4 ms·

How do I become a 3D printer power user? (the which CAD question)

I want to learn a cad program, and am quickly overwhelmed by choices. Is there someone in the know who is willing to tell me the answer is 42? If if helps narrow down, I've only ever used spice/altium/pcb layout tools before; my primary use case going forward will be enclosures and mechanical systems. Thank you in advance; please do suggest how this post could be better! I'm aware that a recommendation question isn't exactly value-add.

zgs 3y ago
Get yourself one of these and go for the gold: https://www.inkstation.com.au/3d-printing/pens https://www.inkstation.com.au/3d-printing/pens
sargstuff 3y ago
Laser cutter material typically less expensive than traditional extruded/vat 3d printing. But, scaling up to 3d printed cement[3]/clay[4] can cover a lot more ground. With practice should take 42 or less scans of real world mockups[0] -- can always keep scanning till get to 42 if get it right on first scan. Alternatively can scan in partial mockups and use software to 'value-add' partials by concating together to make complete 3d printable model. Being careful to mind copyright and related usage terms, check out publically available 3d printed sites for models to use/slice & dice[1]/practice on.[2] [0] : https://formlabs.com/blog/how-to-choose-a-3d-scanner-for-3d-printing/ https://formlabs.com/blog/how-to-choose-a-3d-scanner-for-3d-... [1] : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uecY5ikWdCI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uecY5ikWdCI [2] : https://guides.libraries.psu.edu/3d/models https://guides.libraries.psu.edu/3d/models / https://cults3d.com/en/tags/library https://cults3d.com/en/tags/library [3] : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmRlcVhiTKQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmRlcVhiTKQ [4] : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20jovj6IHcw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20jovj6IHcw
h2odragon 3y ago
I've been effective with OpenSCAD and FreeCAD. OpenSCAD is good for enclosures: https://github.com/sbambach/MarksEnclosureHelper https://github.com/sbambach/MarksEnclosureHelper and mechanical systems: https://github.com/prusa3d/Original-Prusa-i3 https://github.com/prusa3d/Original-Prusa-i3 Don't think of it as a programming language; that will hurt you. Think of it as a specification language. That helped me.

zgs 3y ago

Get yourself one of these and go for the gold: https://www.inkstation.com.au/3d-printing/pens https://www.inkstation.com.au/3d-printing/pens

sargstuff 3y ago

Laser cutter material typically less expensive than traditional extruded/vat 3d printing. But, scaling up to 3d printed cement[3]/clay[4] can cover a lot more ground. With practice should take 42 or less scans of real world mockups[0] -- can always keep scanning till get to 42 if get it right on first scan. Alternatively can scan in partial mockups and use software to 'value-add' partials by concating together to make complete 3d printable model. Being careful to mind copyright and related usage terms, check out publically available 3d printed sites for models to use/slice & dice[1]/practice on.[2] [0] : https://formlabs.com/blog/how-to-choose-a-3d-scanner-for-3d-printing/ https://formlabs.com/blog/how-to-choose-a-3d-scanner-for-3d-... [1] : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uecY5ikWdCI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uecY5ikWdCI [2] : https://guides.libraries.psu.edu/3d/models https://guides.libraries.psu.edu/3d/models / https://cults3d.com/en/tags/library https://cults3d.com/en/tags/library [3] : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmRlcVhiTKQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmRlcVhiTKQ [4] : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20jovj6IHcw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20jovj6IHcw

h2odragon 3y ago

I've been effective with OpenSCAD and FreeCAD. OpenSCAD is good for enclosures: https://github.com/sbambach/MarksEnclosureHelper https://github.com/sbambach/MarksEnclosureHelper and mechanical systems: https://github.com/prusa3d/Original-Prusa-i3 https://github.com/prusa3d/Original-Prusa-i3 Don't think of it as a programming language; that will hurt you. Think of it as a specification language. That helped me.