Best Easiest 3D model software

[Ken Hoven]

Is there a such thing as the easiest and best software to start learning? Not worried about the cost but features and ease of use.

[Guido Voutta]

I'm an absolute beginner in 3d CAD and tried the whole open source stuff. Now I'm working with Alibre Design Pro, it's easy to use and functional.

[Jordan Miller]

TinkerCAD

jordan

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[Minestorm]

MOI - www.moi3d.com

[Joseph Chiu]

Best is very subjective... And will differ on what you are trying to accomplish.  The cost ranges from free to $10,000 (plus an annual maintenance contract!).   What kind of work is it that you want to 3D model?  And what drawing/drafting/CAD experience do you already have?

If you want to start by getting your feet wet, TinkerCAD is a nice online based environment to start.  On your desktop, Sketchup and the AutoCAD 123D suite are good places to start.  Also, most 3D programs out there allow you to have a free trial period.

I personally use TurboCAD for my "quick" work (often for 3D printing).  For more serious work (not necessarily 3D printable things), I use  Alibre Design, which takes much more memory, and I usually have to close out a bunch of other program to use it.  I would not categorize either as "easy to use" for a beginner, but they both have plenty of features.

  On Feb 22, 2013 8:59 AM, "Ken Hoven" <4printe...@gmail.com> wrote:

Is there a such thing as the easiest and best software to start learning? Not worried about the cost but features and ease of use.

--

[Ken Hoven]

On Friday, February 22, 2013 7:59:48 PM UTC+3, Ken Hoven wrote:

Is there a such thing as the easiest and best software to start learning? Not worried about the cost but features and ease of use.

See the pic samples of what I need to re-create

 

[Ken Hoven]

and also this is the outside shell: 

[Darrell jan]

Sometimes people wind up having to use something that is not your favorite, because everyone else involved uses it. Like Microsoft Word. In your case, if you anticipate most of your customer base being entrenched in, for example, SolidWorks, then you might as well bite the bullet and go for it.

[Joe Larson (aka Cymon)]

If you don't care about cost I will second TinkerCAD. I love TinkerCAD but since they switched to a $10 a month model I can't recommend them. But if you don't care about that then TinkerCAD..Easy enough for a child, robust and accurate enough for an engineer.

[Chris Chiang]

Internals look  basically like a sweep, then some radial patterning.
Looks like something with a radial patterning feature would be useful in this case....
Same with the outside.

Solidworks has a student version, by the way, for quite cheap/free, If i remember correctly, and this is applicable to you.

[funmakerBart]

When you are used to a Cad program it's an easy to produce model you are showing. For me with ArchiCad 16 (now with stl exporter even). It's about $5000,-  It's output is delivering (almost) error free solids, resulting in error free slicing of stl's. I suppose Autocad has the same possibilities, but ArchiCad has now a new "morph" option which has similar use as known with Sketchup (but without the flaws). Although Archicad is aimed at architects, It's basically parametric; the morph function is a more general to use model option. You can try it by searching at * some*  sites that provide "a kind off" test(*cough*) versions of this program (*squeak*). 

The trouble is, when you are used to a program, each other modeler is annoying you. For example: Sketchup has a lot of nice plugins which easily can produce your model. But with me it's unstable (either Mac / Win7 ). And, what's annoying, you have to be sure to make groups all the time because of the automatically 'melting together' of elements.

Also, it's difficult to keep the model 'solid' to enable a error free stl output. I found it almost possible to repair a complex solid with errors (when not discovered in time to use "undo" )

I tried a lot of other modelers as TinkerCad (to much my-first-sonyCad), Blender (waaaah! difficult) , 3Dmax (same),  Openscad (have to learn programming then); Rhino (can be something, but looks difficult). 

My advice is, when using it for 3D printing, choose a modeler which is capable to produce error free solids, and the possibility to correct errors in solids / or the possibility to repair solids.

When the solids are ok, there are various possibilities (mainly 3ds for me) to export the model and let the free Netfabb convert (and do minor repairs) it to a stl.

