4 ms·

Solvespace might be of interest you if you haven't heard of it!

by kk6mrp 5y ago

stavros 5y ago
I don't think SolveSpace is in that niche at all, it's for parametric design, like FreeCAD.
- app4soft 5y ago
  > I don't think SolveSpace is in that niche at all SolveSpace could export designed 3D model as NURBS geometry to STEP (.stp), but there are no advanced tools for NURBS surface modeling.
- newlikeice 5y ago
  Have you tried it. Way different than freecad. You set constraint of equality or whatever. You leave it open ended and now you can add those same constraints in the 3D and transform your shape in this hybrid feel, that feels like your are modelling an equation with your hand. That being said Freecad is way more versatile and you can do almost anything. Solve space is more like the equivalent of building a freecad model out of clay. You can always adjust it but you don’t end up with anything more usable than a stl file in reality, which you can then import into freecad lol. Openscad and opencascade are for CAD program designers imho . Although version control is so appealing.
  - contingencies 5y ago
    I love OpenSCAD for specific tasks like modeling microcontrollers against vendor datasheets. While this is not often required with commercial tools and conventional component suppliers, KiCad + chipageddon + being based in China means I've done quite a bit of that recently and it's been largely efficient, cross-platform and up to task. I am competent with Blender, but prefer OpenSCAD for this domain. Haven't really looked in to SolveSpace.
  - stavros 5y ago
    I have tried it, yes. You can add constraints to any parametric CAD software, like FreeCAD, OnShape, Solidworks, Fusion, etc.
    - app4soft 5y ago
      > You can add constraints to any parametric CAD software, like FreeCAD,... SolveSpace has a little bit different constraints solver. There is Assembly3 worbench for FreeCAD, which is based on SolveSpace solver.[0] [0] https://github.com/realthunder/FreeCAD_assembly3/wiki/Constraints-and-Solvers https://github.com/realthunder/FreeCAD_assembly3/wiki/Constr...
      - stavros 5y ago
        Hmm, it's been a while since I last tried it, but I remember the constraints being pretty much the same as other software. Maybe I should try again.
        deleted 5y ago
        [deleted]
        deleted 5y ago
        [deleted]
      - IshKebab 5y ago
        It's just a different implementation of exactly the same idea. I've used every parametric CAD software that exists (more or less) and their sketch constraint solvers are generally indistinguishable. They only differ in small details - can you select the midpoint of a line? can you have mirror constraints? are they vaguely stable when underconstrained? etc.
ur-whale 5y ago
Solvespace is a CAD tool that makes heavy use of constrains and uses the traditional CAD way of building 3D models, where most of the work happens in 2D planes then gets "lifted" to 3D. It's useful when you build 3D objects that have to obey strict engineering constraints. 3D modeling for games / sfx / 3Ddesign rarely has such problem and typically follows a very different workflow.

Solvespace might be of interest you if you haven't heard of it!

by kk6mrp 5y ago

Solvespace might be of interest you if you haven't heard of it!

stavros 5y ago

I don't think SolveSpace is in that niche at all, it's for parametric design, like FreeCAD.

app4soft 5y ago
> I don't think SolveSpace is in that niche at all SolveSpace could export designed 3D model as NURBS geometry to STEP (.stp), but there are no advanced tools for NURBS surface modeling.
newlikeice 5y ago
Have you tried it. Way different than freecad. You set constraint of equality or whatever. You leave it open ended and now you can add those same constraints in the 3D and transform your shape in this hybrid feel, that feels like your are modelling an equation with your hand. That being said Freecad is way more versatile and you can do almost anything. Solve space is more like the equivalent of building a freecad model out of clay. You can always adjust it but you don’t end up with anything more usable than a stl file in reality, which you can then import into freecad lol. Openscad and opencascade are for CAD program designers imho . Although version control is so appealing.
- contingencies 5y ago
  I love OpenSCAD for specific tasks like modeling microcontrollers against vendor datasheets. While this is not often required with commercial tools and conventional component suppliers, KiCad + chipageddon + being based in China means I've done quite a bit of that recently and it's been largely efficient, cross-platform and up to task. I am competent with Blender, but prefer OpenSCAD for this domain. Haven't really looked in to SolveSpace.
- stavros 5y ago
  I have tried it, yes. You can add constraints to any parametric CAD software, like FreeCAD, OnShape, Solidworks, Fusion, etc.
  - app4soft 5y ago
    > You can add constraints to any parametric CAD software, like FreeCAD,... SolveSpace has a little bit different constraints solver. There is Assembly3 worbench for FreeCAD, which is based on SolveSpace solver.[0] [0] https://github.com/realthunder/FreeCAD_assembly3/wiki/Constraints-and-Solvers https://github.com/realthunder/FreeCAD_assembly3/wiki/Constr...
    - stavros 5y ago
      Hmm, it's been a while since I last tried it, but I remember the constraints being pretty much the same as other software. Maybe I should try again.
      - deleted 5y ago
        [deleted]
      - deleted 5y ago
        [deleted]
    - IshKebab 5y ago
      It's just a different implementation of exactly the same idea. I've used every parametric CAD software that exists (more or less) and their sketch constraint solvers are generally indistinguishable. They only differ in small details - can you select the midpoint of a line? can you have mirror constraints? are they vaguely stable when underconstrained? etc.

ur-whale 5y ago

Solvespace is a CAD tool that makes heavy use of constrains and uses the traditional CAD way of building 3D models, where most of the work happens in 2D planes then gets "lifted" to 3D. It's useful when you build 3D objects that have to obey strict engineering constraints. 3D modeling for games / sfx / 3Ddesign rarely has such problem and typically follows a very different workflow.