I have my MendelMax 1.5 up and running, and printing well enough that I am ready to try printing some of my own designs. I have a decade or more of experience with CAD (ProE and NX/Unigraphics mainly) but I do not have a license for either of these outside of work, and so I would like to start using an open source or somehow freely available CAD package. Any recommendations? I have seen that Google SketchUp (or Trimble ScketchUp) has the ability to export .stl files. Is this a viable tool chain to get from design to print? Or are there certain CAD packages freely available that I should look at? Thanks for any suggestions. Also, I tried searching for "CAD" in the forum but it came back with no hits. Surprised that this topic hasn't been covered before in the forums, so if it has and I just missed the topic, my apologies. D https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,150658,150658#msg-150658 Sat, 10 Oct 2026 00:55:29 -0400 Phorum 5.2.23 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,150658,152594#msg-152594 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,150658,152594#msg-152594 they might allow you to check out a license from their server, at night.
We share our ProE and Solidworks licenses with different divisions, worldwide using this method.

Dave]]> davew_tx General Wed, 05 Sep 2012 23:50:22 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,150658,152588#msg-152588 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,150658,152588#msg-152588 Wired1 General Wed, 05 Sep 2012 23:22:36 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,150658,151065#msg-151065 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,150658,151065#msg-151065
For now I am going to start with SketchUp since I already know it, and use that to learn the steps from rough idea to printed object. I'm sure I will quickly reach a point where i need more parametric modeling capability, and at that point these suggestions will be very useful.

Do any of these have an advantage in terms of licensing or issues with being able to design things that have commercial value and not give up the right to make a profit off of your ideas? I'm not very experienced with open source software and what it may or may not limit you to do. Pretty broad and poorly phrased question, I know. :)

D]]> dtmille2 General Tue, 28 Aug 2012 22:05:23 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,150658,151056#msg-151056 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,150658,151056#msg-151056 heekscad is easy because its gui allows importing of several stl files together for print jobs. imho.]]> jamesdanielv General Tue, 28 Aug 2012 19:42:40 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,150658,150992#msg-150992 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,150658,150992#msg-150992 royco General Tue, 28 Aug 2012 12:16:19 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,150658,150989#msg-150989 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,150658,150989#msg-150989 akhlut General Tue, 28 Aug 2012 11:39:50 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,150658,150821#msg-150821 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,150658,150821#msg-150821 [www.punchcad.com]

I was able to get ViaCad 2D/3D for $50 after coupons/discounts.
but even at $99 I think its a good deal.
There are running errors with ViaCAD, but has still worked well for me.
If you understand nurbs and things, you could probly avoid the errors I get :o)]]> Mogal General Mon, 27 Aug 2012 16:29:45 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,150658,150783#msg-150783 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,150658,150783#msg-150783
I bought a $160 license for Alibre Design and it works great. I spend my time parametric designing and having fun instead of fighting the annoyances of free software. Sometimes you get what you pay for. YMMV.

Andy]]> ajayre General Mon, 27 Aug 2012 13:41:13 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,150658,150678#msg-150678 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,150658,150678#msg-150678 [github.com]

Take a look at FreeCAD and HeeksCAD as well.]]> NewPerfection General Mon, 27 Aug 2012 02:29:34 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,150658,150668#msg-150668 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,150658,150668#msg-150668
I'm using Slic3r > Pronterface. You may have figured it out already, but if you install Pronterface, Slic3r is built in (maybe it needs to be a certain build or version of Pronterface).

I had gone through all of the trouble to install Slic3r and Python separately before I installed Pronterface. Could have saved myself some headaches.]]> dtmille2 General Mon, 27 Aug 2012 01:13:40 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,150658,150662#msg-150662 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,150658,150662#msg-150662
with those two you can do pretty much anything,]]> thejollygrimreaper General Mon, 27 Aug 2012 00:43:19 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,150658,150659#msg-150659 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,150658,150659#msg-150659
As I get use to it, I'm finding that Sketchup isn't half bad. I've already used it to create a part that a friend printed (my machine is still a work in progress) and modified existing files imported as STL files.

The tool chain that was recommended to me is Sketchup followed by Slic3r followed by pronterface for running the print itself. Skeinforge for path generation and OpenScad for parametric modeling were also recommended and I at least downloaded them, although I haven't done anything in either.

I'm sure there are other options. right now for me it's Sketchup => Slic3r => Pronterface, although once I start printing I may also use skeinforge and openScad...idk...]]> xiando General Mon, 27 Aug 2012 00:20:31 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,150658,150658#msg-150658 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,150658,150658#msg-150658
Any recommendations? I have seen that Google SketchUp (or Trimble ScketchUp) has the ability to export .stl files. Is this a viable tool chain to get from design to print? Or are there certain CAD packages freely available that I should look at? Thanks for any suggestions.

Also, I tried searching for "CAD" in the forum but it came back with no hits. Surprised that this topic hasn't been covered before in the forums, so if it has and I just missed the topic, my apologies.

D]]> dtmille2 General Mon, 27 Aug 2012 00:09:44 -0400