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This is really cool, both in terms of what it can do, the approachable pricing model and the video that shows it off. (Since I’m not aware of the details…) Is

This is really cool, both in terms of what it can do, the approachable pricing model and the video that shows it off. (Since I’m not aware of the details…) Is this similar to using NURBS as the representation in Blender? As in what makes this more CAD-ey?

semi-extrinsic 5y ago
Blender as a tool is very far from CAD-ey, in the sense that precision work - this should be 120 mm and that should be 1.41 times this - is not really a supported workflow. There isn't even a constraint solver in Blender. You can make Blender work as a CAD-ish tool with practice and self-discipline and lots of keyboard shortcuts. But e.g. Fusion360 or even SketchUp is what a CAD-oriented workflow feels like. There is a big difference. Haven't tried this yet, but I expect it to retain enough of the CAD-oriented approach that the workflow still feels quite different from Blender.
- ur-whale 5y ago
  > There isn't even a constraint solver in Blender. Not 100% correct. There are a number of add-ons that do this. I even think someone managed to hook-up the solvespace engine in a blender add-on There are also a whole slew of add-ons that can make Blender more CAD-friendly. However, you are correct, this is not the primary intent of Blender.
nkallen 5y ago
I think the main thing to understand is that blender has minimal nurbs support. For example, try doing booleans, fillets, or offset surfaces with blender nurbs. You can’t. Nurbs are good for some shapes and bad for others. In addition to manufacturing, nurbs are great for hard surface / scifi assets for video games and movies. Plasticity is for artists. It is more in the tradition of MoI3d than say solidworks. It has a very powerful geometry kernel and the user interface is meant to be familiar to blender users and modern looking. It’s still very beta and changing every day

semi-extrinsic 5y ago

Blender as a tool is very far from CAD-ey, in the sense that precision work - this should be 120 mm and that should be 1.41 times this - is not really a supported workflow. There isn't even a constraint solver in Blender. You can make Blender work as a CAD-ish tool with practice and self-discipline and lots of keyboard shortcuts. But e.g. Fusion360 or even SketchUp is what a CAD-oriented workflow feels like. There is a big difference. Haven't tried this yet, but I expect it to retain enough of the CAD-oriented approach that the workflow still feels quite different from Blender.

ur-whale 5y ago
> There isn't even a constraint solver in Blender. Not 100% correct. There are a number of add-ons that do this. I even think someone managed to hook-up the solvespace engine in a blender add-on There are also a whole slew of add-ons that can make Blender more CAD-friendly. However, you are correct, this is not the primary intent of Blender.

nkallen 5y ago

I think the main thing to understand is that blender has minimal nurbs support. For example, try doing booleans, fillets, or offset surfaces with blender nurbs. You can’t. Nurbs are good for some shapes and bad for others. In addition to manufacturing, nurbs are great for hard surface / scifi assets for video games and movies. Plasticity is for artists. It is more in the tradition of MoI3d than say solidworks. It has a very powerful geometry kernel and the user interface is meant to be familiar to blender users and modern looking. It’s still very beta and changing every day