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I long for the day that there is modern, easy to use Open Source CAD application for designing / modelling for 3D printing. FreeCAD exists and while I'm sure it

I long for the day that there is modern, easy to use Open Source CAD application for designing / modelling for 3D printing. FreeCAD exists and while I'm sure it's powerful - it's very clunky to use as the learning curve is quite high for someone that occasionally wants to adjust a model. It it certainly seems like KiCAD is filling that spot for the 2D / electronics side of things. Blender is probably fantastic for modelling - but it's not well setup for engineering / printing.

mtreis86 4y ago
I've used blender for engineering/printing. It works fairly well, you just have to set the precision to a small enough number that things pull within tolerance. There are a couple decent tool path / CAM plugins too, so it can be used for the full stack and not just making the model, so long as the gcode it spits out is compatible.
cybrjoe 4y ago
As a programmer there's something that really clicks in OpenSCAD for me. I've made a few designs that are super easy to adjust/repurpose based on variables. When Thingiverse's customizer worked well (well enough), it was a great tool. https://openscad.org/ https://openscad.org/
phkahler 4y ago
>> I long for the day that there is modern, easy to use Open Source CAD application for designing / modelling for 3D printing. Solvespace is your friend: https://solvespace.com/index.pl https://solvespace.com/index.pl When you learn that completely and then outgrow it, you're probably going back to FreeCAD, or maybe blender with the CAD-sketcher addon.
- smcleod 4y ago
  Looks interesting I'll try both of those out, thank you!
the__alchemist 4y ago
Unfortunately, this doesn't (yet?!) exist. Here's to the future. Are you a student? Military? You may be able to get SolidWorks for cheap. Not what you asked for, but is the best option I've found.
- smcleod 4y ago
  Nah I'm not - I think SolidWorks is also still Windows only but I could be wrong.

mtreis86 4y ago

I've used blender for engineering/printing. It works fairly well, you just have to set the precision to a small enough number that things pull within tolerance. There are a couple decent tool path / CAM plugins too, so it can be used for the full stack and not just making the model, so long as the gcode it spits out is compatible.

cybrjoe 4y ago

As a programmer there's something that really clicks in OpenSCAD for me. I've made a few designs that are super easy to adjust/repurpose based on variables. When Thingiverse's customizer worked well (well enough), it was a great tool. https://openscad.org/ https://openscad.org/

phkahler 4y ago

>> I long for the day that there is modern, easy to use Open Source CAD application for designing / modelling for 3D printing. Solvespace is your friend: https://solvespace.com/index.pl https://solvespace.com/index.pl When you learn that completely and then outgrow it, you're probably going back to FreeCAD, or maybe blender with the CAD-sketcher addon.

smcleod 4y ago
Looks interesting I'll try both of those out, thank you!

the__alchemist 4y ago

Unfortunately, this doesn't (yet?!) exist. Here's to the future. Are you a student? Military? You may be able to get SolidWorks for cheap. Not what you asked for, but is the best option I've found.

smcleod 4y ago
Nah I'm not - I think SolidWorks is also still Windows only but I could be wrong.