I'm completely new to 3d printing, would I be right in assuming that I need to learn Google sketchup? Would it be better to learn another program? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,449246,449246#msg-449246 Sun, 06 Sep 2026 07:32:05 -0400 Phorum 5.2.23 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,449246,454499#msg-454499 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,449246,454499#msg-454499 jinx General Tue, 13 Jan 2015 03:31:14 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,449246,454441#msg-454441 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,449246,454441#msg-454441 arty_the_ape General Mon, 12 Jan 2015 22:35:34 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,449246,450404#msg-450404 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,449246,450404#msg-450404 vreihen General Sat, 03 Jan 2015 10:29:41 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,449246,450237#msg-450237 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,449246,450237#msg-450237 waitaki General Fri, 02 Jan 2015 20:10:18 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,449246,449984#msg-449984 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,449246,449984#msg-449984 vreihen General Fri, 02 Jan 2015 05:37:47 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,449246,449939#msg-449939 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,449246,449939#msg-449939 etfrench General Fri, 02 Jan 2015 01:55:57 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,449246,449918#msg-449918 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,449246,449918#msg-449918 pushthatbolder General Fri, 02 Jan 2015 00:19:59 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,449246,449905#msg-449905 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,449246,449905#msg-449905 www.sketchup.com]

I've got Blender but I don't think it's well suited for this sort of work. We need a tool for a manufacturing workflow, not a creative modeling workflow. Other tools like Solidworks and Inventor have not only steep learning curves but steep price tags as well.

Autodesk has 123D which offers various free 3D tools including 123D Design. [www.123dapp.com] I prefer it to Sketchup but but like other software choices much of it is personal preference rather than one tool being better than the other. Either Sketchup or 123D will get you started.]]> vegasloki General Thu, 01 Jan 2015 23:03:53 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,449246,449901#msg-449901 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,449246,449901#msg-449901 archy587 General Thu, 01 Jan 2015 22:24:57 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,449246,449860#msg-449860 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,449246,449860#msg-449860 arty_the_ape General Thu, 01 Jan 2015 18:13:31 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,449246,449823#msg-449823 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,449246,449823#msg-449823
click and drag to make a circle, then type 36s+enter, then you can drag to final size.

this will create a circle made of 36 segments. you can use as many segments as you want, but using too many will become resource intensive and will become a major headache when trying to use things like the intersect faces function.

I think its best to use as few segments as possible without the straight lines showing up in your prints.]]> archy587 General Thu, 01 Jan 2015 16:27:49 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,449246,449730#msg-449730 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,449246,449730#msg-449730
How do I change the straight lines on circles?]]> arty_the_ape General Thu, 01 Jan 2015 11:50:04 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,449246,449272#msg-449272 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,449246,449272#msg-449272
You will need to download an STL saver from the Plugins section.
and you will learn how to design and the process in creating 3d printable files (eg. creating manifold parts)
otherwise it could slice wrong.

also you will need to repair the STL, just to make it perfect for printing.

also, the circles are made up of straight lines, and not curved lines...

I used sketchup, but i also use Solidworks2012]]> pushthatbolder General Tue, 30 Dec 2014 20:48:53 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,449246,449264#msg-449264 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,449246,449264#msg-449264 waitaki General Tue, 30 Dec 2014 20:09:03 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,449246,449246#msg-449246 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,449246,449246#msg-449246 arty_the_ape General Tue, 30 Dec 2014 18:28:31 -0500