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3D Programs for 3D Printing General discussion
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MRH Author 5,507 posts Bernd MRH Author 5,507 posts
Bernd

What kind of programs other than Sketchup is anyone using for 3D printing?

Bernd

New York, Vermont & Northern Rwy. - Route of the Black Diamonds - NCSWIC
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barr_ceo Super User 3,229 posts
barr_ceo

Let me save everyone some effort here...

Let me save everyone some effort here...

 

From http://www.3ders.org/3d-software/3d-software-list.html :

Quote:

Free 3D softwares:

  • Google SketchUp - This Google SketchUp is fun and free, and is known for being easy to use. To build models in SketchUp, you draw edges and faces using a few simple tools that you can learn in a short time. With with Push/Pull tool you can extrude any flat surface into a 3D form. Furthermore, it works together with Google Earth, that you can import a scaled aerial photograph directly from Google Earth, or use SketchUp to build models which can be seen in Google Earth.
  • 3DCrafter - 3Dcrafter is a real-time 3D modeling and animation tool that incorporates an intuitive drag-and-drop approach to 3D modeling. The standard version of 3DCrafter is freeware. Paid versions (3DCrafter Plus and 3Dcrafter Pro) are available.
  • 3Dtin - The simplest 3D software. You can draw directly from your browser. 
  • Anim8or - Anim8or is a 3D modeling and character animation program.
  • Art of Illusion - Art of Illusion is a free, open source 3D modelling and rendering studio. Art of Illusion is more as a 3D design system for animated computer graphics than as an engineering CAD tool.More information about  Hints on Using Art of Illusion for RepRap is available online.
  • Blender - Blender is the free open source 3D content creation suite, available for all major operating systems under the GNU General Public License. Blender was developed as an in-house application by the Dutch animation studio NeoGeo and Not a Number Technologies (NaN). It is a powerful program contains features that are characteristic of high-end 3D software. 
  • BRL-CAD - BRL-CAD is a powerful cross-platform open source solid modeling system that includes interactive geometry editing, high-performance ray-tracing for rendering and geometric analysis, image and signal-processing tools, a system performance analysis benchmark suite, libraries for robust geometric representation. BRL-CAD has been the primary tri-service solid modeling CAD system used by the U.S. military to model weapons systems for vulnerability and lethality analyses for more than 20 years. It became an open source project on 21 December 2004. 
  • Creo Elements/Direct - formerly CoCreate - is a complete design environment that offers direct 3D CAD modeler, along with 2D CAD, CAE and integrated product data management (PDM).
  • DrawPlus Starter Edition - 100% free and simple, with Accurate vector drawing program, realistic brush, pen, and pencil tools, text on a path, blend modes for advance artistic effects.
  • FreeCAD - FreeCAD is a general purpose Open Source 3D CAD/MCAD/CAx/CAE/PLM modeler, aimed directly at mechanical engineering and product design but also fits in architecture or other engineering specialties.
  • GLC Player - GLC player is a free application used to view 3d models (COLLADA 3DXML OBJ 3DS STL OFF COFF Format) and to navigate easily in these models. With the album management, capture and multi-capture capabilities, html export and navigation possibilities GLC_Player is the accurate tools to review a lot of 3D models and to create illustrations. GLC_Player is a cross-platform application (Mac, Linux and Windows). It is lighter than regular modelling software so very handy.
  • LeoCAD - LeoCAD is a CAD program that can be used to create virtual LEGO models. It has an easy to use interface and currently features over 3000 different types of pieces created by the LDaw community.
  • Netfabb Studio Basic - Netfabb Studio Basic provides mesh edit, repair and analysis capabilities. Its compact size of only a few megabytes allows a quick download, an easy installation and the handling of STL and slice files within seconds.
  • K-3D - K-3D is free-as-in-freedom 3D modeling and animation software. It features a plugin-oriented procedural engine for all of its content, making K-3D a very versatile and powerful package. K-3D excels at polygonal modeling, and includes basic tools for NURBS, patches, curves and animation.
  • OpenSCAD - OpenSCAD is a software for creating solid 3D CAD objects. It is free software and available for Linux/UNIX, MS Windows and Mac OS X. it does not focus on the artistic aspects of 3D modelling but instead on the CAD aspects.
  • Tinkercad - Tinkercad is a new and faster way of creating designs for your 3D printer. With only three basic tools you can create a wide range of useful things. Once your project is ready simply download the STL file and start your 3D print.
  • Wings 3D - Wings 3D is a subdivision modeler. It has been developed since 2001. Wings 3D offers a wide range of modeling tools, a customizable interface, support for lights and materials, and a built-in AutoUV mapping facility. There is no support in Wings for animation.

Commercial 3D softwares:

Free STL software: 

  • MeshLab - Open source software for processing and editing of unstructured 3D triangular meshes. It also has an extremely fast slide function.
  • Google SketchUp plugin - A plugin script to import and export STL files for Google SketchUp. Supports both binary and ASCII import and export.
  • STL-viewer - Display and manipulate the contents of stereolithography or STL file.
  • Netfabb Studio - a free Windows program for 3D printing to view, edit, analyze and repair STL files.

 

That should get things rolling...  

Read my Journal / Blog...

!BARR_LO.GIFFreelanced N scale Class Digitrax & JMRI

 NRail  T-Trak Standards  T-Trak Wiki   T-Trak Wiki Pages
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Bernd MRH Author 5,507 posts
Bernd

WOW

Thanks. Nice neat package. Now I can easily find what I might need.

Bernd

New York, Vermont & Northern Rwy. - Route of the Black Diamonds - NCSWIC
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cRitter Active Member 94 posts
cRitter

...