Bart

[Wingcommander whpthomas]

If you want something inexpensive, relatively intuitive and very functional, ViaCAD 2D3D is only $99 and multi platform. I use its big brother SharkFX on my iMac, but also have ViaCAD 2D3D installed on my MacBookPro and it has all the key features I use 98% of the time. Exports well formed STL files that print at high resolution and the prints look great (none of those low-res polylines on arcs - you have complete control of export resolution). 

[funmakerBart]

@wingcommander: looks good! Didn't know it. Do you know if the budget version has the same export functionality as you describe for the complete version?

Bart

[James McCracken]

Zbrush is awesome for anything artistic or organic ... just don't expect to get engineering models out of it... ruler support is limited.

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[KM Design]

I would recommend trying Autodesk Inventor Fusion if you're using a Mac. Its currently free and easily downloaded from the Mac App Store. Given the photos you added, it is pretty well suited to what you're hoping to draw, fairly intuitive and exports a clean STL file for printing.

Kevin

[Wingcommander whpthomas]

@wingcommander: looks good! Didn't know it. Do you know if the budget version has the same export functionality as you describe for the complete version?

Sure does, you have complete control over the export resolution to STL so you can make it as fine or course as desired and it has adaptive nodes for things like cylinders. I use ViaCAD on my notebook all the time.

[Wingcommander whpthomas]

I would recommend trying Autodesk Inventor Fusion if you're using a Mac. Its currently free and easily downloaded from the Mac App Store. Given the photos you added, it is pretty well suited to what you're hoping to draw, fairly intuitive and exports a clean STL file for printing.

But its as slow as a dog on older computers :(

[Bottleworks]

SketchUp is easy to learn and free. Just add free plugins to import/export STLs.

[pashakun]

another vote for tinkerCAD from a 3d design n00b -- first tutorial to a printable stl file in 15 minutes

but if you want a longer term investment - spend an hour getting familiar with the basics of blender 

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:53298

[Shawn]

You've had a lot of great answers here. I find it's a lot like picking
a car - you can ask a lot of opinions, but in the end you need to choose
what works best for you. That means you have to a) have an idea how you
want to use it, b) know your budget, and c) take a few for a test drive
and decide what you like/don't like.

I find that I'm not using one particular tool. When I need to be
precise with my measurements, I find a more CAD like tool such as
SketchUp or OpenSCAD works best for me. When I want to be a little more
creative, or only need to edit a mesh, then I use Blender. I mix in
other tools when appropriate. But, I'm still a relative noob in 3D Design.

On 13-02-22 09:59 AM, Ken Hoven wrote:
> Is there a such thing as the easiest and best software to start
> learning? Not worried about the cost but features and ease of use.
>

[Doogiekr]

No idea what would be called best... but I have used (was not my job, just got to mess with them) most of the higher end ones in my old job, so when it came time to pick one for home I kinda knew what I wanted (plus I was a student, so I looked for ones with good discounts for students). I love both Autodesk Inventor (free for students last time I checked) and SpaceClaim (I think it was $50 when I got it, not sure now). They are both very high end and capable, but I find them easy to use (especially SpaceClaim, which is what I use by far the most now), and there are tons of help videos/tutorials both on YouTube and on each company's website to get you going.

[j.pickens]

A vote here for OpenScad.  If your output goal is 3D-printable STL files and not complex assemblies.

I have tried Alibre Designs, Tinkercad and Sketchup, and all have pretty steep learning curves with an interface which is unique to each.

With OpenScad, you are doing text coding, and seems pretty intense, but after loading examples and modifying them, you will see how simple it really is.

Its free, and has very good online documentation, and is lightening fast.

The click and drag GUI stuff is nice and all, but to get precise results you have to input commands, dimensions, and angles anyway, so why not cut out the middleman?

Use it, open a bunch of SCAD files, modify them, you'll see what I mean.

[hogjonny]

The correct descision for you will factor in cost, technical apptitude, purpose and goal.  If you are starting out and happen to be a visual person a CAD program may full unweildy difficult and daunting.

Snubbing gui's how quaintly elitist.  (J/k)

There was a time when we'd create the realtime 3d models for a flightsim game by plotting them on graph paper and then coding points and faces into a file by hand.

These are tools in hand - ultimately the creation  comes down to the painter more then the paintbrush.

Every package is different and some are more specialized in purpose then others.

