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They are both useful skillsets. CAD is nice when you want to manufacture your end result, but you have to think more about constraints and parameters up front.
by Centigonal 2y ago
They are both useful skillsets. CAD is nice when you want to manufacture your end result, but you have to think more about constraints and parameters up front.
- Animats 2y agoIt's really surface vs. volume representations. Blender, Maya, and most 3D graphics programs, define surfaces. Modern 3D CAD programs such as FreeCAD, Fusion, and SolidWorks use constructive solid geometry, where everything is a volume. There are exceptions - SketchUp was a constructive solid geometry program, and original AutoCAD was just lines. The big difference comes when you combine objects or operate on them. Surface-based programs are not that good at combining surfaces. CSG-based programs have to be really good at combining volumes, including subtracting from them. This requires a very difficult geometry program underneath.
- johnnyApplePRNG 2y agoIt's mostly the cost aspect that is preventing me from even exploring the jewelry CAD options... Matrix Gold which is apparently the preeminent CAD software in the jewelry industry... Costs a few thousand dollars and only runs on Windows... Both of which are completely out of touch with my open source Linux setup.
- iancmceachern 2y agoSolidworks is the same way, I just run windows, it's worth it.