4 ms·

I’m wondering whether this is useful for 3D printing and whether you can add important measurements when it matters (to make parts that fit.)

CharlesW 3y ago
From a 2022 discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30695360 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30695360 > Are there parametric features? eg. Can I say "this line is 35mm long"? > I want to emphasize to everyone that this is for concept artists. It’s nurbs used to create interesting shapes and fillets. While there are some parametric features, they’re completely de emphasized compared to something like fusion or solidworks
- oktwtf 3y ago
  The software has evolved significantly since 2022, I'd even say that the dev has been flexible and enabled functionality to bridge some more traditional CAD use cases in modern versions. For example when you sketch shapes on a workplane you are able to define the measurement aspects, diameters, offsets, lengths; you can even quickly define relative angles when drawing out segmented lines. However there are no parametric controls for the elements of your shapes or drawings. Keeping these constraints out of mind certainly helps me get into a flow when modeling, much more akin to subd or poly modeling while maintaining the benefits of NURBS. But for adapting models quickly for more flexible designs isn't /really/ the tool for it. You can take it pretty far though! I personally use Plasticity to model all kinds of things including 3d-printed items (vacuum wall mounting, iPhone lens mount, storage cases, clips...) All of these items needed to be measured accurately and Plastiticy was able to handle that without issue. I've been using 3d software for 20+ years, Max, Maya, Blender, XSI, Houdini, Wings3d, Lightwave, Modo, ZBrush, Mudbox... "lots" of 3d software. Some get the job done and some are even a pleasure to use, Plasticity decidedly in my mind does both.
timothyb89 3y ago
I've been using it for light CAD work to design stuff for (hobbyist) 3d printing. You can use exact measurements just fine. The main issue is that it isn't parametric but for my needs that isn't a big issue, and the one-time $150 pricetag is wildly easier to swallow than a Fusion 360 subscription. It's a lot like Blender, if Blender was a few degrees more usable for CAD. That said, I've yet to try the Blender CAD Sketcher addon (https://www.cadsketcher.com/ https://www.cadsketcher.com/).
- declaredapple 3y ago
  Oh I need to try that addon. I've been meaning to look for a Fusion360 alternative that can run on linux and doesn't cost $$$$/yr.
  - graypegg 3y ago
    There's also FreeCAD, which is getting better! Definitely worth trying the RealThunder fork [0] that handles some geometry better than the upstream branch, and is kept up to date. It's still weird. That's for sure. But very much usable as a fusion360 replacement for simple to intermediate 3D printing work. [0] https://github.com/realthunder/FreeCAD/releases https://github.com/realthunder/FreeCAD/releases
    - rcarmo 3y ago
      I try every FreeCAD release in hopes the UX and tool naming improves, but so far no dice. It’s almost amazingly obscure by design.
      - thrtythreeforty 3y ago
        I really want to like it. I am well accustomed to dealing with quirky FOSS UIs. But it is so bad. Something that takes one click in Solidworks or Solid Edge takes ten, and at any point if there is an error, there is no feedback. If it looked like FreeCAD was trying to improve the UI I think I'd be throwing some money their way to fund it. But it appears they're happy with the way it works, as these paper cuts have actually gotten worse over time. It's just FreeCAD, not FOSS-CAD-as-a-whole. Kicad gets better and easier to use each release and I am well aware what a gift it is to engineering work.
      - jononor 3y ago
        Are you familiar with parametric modelling in general / from other software? Fusion360/NX/Onshape/Inventor etc? Cause while there are a bunch of UX issues big and small in FreeCAD, some of the complexity and learning curve does come with the territory.
bigboy12 3y ago
It’s a really an amazing piece of software.
onthecanposting 3y ago
I use plasticity exclusively for 3D printing. I'm a huge fan. I also deeply appreciate a no-nonsense perpetual license for a fair price. You can't define persistent dimensional or relational constraints; however you can iterate and edit so fast that I have never missed it. Part tolerance is off? Grab a surface and pull it in or out to the length you need. If you need highly parametric parts, I might favor OpenSCAD or CadQuery (python), anyway.