I started out actually using a version of strata 3d (now strata design cx7)... it is actually great, if you can use photoshop or illustrator and want any easy to jump into package that will give you good quick results and some momentum.  It's whole design is geared towards feeling comfortable to a designer comfirtable already with adobe.

It's less then $1000

It's not hyper technical.  You might be able to easily create something that looks unteresting but is actually inefficent and horribly built.  I do not know if I would trust being able clean up meshes.

Personally after 20 years ... maya is still my favorite goto.

It has a nice artist friendly interface.  The interface is modular and highly customizable so you can make the environment suit your needs best.  But it also also allows you to be very precise with number inputs, etc.  You can get in under the hood so to speak.  You can use a hybrid if visual and numeric input in your workflow.  You can strip the entire interface away and work in two different scripting languages within the package... and you can extend the package with your own custom tools via those same scripting languages.  Or if you prefer you can go straight to the api.

It's more like around $4000

Blender is free and open source, and you can similary do most of those things.  Just take out artist freindly interface and workflow - don't get me wrong it is a great cobbled togegether beast with an answer.  But you also get what you pay for IMO.

Sent via the Samsung Galaxy Note® II, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone

[randyzimmer]

I'm very happy with 123D version 9 but I see they have an updated thing called Design which I only opened and looked at.
Appears to be simplified over 9
See it here:
http://www.123dapp.com/howto/design

[TobyCWoods]

I use ViaCAD 2D/3D which can be bought for $50 on Amazon.com!!

We're talkin CAD not 3D Graphics modeling... those include Maya, and other solid modeling tools made for animation and gaming, etc.

I have looked at ALOT of CAD SW in the past 3 months. All will have a learning curve and all require careful review of tutorials... Blender is sooo powerful but it's UI is like bashing your forehead on concrete. AutoCAD, Solidworks... some of the best on the MKT, but you PAY for what you get and most of us do not need 90% of it. If you are looking for something you can feel your way through you will not find it. Sketchup, Inventor Fusion, 123D Design and others seem simpler until you get to things which may become quite important to you.

ViaCAD's basic UI premise is nice and simple.  One thing which I really appreciate is the control you get on the stll export. very nice. So far every Thing I have made using it has worked out well. I have actually started to feel quite empowered too. The ashtray plastic in my Miata console broke last week(a common thing).  It took me 10 minutes to model and then improve on it in ViaCAD.

[mikebres]

MOI3D  (moi3d.com).  It costs $300.  I just discovered it about 3 weeks ago.   I have both Modo and ZBrush, but find that I am using MOI3D most often for anything going to the 3D printer. One of the things I really like about MOI is that using it, I can model with precise measurements.

BUT, all of that being said, the best & easiest modeler, is the one that 'clicks' for you.

[Mike Gervasi]

+1

I tried a few and Tinkercad had me designing simple items in about 10 mins. For a complete CAD novice like me it's the best place to start. 

[Mike Gervasi]

And THAT is when the reality of 3D printing really hit me. Printing things off Thingiverse is nice but when you finally pull something off the build plate that you actually needed and designed it feels like an accomplishment.

[Kletus VanDamme]

Solidworks is awesome.

Don't get it here because downloading pirated software is illegal.

http://warezstore.com/

[Mike Gervasi]

Windows only :(

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[Ken Hoven]

I have downloaded some free and some free trials. I have been having an issue (learning curve issue) with them trying to re-create the "U" shape solid rods.

I have tried:

123D

Inventor Fusion

SketchUp

I'm sure its just me.

I have used 2D programs like MS Visio and Flexisign but this 3D drawing is a little different.

Thanks,

Ken

[Owen M Collins]

Do they have some sort of "extrude along path" tool? Draw a polygon/circle and a line/polyline choose both, designate one the path and then it creates the object. Vectorworks has that, I am sure most other things have something similar, but only have experience with Vectorworks.

O.

[Joseph Chiu]

Are you modeling this for looks, or does it have to be accurate?  If the former, it should be pretty easy to do. First, draw a polyline that defines the "U" shape:

Next, set your workplane perpendicular to the path, and draw the circle profile of your tube, placing its origin on the vertex of the polyline.  For this work, opening up multiple views simultaneously will speed up the point selection.