I recommend blender, use it all the time. 

 Cody Ritter- 

railfan and model railroader
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LKandO Prolific poster 3,839 posts
LKandO

3DS

I work in 3DS Max. Not for 3D printing. For 3D visualization. Strike it from your consideration list. Way, way, way overkill. Like feeding a baby with a backhoe.

Alan

All the details:  http://www.LKOrailroad.com        Just the highlights:  MRH blog

When I was a kid... no wait, I still do that. HO, 28x32, double deck, 1969, RailPro
nsparent.png 
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Steven S Regular poster 265 posts
Steven S

Another Blender user here. 

Another Blender user here.  It's learning curve is a little steep, but there are tons of tutorial videos on Youtube.

My favorite modeling program is called Moment of Inspiration (MoI).  It's a NURBS modeler, basically a scaled-down, more user-friendly version of Rhino3D.  It's not free, but at $300 it's a lot cheaper than Rhino.

http://moi3d.com/

Steve S
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Kevin Rowbotham Prolific poster 2,336 posts
Kevin Rowbotham

Good list!

For you rich kids 3D Studio Max is very cool...but the price!!

I wish I knew SketchUp as well as many on this forum do...

I've heard Blender is great.  Must try it sometime.

~Kevin

Appreciating Modeling In All Scales but majoring in HO!

Not everybody likes me, luckily not everybody matters.
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casenundra Regular poster 367 posts
casenundra

Punch! Viacad Pro 9

I use Punch! Viacad Pro 9 to draw 2d images for my laser/engraver. It has 3d capabilities but I have not used it for now. If I ever get a 3d printer I have the software . It's not cheap, but a lot less  expensive than a lot of commercial programs. You can OWN it not rent it for a few hundred bucks. It's so easy to use that a novice like me can use it.

Rich S.

Home of the Here N There RR (N) (under construction)

One of these days I'll be able to run some trains!

Now on Facebook for whatever that's worth.
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trainmaster247 Prolific poster 2,041 posts
trainmaster247

Out of those I have tried

Out of those I have tried SketchUp once and didn't like it but I find Blender is fun and quite simple to use.

23%20(2).JPG 
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Bernd MRH Author 5,507 posts
Bernd

Good Feed Back - Thanks

Have Blender installed and watched quite a few tutorials on it. So we've got 3 Yeah's for Blender, maybe four, me. Need to try the program first.

Trying out FreeCAD at the moment. It has a Skecther screen that you can do 2D on like a regular CAD program. It then uses that to do your 3D modeling.

Here's what I'm looking for. The Sherline CNC mill will do 3D milling. I already have MeshCAM and BamCam for generating G codes. What I needed was a program like FreeCAD or Blender that outputs a STL file.

Bernd

New York, Vermont & Northern Rwy. - Route of the Black Diamonds - NCSWIC
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hminky Regular poster (deceased) 458 posts
hminky

Blender Tutorials

These Blender tutorials are really good:

http://www.doug56.net/MBC/page107.html

Even I can make things in Blender from that tutorial series, the Queens Hotel:

The store I did in ProE. Until I did those tutorials I couldn't wrap my head around Blender.

There are these tutorials:

http://www.rab3d.com/tut_blender.php

Harold
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trainmaster247 Prolific poster 2,041 posts
trainmaster247

I looked at them to and they

I looked at them to and they seem quite straight forward and simple. Just wondering, are those rendered in Blender or imported to trainz just wondering. 

23%20(2).JPG 
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hminky Regular poster (deceased) 458 posts
hminky

Those models are in Trainz:A

Those models are in Trainz:A New Era, the upcoming latest version of Trainz.

Harold
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eTraxx New member 7 posts
eTraxx

I have Blender and find the

I have Blender and find the learning curve crazy hard. I tend to stick to Sketchup as between it, Meshlabs and NetFabb I can pretty much do anything I want.

The turbine and the flat pullies were created in Sketchup (no .. rivets are Tichy and handwheels from Vector Cut)
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Alexedwin Regular poster 427 posts
Alexedwin

I've used Blender for years &

I've used Blender for years & still have to go back to re-learn, and 'yes' it has a steep learning curve.

It's well worth it to learn Blender if you have the patience.

Alex

One day I might be modeling the Puffing Billy Railway, Victoria, Australia.

My location - Queensland, Australia.
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Bernd MRH Author 5,507 posts
Bernd

Learning curve

Right now I'm going through a tutorial on FreeCAD. It starts you out with doing a sketch just like you would do with a 2D CAD. Then you make it into a 3D model. The hard part is trying to forget all the moves and nomenclature used in a 2D CAD program and learn the new terms of 3D CAD and what you have to do next.

I'm looking to learn the 3D for milling purposes and then perhaps by the time I get good at using a 3D CAD program the 3D printers will have come down in price to be able to purchase one.

I'm really interested in making a master and then multiples of it in castings. All in the home environment, no out sourcing.

Bernd

New York, Vermont & Northern Rwy. - Route of the Black Diamonds - NCSWIC
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ChiloquinRuss Frequent poster 872 posts
ChiloquinRuss

I use my 3d printer a lot! 

I use my 3d printer a lot!  Best $49 I have spent was on a great little package from Cubify called INVENT!  Russ
http://trainmtn.org/tmrr/index.shtml  Worlds largest outdoor hobby railroad 1/8th scale 37 miles of track on 2,200 acres
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Bernd MRH Author 5,507 posts
Bernd

Demo

Russ,

Just watched the demo on "INVENT". Pretty powerful software for the price. Looks like it's much easier than Sketchup.

What printer are you using?

Bernd

New York, Vermont & Northern Rwy. - Route of the Black Diamonds - NCSWIC
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