CharlesW 3y ago

From a 2022 discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30695360 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30695360 > Are there parametric features? eg. Can I say "this line is 35mm long"? > I want to emphasize to everyone that this is for concept artists. It’s nurbs used to create interesting shapes and fillets. While there are some parametric features, they’re completely de emphasized compared to something like fusion or solidworks

oktwtf 3y ago
The software has evolved significantly since 2022, I'd even say that the dev has been flexible and enabled functionality to bridge some more traditional CAD use cases in modern versions. For example when you sketch shapes on a workplane you are able to define the measurement aspects, diameters, offsets, lengths; you can even quickly define relative angles when drawing out segmented lines. However there are no parametric controls for the elements of your shapes or drawings. Keeping these constraints out of mind certainly helps me get into a flow when modeling, much more akin to subd or poly modeling while maintaining the benefits of NURBS. But for adapting models quickly for more flexible designs isn't /really/ the tool for it. You can take it pretty far though! I personally use Plasticity to model all kinds of things including 3d-printed items (vacuum wall mounting, iPhone lens mount, storage cases, clips...) All of these items needed to be measured accurately and Plastiticy was able to handle that without issue. I've been using 3d software for 20+ years, Max, Maya, Blender, XSI, Houdini, Wings3d, Lightwave, Modo, ZBrush, Mudbox... "lots" of 3d software. Some get the job done and some are even a pleasure to use, Plasticity decidedly in my mind does both.

timothyb89 3y ago

I've been using it for light CAD work to design stuff for (hobbyist) 3d printing. You can use exact measurements just fine. The main issue is that it isn't parametric but for my needs that isn't a big issue, and the one-time $150 pricetag is wildly easier to swallow than a Fusion 360 subscription. It's a lot like Blender, if Blender was a few degrees more usable for CAD. That said, I've yet to try the Blender CAD Sketcher addon (https://www.cadsketcher.com/ https://www.cadsketcher.com/).

declaredapple 3y ago
Oh I need to try that addon. I've been meaning to look for a Fusion360 alternative that can run on linux and doesn't cost $$$$/yr.
- graypegg 3y ago
  There's also FreeCAD, which is getting better! Definitely worth trying the RealThunder fork [0] that handles some geometry better than the upstream branch, and is kept up to date. It's still weird. That's for sure. But very much usable as a fusion360 replacement for simple to intermediate 3D printing work. [0] https://github.com/realthunder/FreeCAD/releases https://github.com/realthunder/FreeCAD/releases
  - rcarmo 3y ago
    I try every FreeCAD release in hopes the UX and tool naming improves, but so far no dice. It’s almost amazingly obscure by design.
    - thrtythreeforty 3y ago
      I really want to like it. I am well accustomed to dealing with quirky FOSS UIs. But it is so bad. Something that takes one click in Solidworks or Solid Edge takes ten, and at any point if there is an error, there is no feedback. If it looked like FreeCAD was trying to improve the UI I think I'd be throwing some money their way to fund it. But it appears they're happy with the way it works, as these paper cuts have actually gotten worse over time. It's just FreeCAD, not FOSS-CAD-as-a-whole. Kicad gets better and easier to use each release and I am well aware what a gift it is to engineering work.
    - jononor 3y ago
      Are you familiar with parametric modelling in general / from other software? Fusion360/NX/Onshape/Inventor etc? Cause while there are a bunch of UX issues big and small in FreeCAD, some of the complexity and learning curve does come with the territory.

bigboy12 3y ago

It’s a really an amazing piece of software.

onthecanposting 3y ago

I use plasticity exclusively for 3D printing. I'm a huge fan. I also deeply appreciate a no-nonsense perpetual license for a fair price. You can't define persistent dimensional or relational constraints; however you can iterate and edit so fast that I have never missed it. Part tolerance is off? Grab a surface and pull it in or out to the length you need. If you need highly parametric parts, I might favor OpenSCAD or CadQuery (python), anyway.