Now, use the "sweep along path" to sweep that profile (the circle) along the path (the polyline)

Once you have your single part the way you like it, create a "block" or an "part", and then make an array of the part -- depending on the software, that could be an assembly, or just a drawing that consists of many blocks.  Use the radial copy tool to distribute your object around the axis of symmetry:

The basic technique I described here should exist in most CAD programs.  The terms and the specific steps may differ a bit, but the key idea is to break down your work into separate steps (draw a path on a workplane, draw a profile on another workplace, create the extrusion, make that a part, and then place a single part onto another workplane, and then rotate/copy the part on that same workplane).

Good luck!

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[big_red_frog]

My vote is for inventor fusion after having moved of 123d when it got dumbed down recently.

Free and very powerful, found ui easy to get into and also found significant computer based learning package on line when I dug around.

Tried quite a few other packages, either found them too dumbed down, inaccurate, demo technology, or for blender just impenetrable. ( I happily use gimp, but blender is just odd)

[Elbot]

Tinkercad might not do the trick. I've used it and love it but that "U" shape doesn't exist as a "prmitive" in Tinkercad, if I remember correctly.

Try Netbabb. If you teach school or even Sunday school, tell them so for an educator's discount. Other wise it is $1000 USD. However, if all you want is to do that "U" shape and nothing else, just email netfabb for a free one month trial version of their software and they will email it to you. netfabb is almost as easy to use as tinkercad. tinkercad, i learned in 15 min, but netfabb took me 1 hour to learn to use.

In netfabb, choose the toroid "prmitive" and chop it in half. Then, add two cylinders for the legs. Then, use the "mirror" function to copy it and voila! Done! Easy as pie.

[Ken Hoven]

I am now looking at the Shark FX due to the 25% off sale they have. What are the 2% features that you need the Shark FX for?

Thanks,

Ken

[Adrian Fan]

I am not an engineer nor a designer. Thus when I got my Rep2, I too set to look around for the best and easiest CAD software. 

I found TinkerCAD. Very easy to use, but find their price too steep and too simplistic functions. Then I found ViaCAD 2D3D. Easy enough, but yet powerful at the same time. Best thing is, it is still affordable. So, I will recommend ViaCAD too.

[Mike Gervasi]

Tinkercad price too steep? I've been using it for free online.

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[Adrian Fan]

Yeah, it's free for just one design. Unless you keep deleting your previous design and create a new one (in the same "file"), you have to sign up for their plan.

Their cheapest plan now is $19 per month. That adds up to $228 per year. I figured that buying ViaCAD is better.

[DronE Pump]

Lots of very useful and "interesting" advice.  As an old hand in the 3D space (hmm...) I only wish to add one more contribution to what is already a rich tapestry of opinion.  

Bite the bullet. Embark on the journey with Blender - It will take some effort but you will not look back.  Once you catch on to the hierarchical object design model everything makes sense.

Then keep OpenScad around for some parameter driven, nested routine based fun.

[Michael Shiloh]

+1 on that. I'm teaching this stuff, and once the students get past the
learning curve they love Blender.

Not to mention that it's scriptable, which I haven't used yet, but good
to know it's there.

[James McCracken]

Generally what I use - blender + openscad.  Lost my zbrush license a couple years before I bought my makerbot :(

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[Pasha Alpeyev]

+1 from another Blender beginner.

must disagree about Blender not being intuitive though. i think that criticism is only valid if you already have familiarity with other CAD software. once you accepts Blender's rules of the land, everything fall in place ~

On Wed, Feb 27, 2013 at 8:05 AM, djircik <dji...@gmail.com> wrote:

I'll chime in here and agree with a few others on this thread, turn off the phone, cancel your appointments, fung your  shuai, inform your signifigant others you will be unavailable for a few days to a week and jump into the Blender learning curve. It is a steep learning curve. It does not appear to be intuitive, but when you take the time to learn it you will be absolutely amazed at how fast and efficient it can be. For me it was a zen moment after about a week (years ago) when all of a sudden I was just doing and not so much learning. I know that's a vague statement but it really was an epiphany It is hard to get started but once you master the basics you will be truly amazed at what you can do. The community is rich, wildly diverse and always ready to help. And the best part, multi platform, open source and free. Good luck.
Daniel

[Wingcommander whpthomas]

I am now looking at the Shark FX due to the 25% off sale they have. What are the 2% features that you need the Shark FX for?

