the plate. Not easy in Sketchup or let's say not intuitive. I need a good, easy to use, 3d modeler to do this type of stuff.
Re: 3D software
Yeah i tried sketchup a bit, but anytime you change anything your model becomes infinitely small walls with everything in the middle a void. That alone put me off, you have to redraw most surfaces to make a water tight solid...
I've trialed most software, and nothing has been as intuitive as fusion so far. You can easily put constraints on the holes in your lamp.
Bowden SD3, Rumba, E3D hotend, Mk5 with RtRyder changes, Direct drive Y axis and bearings, GT2 pulleys and braided fishing line, Lawsy linear bearing conversion, M3 Z screw.
Re: 3D software
Oh, seems i am mistaken about the stls in fusion. It's not listed as an export option, but you can just right click on the selected model and save it as an stl.
Bowden SD3, Rumba, E3D hotend, Mk5 with RtRyder changes, Direct drive Y axis and bearings, GT2 pulleys and braided fishing line, Lawsy linear bearing conversion, M3 Z screw.
Re: 3D software
Well for me anyway, Fusion won't be free as my computer is still on the Vista OS. So it's either buy Windows 7 or buy a new computer.