Hi Ken,

SharkFX includes 3D rendering that is very high quality so you can create artwork of concept designs that look spectacular.

Parametric modelling - for the work I do I need to be able to make design changes and have different design configurations - with constraint driven parametric modelling you can use a table of specified lengths to drive your geometry. Update a dimension in the geometry and the model updates to reflect the change. I also use this feature to create dynamic simulations of geometry that are interactive - but that's pretty bleeding edge stuff.

That being said, everything I have designed and uploaded to Thingiverse I either created (or could have created) with ViaCAD 2D3D. I only use the extended features in SharkFX for designing my production bikes.

[Ken Hoven]

Hi Wing,

I really only need something that produces a file that prints very well. If you think the basic does fine, maybe I save the $ and not get the FX. What do you think?

Thanks Again,

Ken

[Matt Minuti]

Why has nobody mentioned FreeCAD http://free-cad.sourceforge.net/ ? It's parametric, accurate, free, open-source, cross-platform (meaning windows/mac/linux), and pretty darned easy to use. It's even got OpenSCAD import/export, though I haven't tried that yet. It produces very printable STLs, is pretty fast, and can even import/export IGES and STEP files.

Before you go dropping $$$ on a tool, spend 15-20 minutes playing with it. Watch a youtube tutorial or just explore. Way less learning curve than Blender.

[Bryon Miller]

There's not really a best, they're all just a set of tools, it depends on what you want to do.  I like 3dsmax, but that's because a company I worked for had it and I learned it there.  That doesn't make it better and it covers a wide range of things you can do, it might be overwhelming because of the options you would never use.  From your example pictures, I would give tinkercad a try if it has an array function. 

On Friday, February 22, 2013 11:00:35 AM UTC-7, Ken Hoven wrote:

On Friday, February 22, 2013 7:59:48 PM UTC+3, Ken Hoven wrote:

Is there a such thing as the easiest and best software to start learning? Not worried about the cost but features and ease of use.

See the pic samples of what I need to re-create

 

[Wingcommander whpthomas]

I really only need something that produces a file that prints very well. If you think the basic does fine, maybe I save the $ and not get the FX. What do you think?

It only $99 for ViaCAD 2D3D, so I would buy it, learn it, and see how you go - like I said for the price it is very capable and once mastered I really like the freeform work style - I always found Solidworks got you thinking in terms of extruded planes, whereas ViaCAD/SFX is a true 3D sketch-up tool.

If later when you have mastered ViaCAD you decide you need SFX you can always choose to upgrade then and you won't have wasted a lot of money in the process.

[Adrian Fan]

I have tried FreeCAD. I think it is still sort of in its beta. Didn't really like it, still chosen ViaCAD 2D3D.

Oh, BTW, you can get $30 off for ViaCAD 2D3D at $69.99 by using the following coupon code at Punchcad.com:

RETAILMENOTPUNCHCAD30

[Ken Hoven]

Thanks Wing and Adrian for the help. I just ordered the 2D3D for PC using the discount code. Gonna give it a shot, can't beat the price to try it. Also have the Shark FX Mac student addition on order for $99.... not sure if my student credentials will pass.
Thanks Again

[Adrian Fan]

great to hear that. let us know how it's going for you with ViaCAD.

[BH]

I've been using Rhino3d since Beta in 1995.  Free download with 25 saves; http://www.rhino3d.com/download/rhino/5.0/evaluation

$995 for a commercial copy, $195 for an Educational copy, free support and upgrades, free manuals and tutorials.  Best in the business.

I also have seats of Solidworks, DelCam Powershape and others that are far more expensive but usually use Rhino3d.

Best, Bill

[Robert Egal]

I use Moi3d for all my printings.

[David Celento]

+1 for Rhino. The Mac version is in beta and it's FREE.  Great company, too.  They actually listen to customers and only release upgrades after YEARS of testing. (Crazy, I know...)